Our Best Recipes for Gluten-Free Bakes (2024)

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Our Best Recipes for Gluten-Free Bakes (1)Kelsey DimbergUpdated: Nov. 30, 2023

    Want to bake and stick to your gluten-free lifestyle? These gluten-free baking recipes are perfect for curbing your cravings.

    Our Best Recipes for Gluten-Free Bakes (2)TMB STUDIO

    Gluten-free baking has come a long way. If you’re imagining sad breads, soggy pastry or crumbly cookies, think again! Our gluten-free baking recipes showcase the huge array of bakes you can make without a speck of wheat flour or other gluten—from chewy sandwich bread to lofty cakes, tender cookies to tasty pies. We include classics like chocolate chip cookies, as well as fresh recipes that will become family favorites.

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    Gluten-Free Banana Bread

    A foolproof recipe for beginning gluten-free bakers, GF banana bread is quick to mix and has all the cozy, comforting flavor of traditional banana bread. Since quick breads don’t need the robust structure gluten provides, most translate extremely well to gluten-free baking—and might even be more tender.

    Also, try this perfectly tender and delicious,gluten-free pumpkin breadrecipe perfect for your cozy winters.

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    2/31

    Our Best Recipes for Gluten-Free Bakes (3)

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    Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

    A perennial favorite homemade treat, these gluten-free chocolate chip cookies are perfectly chewy and ready to dip. For this recipe, we recommend one of our favorite store-bought gluten-free flour blends, Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Flour, though other blends will still work.

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    3/31

    Our Best Recipes for Gluten-Free Bakes (4)

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    Gluten-Free Red Velvet Cake

    Who says a gluten-free dessert can’t be a showstopper? This GF red velvet cake is chocolate-y, slightly tangy and almost fizzy thanks to a secret ingredient. Naturally, our recipe includes a lick-the-bowl homemade cream cheese frosting, too.

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    4/31

    Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread

    Our gluten-free bread recipes have chewy crusts, airy crumbs and rich flavor, no gluten required! This gluten-free sandwich bread is a good one to learn, as it’s perfect for a tasty sandwich, sturdy enough to make grilled cheese and delightful toasted with butter. Don’t skip the xanthan gum or gelatin in the recipe, as they contribute crucial structure to the bread.

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    5/31

    Our Best Recipes for Gluten-Free Bakes (6)

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    Gluten-Free Oatmeal Cookies

    Packed with whole grains and lightly sweet, these gluten-free oatmeal cookies make a passably healthy snack as well as a tasty dessert. Thanks to the addition of oats as well as flour, they’re just as chewy as traditional oatmeal cookies. Make sure to use gluten-free oats for this recipe, as they’re grown, harvested and processed differently from gluten-containing grains to ensure that they’re safe.

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    6/31

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    Gluten-Free Zucchini Bread

    While many gluten-free baking recipes call for an all-purpose GF flour blend, this zucchini bread uses a single flour: oat flour. It has a warm, warm, slightly sweet flavor that pairs well with the zucchini. Just be sure to buy oat flour that’s certified gluten-free.

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    7/31

    Best Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake

    Want a towering, bold cake with a light crumb and full-on chocolate flavor? Make this gluten-free chocolate cake. Both cocoa powder and espresso make for a decadent flavor, while chia and flax seeds add enough moisture that no one will notice the cake is a vegan dessert, too. Chocolate lovers can even stir in chocolate chips.

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    Gluten-Free Vanilla Cupcakes

    Perfect for birthday parties or any special occasion, gluten-free vanilla cupcakes are festive and fun to make. Add a dash of food coloring to the frosting for extra decoration, or top with sprinkles. This recipe works well with a homemade gluten-free flour mix or a store-bought one.

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    9/31

    Our Best Recipes for Gluten-Free Bakes (10)

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    Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins

    You can’t beat a fresh-from-the-oven blueberry muffin, and no one will be able to tell these are gluten-free. If you have leftovers, you’ll be happy to know these muffins freeze well. Just pop in the microwave to reheat. Your future self will thank you!

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    10/31

    Our Best Recipes for Gluten-Free Bakes (11)

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    Gluten-Free Cornbread

    A simple pan of cornbread makes the best accompaniment to a cozy stew or soup. Although cornmeal is naturally gluten-free, many recipes do contain a bit of wheat flour for a softer, more cake-like texture. Our gluten-free recipe is just as good, sans gluten.

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    11/31

    Our Best Recipes for Gluten-Free Bakes (12)

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    Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie

    With a creamy, spiced custard filling and tender crust, this gluten-free pumpkin pie will stand proudly on any Thanksgiving dessert table. The crust includes a scoop of almond flour, which is both tasty and rich in oils, contributing to a tender crumb.

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    12/31

    Our Best Recipes for Gluten-Free Bakes (13)

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    Gluten-Free Shortbread Cookies

    Think shortbread cookies are too fussy to make gluten-free? This recipe will prove you wrong. It’s easy to make and full of rich, buttery flavor, proving that the simplest things are sometimes best.

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    13/31

    Our Best Recipes for Gluten-Free Bakes (14)

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    Gluten-Free Gingerbread Cookies

    A cookie jar staple, gluten-free gingerbread cookies are a fun recipe to bake with kids. Our recipe makes a spiced, rich cookie dough that’s easy to roll out and cut into your favorite shapes. We include several decorating ideas, too.

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    14/31

    Taste of Home

    Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Blondies

    These chewy blondie bar cookies nod to peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, only they’re easy to slice and perfect to pack in a lunch or picnic. This recipe is also dairy-free and diabetic-friendly, making it ideal for people with multiple food sensitivities.

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    15/31

    Gluten-Free Snowballs

    A favorite holiday cookie, snowballs are a tender butter cookie dotted with nuts and dunked in fluffy powdered sugar. Thanks to the use of two starches and light confectioners’ sugar, they almost melt in your mouth. These cookies are a nice one to try if you don’t want to buy special flours, as they only call for pantry staples.

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    16/31

    Gluten-Free Biscuits

    Gluten-free comfort food is definitely possible! These biscuits are made with buttermilk, just like most wheat-based recipes, so their flavor is comfortingly familiar. Serve them with your favorite stew or soup.

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    17/31

    Our Best Recipes for Gluten-Free Bakes (18)

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    Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread

    A rich and cozy fall baking recipe, gluten-free pumpkin bread is quick to mix. The extra-moist bread also keeps well at room temperature for a few days, so you can enjoy it for breakfast all week.

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    18/31

    Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies

    While many gluten-free recipes are converted from traditional recipes, this recipe diverges from typical sugar cookies. It uses applesauce to add both moisture and sweetness, and adds almond extract and lemon zest to round out the flavors. Learn how to make gluten-free lemon cake.

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    19/31

    Taste of Home

    Socca

    A traditional Mediterranean flatbread, socca is actually made with chickpea flour (aka besan), making it naturally gluten-free. Like cornbread, it’s a great dinner side dish but also tasty enjoyed on its own, warm from the oven.

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    20/31

    Cauliflower Pizza Crust

    As gluten-free eating becomes more common, your local pizzeria might offer a crust made with an unusual ingredient: cauliflower! The healthy vegetable makes a sturdy crust with a warm, savory flavor. It’s easy to make homemade, too.

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    21/31

    Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

    Nostalgic for this classic holiday cookie? It’s easy to make gluten-free. You might be surprised to see applesauce in the ingredients, but it adds both sweetness and moisture to ensure the cookies stay fresh in their tin for days.

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    22/31

    Taste of Home

    Flourless Chocolate Torte

    Ultra-indulgent, creamy flourless chocolate cake sometimes tells a fib: Some recipes include a small amount of wheat flour for texture. (If you’re dining out, always ask!) Our recipe is entirely flour- and grain-free.

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    23/31

    Taste of Home

    What’s more decadent than cheesecake? Our gluten-free recipe starts with a no-bake cookie crumb crust. The cream cheese filling is dotted with chocolate chips and topped with a chocolate-peanut butter drizzle.

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    24/31

    Our Best Recipes for Gluten-Free Bakes (25)

    TMB Studio

    Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cookies

    One of our favorite pumpkin recipes, these gluten-free pumpkin cookies are super tender and flavorful. They’re sturdy enough to pack for a potluck or school lunch. We use canned pumpkin for the most reliable flavor and texture.

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    25/31

    Mocha-Walnut Macarons

    Did you know that macarons are naturally gluten-free? Whipped egg whites and ground nuts make a light, melt-y batter. The French recipe has a reputation for fussiness, but really, these are simple enough for a practiced home baker to make.

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    26/31

    Gluten-Free Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

    These cookies take inspiration from dense, rich European winter cookies. The heartiness of the recipe makes them easy to make gluten-free, and they keep well, too. The powdered sugar-coated exterior cracks in a pleasant, crisp way when baking.

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    Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Muffins

    Perfect for breakfast or snacking, these muffins are flavored with real sweet potato, making them extra moist. A cinnamon-sugar topping raises the bar.

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    28/31

    Gluten-Free Almond Crispies

    Flavored with cinnamon and maple and flecked with almonds, these cookies are delicious when the weather turns cool. Thanks to whole grain brown rice flour and almond flour, they’re a healthier gluten-free cookie, too. Serve them with tea or dunk into milk.

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    29/31

    Taste of Home

    Flourless Peanut Butter Thumbprints

    Sometimes, you don’t even need flour to bake! These thumbprint cookies couldn’t be simpler. They’re reminiscent of a classic peanut butter blossom, but they include a secret ingredient: Nutella!

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    30/31

    TMB STUDIO

    Cheesy Cauliflower Breadsticks

    A delightful grain-free recipe, this super savory bake is made with a cauliflower crust. It’s also a healthy alternative to pizza that might get your kids eating veggies.

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    Gluten- and Dairy-Free Cinnamon Raisin Bread

    Another dairy-free and gluten-free recipe, this cinnamon raisin bread tastes remarkably similar to its traditional flour-filled counterpart. A heavy dose of raisins and a cinnamon-sugar topping make this a favorite breakfast treat, even for fussy eaters.

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    Up Next: How to Make a Gluten-Free Pie Crust

    Originally Published: December 31, 1969

    Our Best Recipes for Gluten-Free Bakes (33)

    Kelsey Dimberg

    A former senior digital editor at Taste of Home, Kelsey now writes articles and novels from her home in Chicago. Since 2010, she’s followed a gluten-free diet, and especially enjoys the challenge of baking sourdough bread and pizza dough. As a contributing writer for Taste of Home, she covers a broad range of topics but with a special emphasis on gluten-free cooking and baking. Outside of her gluten-free experiments in the kitchen, Kelsey is also the author of the thriller novel “Girl in the Rearview Mirror.”

    Our Best Recipes for Gluten-Free Bakes (2024)

    FAQs

    What is the trick to gluten free baking? ›

    Gluten-free flours often contain fine starches, so they absorb more liquid than conventional flour. To address this, gluten-free recipes usually call for more liquid and produce looser batters. They may also call for a larger quantity of leavening, like baking powder, to help add volume and lighten the texture.

    Which gluten free flour is closest to all-purpose flour? ›

    Brown rice flour is about as close to a 1:1 substitute for all-purpose flour as it gets since it provides structure and a “wheat-like” flavor.

    What is the best gluten free flour for yeast baking? ›

    If you want to buy just one gluten-free flour, we highly recommend the Pillsbury all-purpose gluten-free flour. Not only is it our favorite gluten-free flour, and easy to use in gluten-free recipes, but it's also one of the few gluten-free flours currently on the market that is recommended for baking with yeast.

    What to avoid for gluten-free baking? ›

    Some baking ingredients that contain gluten (and thus are not suitable for a gluten-free diet) include:
    • Wheat.
    • Semolina.
    • Spelt.
    • Durum.
    • Emmer.
    • Einkorn.
    • Rye, sometimes referred to as pumpernickel.
    • Barley.
    Mar 29, 2021

    What is the secret of baking with gluten free flour? ›

    Use xanthan gum or guar gum: Gluten-free flours lack the elasticity and structure that gluten provides, so adding a binder like xanthan or guar gum can help to hold the ingredients together and give your baked goods a better texture.

    What bread is naturally gluten-free? ›

    Breads made from rice, sorghum, teff, millet, cassava, buckwheat, amaranth, oat, almonds, and pure corn lack gluten. Hence, their flour can be incorporated into baking gluten-free breads. You can identify whether the bread is gluten-free by checking the ingredients on the product's label.

    Does oatmeal have gluten? ›

    Yes, pure, uncontaminated oats are gluten-free. The U. S. Food and Drug Administration considers oats a gluten-free grain under its gluten-free labeling regulations and only requires that packaged products with oats as an ingredient contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten overall.

    What is the healthiest gluten-free flour? ›

    Buckwheat Flour

    Though buckwheat has the word “wheat” in the name, it doesn't contain gluten. It's a complete, plant-based protein with lots of fiber, vitamins and minerals, and, like oat flour made from whole oats, it's low on the glycemic index, which helps slow digestion and control blood sugar levels.

    What is the best flour for gluten-free cookies? ›

    Oat Flour. With its creamy, earthy flavor and delicate texture, gluten-free oat flour is a staple of my gluten-free baking recipes. It bakes up soft and smooth, adding necessary starch to many GF baked goods and keeping them moist and tender due to its high fat content and stable protein structure.

    What type of flour has the most gluten? ›

    All-purpose flour has 8-11% gluten in it. It can be used to make things like waffles, pie crusts, pastries, and cookies. Bread flour has the highest amounts of gluten at 12-14%, and works well in yeast products.

    Which gluten free flour makes the best bread? ›

    Best for Bread: Judee's All-Purpose Gluten-Free Bread Flour

    The blend of tapioca, potato and corn starch, plus rice and corn flour, has a neutral flavor. The dough also has sugar and salt added, so most recipes require only adding yeast, oil and water.

    Is Bob's Red Mill gluten free baking flour good? ›

    It's a fantastic option for people with celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity. This gluten free flour blend can replace regular all purpose flour in a variety of recipes—just add xanthan gum or guar gum (check the guide on the package).

    What happens when you add yeast to gluten free flour? ›

    The yeast can develop as much as possible and the dough becomes soft, elastic and voluminous. In order to make your pre-dough, mix the yeast previously dissolved in water or milk with some gluten free flour.

    Does Bob's Red Mill gluten free flour work with yeast? ›

    While our Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour is not meant for yeast dough, you can use our Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour blend in your favorite recipes instead! Just one gluten free flour blend has so many uses!

    Can I just replace flour with gluten free flour? ›

    Gluten-Free Bread Flour can be swapped 1:1 for all-purpose flour and bread flour by both weight and volume.

    Is it harder to bake with gluten free flour? ›

    Gluten-free baking is a lot harder than traditional baking because gluten protein is what gives baked goods their structure.

    How do you make gluten-free baking less crumbly? ›

    One of the most common gluten-free baking tips is “let your batter rest”. Letting the batter rest gives the gluten-free flours and starches more time to absorb the moisture. In theory, it will turn your dry, crumbly cakes into delicious, moist masterpieces.

    Does gluten free flour bake the same as regular flour? ›

    One of the first rules of gluten-free baking is managing your expectations; traditional baked goods lean on gluten for their texture and rise. Replicating this is challenging and the results might not be identical, but it can get pretty close with the right flours.

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