Gluten Free Baking Tips: How to Create Delicious and Nutritious Gluten-Free Baked Goods

It’s been said that cooking is an art, but baking is a science. When it comes to savory dishes like stews and casseroles, you have a lot of leeway regarding which ingredients you use and how much. Unless you follow a baking recipe closely, however, the result may turn out looking nothing like you intended.

While baking may require a little more precision than cooking, it can still be very beginner friendly. If you’re working with the extra challenge of being gluten-free, do yourself a favor and simplify things from the start by finding an all-purpose gluten-free flour blend. 

An all-purpose gluten-free flour blend like Schär Mix It! Universal is the perfect base for everything from cookies and cakes to bread and biscuits. Use it in recipes that call for an all-purpose blend or swap it for wheat flour in your favorite recipes. With a little creativity and a lot of practice, you can concoct an endless array of delicious desserts that don’t contain gluten. 

Simple Tips for Gluten-Free Baking 

Unless you’re an accomplished pastry chef, you probably want to start out with a good recipe, though a beginner’s cookbook of gluten-free recipes is even better. A recipe is a roadmap that will guide you through the process from start to finish, providing landmarks along the way to help you determine whether you’re on the right track. 

With a good recipe and a box of Schär Mix It! Universal all-purpose flour, there’s almost nothing you can’t bake. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you get started: 

• Remember that recipes that call for wheat flour may not turn out the same way if you use gluten-free flour. Gluten helps give recipes their rise and affects density and texture as well. 
• Use pre-made gluten-free flour blends rather than single gluten-free flours. Certain gluten-free flours absorb more liquid than others and could change the taste or texture of your dish if used all on their own.
• Don’t be afraid to mix your recipes really well. Traditional recipes often caution against overmixing but gluten-free blends don’t tend to get tough – in fact, mixing adds air to the batter which can result in a lighter, fluffier texture. 
• Give your gluten-free batters time to rest after mixing. If you let the mixture rest for about 30 minutes, the flour has time to absorb liquid and soften so your end product won’t be as grainy.
• Remember that gluten-free bread dough generally doesn’t require kneading – it will often look more like a sticky batter than a smooth, elastic dough.
• Pay attention to the bake time on your recipes because gluten-free batters often need more time in the oven. 
• Choose recipes that don’t rely primarily on flour for their composition. Look for recipes that rely on additional ingredients like bananas, oats, or nuts to give them moisture and texture.
• Keep in mind that gluten-free baked goods don’t tend to stay fresh as long as their gluten-containing counterparts. Get used to storing leftovers in the freezer to enjoy later.

Don’t be discouraged if your baked goods don’t turn out perfectly the first time. Even small things like using eggs that aren’t quite fresh or forgetting to preheat the oven can impact your results. The best thing you can do is learn from your mistakes and have fun baking!

Try Out These 4 Gluten-Free Baking Basics

While baking recipes can sometimes be complex, it’s easy to learn the ropes by practicing with the basics. Using Schär Mix It! Universal flour blend, you can easily take your favorite baking classics like banana bread and biscuits and make them gluten-free with a single swap.

1. Banana Bread 

Servings: 1 loaf

Ingredients: 

• 3 medium bananas, very ripe
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• Pinch salt
• ¾ cup white sugar
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups Schär Mix It! Universal flour blend

Instructions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease an 8x4-inch loaf pan with butter. 
2. Mash the bananas in a bowl with a fork until smooth then stir in the melted butter. 
3. Add the baking soda and salt then stir in the sugar, egg, and vanilla extract. 
4. Pour in the gluten-free flour blend and stir until well combined.
5. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and spread evenly.
6. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. 
7. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

2. Chocolate Chip Blondies

Servings: 3 dozen

Ingredients: 

• 1 ½ cups brown sugar, packed
• ½ cup butter, melted
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups Schär Mix It! Universal flour blend
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Instructions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 13x9-inch baking pan with cooking spray. 
2. Combine the brown sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl and stir well.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the Schär Mix It! Universal, baking powder, and salt.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir until well combined.
5. Fold in the chocolate chips then spread the batter in the prepared pan.
6. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Cool the blondies completely on a wire rack then cut into bars to serve.

3. Fluffy Buttermilk Biscuits 

Servings: 8

Ingredients: 

• 2 cups Schär Mix It! Universal flour blend
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup vegetable shortening
• 1 large egg
• 2/3 cup buttermilk

Instructions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F and lightly grease a baking sheet with cooking oil. 
2. Whisk together the flour blend, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a medium mixing bowl.
3. Cut in the shortening using a fork or pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and buttermilk.
5. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir until the mixture is just combined.
6. Sprinkle a flat surface with a generous amount of the gluten-free flour blend.
7. Turn the dough out onto the surface and knead gently about 8 to 10 times. 
8. Roll the dough out to ½ inch thick and cut into circles with a biscuit cutter. 
9. Place the biscuits on the prepared baking sheet and bake 10 to 12 minutes until golden.

Baking involves a lot of trial and error, especially if you’re getting used to using a whole new subset of gluten-free ingredients. If you’re new to gluten-free baking entirely, start with a gluten-free flour blend like Schär Mix It! Universal for simplicity and master the basics before moving on to more complex recipes.