GlutenFree Baking Tips

Are you considering trying some gluten-free recipes? Gluten-gree baking can be challenging, primarily due to the differences doughs acquire in texture and consistency. Learn some tips for gluten-free baking in this post by Great Harvest Bread Co.

The popularity of gluten-free baked goods has increased over the last few years. Nonetheless, it still confuses most bakers, as making dough with gluten-free flours creates a thicker and heavier mix. Gluten-Free baking can be challenging, as it requires a lot of experimenting and patience. If you are new in the world of gluten-free baking, Great Harvest Bread Co. in Newtonville has this article for you to learn some helpful tips on how to create the perfect baked goods. If you are interested, keep reading!

Follow the Recipe Carefully

Even if you are an experienced baker, baking without gluten is a whole new territory that requires an entirely new game plan. Therefore, make sure to follow the recipe as closely as possible. It can be tempting to tinker with the recipe. However, this will most likely lead you to end up with faulty results. Pay close attention to the list of ingredients and the measurements.

Don't Expect the Dough to Rise the Same

The way gluten works is that as soon as it comes into contact with water, the gluten molecules develop and start to form elastic, strong, sticky bonds. This is what ultimately creates the stretchy qualities of regular doughs. Gluten is also the one in charge of helping bread achieve the soft inner texture and the perfect height. Without gluten, doughs aren't able to rise and achieve the 'perfect' texture and consistency.

Learn about the best freshly-made bread in Newtonville by contacting a friendly professional at Great Harvest Bread Co. Ask about their amazing menu by calling 617-928-1162 today.

Add Some Flavor

Substitute all-purpose flour or your common flour of choice for gluten-free flour will change the flavor of your mixture. If you want to add an extra touch of flavor to your baked goods, consider adding ingredients such as vanilla or different spices. Doing so can help cover up the unfamiliar flavors of any new ingredient you use.

Add Some Moisture

To ensure your dough has the right consistency, it must have moisture. Common ingredients you can find in recipes to add moisture to the dough are yogurt, milk, sour cream, water, etc. But what do you do if your recipe doesn't call for these types of ingredients? If you need to add some moisture to your mix, consider adding ingredients like pureed fruit, brown or white sugar, or even sugar substitutes such as honey or agave syrup. However, consider that adding these ingredients can change the overall flavor of your moisture, so be careful and try your dough to ensure it has the flavor you are looking for.

Are you craving some freshly-made bread? If so, visit the best bakery in Newtonville. Speak to a friendly professional at Great Harvest Bread Co. and learn about their fantastic menu. For more information, call 617-928-1162 today.

Alternative Flours

Here are some gluten-free flour options you can consider for your recipes:

• Amaranth flour: amaranth flour usually gives a nutty, earthy flavor, and it tends to take on the flavor of other ingredients. One crucial aspect to keep in mind about amaranth flour is it needs to be combined with other flours when baking. It can replace up to 15% of wheat flour.
• Brown rice flour: brown rice flour is considered whole-grain flour and is made from grown brown rice. As for flavor, it gives a nutty flavor and is commonly used for salty or savory recipes. However, you can use it for several recipes for cookies and cakes.
• Oat flour: oat flour is baked by grinding whole-grain oats. One of the main benefits of oat flour is it gives a lot of flavor, even more than all-purpose flour. It also allows for a crumblier and chewier dough texture.

Learn From Failure

Mastering gluten-free recipes is all about trial and error. Don't get discouraged if you don't succeed in your first or even second or third try. Make notes about your progress and write down all important things you learn, such as the amount of flour you should add, the moisture level your dough needs to have to achieve the right consistency, etc. Many people get discouraged and quit trying to bake gluten-free recipes due to the complexity it can entail. However, allow yourself to feel sad or frustrated; it's all part of the process. Instead, look for tips and tricks from fellow bakers and work towards improving your gluten-free baking skills.

Now that you are ready to bake some gluten-free recipes, learn about the best bakery in Newtonville. Speak to a friendly professional at Great Harvest Bread Co. and learn about their amazing menu. For more information, call 617-928-1162 today.