Baking Gluten Free is a CHALLENGE. My wife is gluten free and baking gluten free is the biggest challenge we face when it comes to food. When she first went gluten free I was lost at what I could and could not buy. Most store bought baked goods are off limits. Baking some items are easier and less expensive to make at home instead of buying them.
Having a well-stocked pantry is essential when baking gluten free. It takes multiple gluten free “flours” when baking gluten free. Don’t get overwhelmed by all of it. This list will give you a good start on what gluten free flours you can have.
While all of these flours in this list are gluten free, it is important to read the label carefully. Look at the ingredients and packaging to make sure you are getting a gluten free product. You do not want a flour that could potentially be cross contaminated with other flours and grains that do contain gluten.
What is Gluten?
Before jumping into the gluten free baking flours, it is important to know what gluten is. Gluten is the protein, or rather, a combination of two proteins wrapped in starch granules. Gluten is found in grains like wheat, rye and barley. It is the substance that gives foods like breads, the chewy and soft texture that is so tasty.
Flours For Baking Gluten Free
The goal for gluten free flours is replicating the gluten proteins. While baking gluten free breads, cookies and cakes isn’t as a simple as grabbing wheat flour, don’t get discouraged. There are more and more ingredients, products and companies available for helping you get better (and tasty) results.
Are All of The Flours Listed Needed for Baking Gluten Free Foods?
It often takes a blend of multiple gluten free “flours” to create a gluten free baked product that’s similar to one made with all-purpose flour.
A lot of baking gluten free is trial and error. Each flour works differently. Some flours work well with other flours. Others work well on their own. Some have a strong flavor while others are mild. This list gives you a place to start. Don’t be afraid of experimenting and see what works best for you.
The list has quite a few items, so don’t get overwhelmed. Start out stocking your pantry with some of these flours. Use and experiment with them and add more as you get more comfortable with gluten free baking and how each flour works for you. In addition to specific gluten free flours I also have some gluten free all purpose flour blends listed at the bottom of the list.
Almond Flour
What is Almond Flour
Almond Flour is also known as almond meal. It is made from finely ground blanched almonds most often but can also be made with unpeeled almonds. Almond flour is high in protein making it a good ingredient for some items
What Does Almond Flour Taste Like
Almond Flour has a nutty taste that’s slightly sweet. When a little bit is used in recipes, the taste is hardly noticeable.
Almond Flour Uses
Almond Flour works well in recipes like cookies, brownies, biscuits and scones. It also works in savory recipes like meatloaf, meatballs, or as a “breading”
How to Store Almond Flour
Almond flour is high in fat which can spoil. Store almond flour in the refrigerator or freezer to keep it fresh.
Where to Buy Almond Flour
Almond flour is at most grocery stores. It is found in the gluten free section or baking section of the store. It is also found in the bulk bins of stores. Look in both areas to see what works best for you in regards to price.
You can buy almond flour online as well. Here are options for online.
- Anthony’s Premium Blanched Almond Flour – 2 pound bag
- Nature’s Eats Almond Flour – 2 pound bag
- Blue Diamond Almond Flour – 3 pound bag
- Bob’s Red Mill Almond Flour – 3 pound bag
Amaranth Flour
What is Amaranth Flour
Amaranth Flour is made by grinding the seeds of the amaranth plant. Amaranth has been used in Central and Latin American since ancient times.
What does Amaranth Flour Taste Like
Amaranth Flour has as slightly sweet and nutty taste.
Amaranth Flour Uses
Use Amaranth flour in cookies, pancakes, and breads. Try it for breading chicken and fish, cornbread and savory crackers.
How to Store Amaranth
Store Amaranth Flour refrigerated up to 3 months or in the freezer for 6 months.
Where to Buy Amaranth
I don’t see amaranth flour in store as often as other gluten free flours. You may find it easier to find in natural food grocery stores. It is easy to find online.
- Organicgrains.com – Organic Amaranth Flour Non-GMO – 3 pound bag
- Erbology Organic Amaranth Flour – 10.6 oz. bag
Buckwheat Flour
What is Buckwheat Flour
While it sounds like a grain that is full of gluten it is not. It is actually a fruit. The entire buckwheat plant is harvested and allowed to dry. Once it is completely dry, the infer part is ground into flour making buckwheat flour.
What Does Buckwheat Flour Taste Like
Buckwheat flour has a slightly earthy taste that is rich and nutty.
Buckwheat Flour Uses
Use buckwheat in pancake and crepe recipes. Buckwheat is also used to make Soba Noodles.
How to Store Buckwheat Flour
Store buckwheat in the refrigerator or freezer.
Where to Buy Buckwheat Flour
Look for Buckwheat Flour in grocery and natural food stores. It is found in the gluten free section or baking section of the store. Here are some online options for buckwheat flour.
- Anthony’s Organic Buckwheat Flour – 3 pound bag
- Arrowhead Mills Organic Buckwheat Flour – 22 oz. Bag (Pack of 6)
- Bob’s Red Mill Resealable Organic Buckwheat Flour – 22 Oz Bag (Pack of 4)
Chickpea Flour (Besan)
What is Chickpea Flour or Besan
Chickpea Flour is also known as Besan. It is exactly what you think it is. Chickpeas or garbanzo beans that have been ground into a fine powder or “flour”. Chickpea flour is a good binding agent. One thing to remember is it is made from chickpeas so it has a bean taste.
What Does Chickpea Flour Taste Like
Chickpea Flour has a distinct bean taste.
Chickpea Flour Uses
Use Chickpea flour in unleavened breads, making wraps or tortillas, and in dense cakes. It is also used as an egg replacement or binding agent. Try using it as a thickener for soups and sauces
How to Store Chickpea Flour
Store Chickpea flour in the refrigerator or freezer.
Where to Buy Chickpea Flour
Chickpea flour is found in grocery stores, natural food stores and Asian Markets. It may not say “chickpea flour” on the bag. Look for it under other names such as Besan, Garbanzo Bean Flour, Gram or Chana. You can also buy it online.
- Bob’s Red Mill Garbanzo Bean Flour – 1 pound back (Pack of 2)
- Anthony’s Organic Chickpea Flour – 2 pound bag
- Namaste Foods Organic Garbanzo – 1 pound bag
Coconut Flour
What is Coconut Flour
Coconut Flour is a byproduct of coconut milk. After producers press the coconut meat for its milk, coconut pulp is left. The pulp is dried out completely before being ground into a fine powder which is coconut flour.
What Does Coconut Flour Taste Like
Coconut Flour tastes like what it is, coconut.
Coconut Flour Uses
Use coconut flour in cookie, muffin and sweet bread recipes. Try it in breading or for making pancakes and tortillas.
How to Store Coconut Flour
Store Coconut Flour in the refrigerator or freezer.
Where to Buy Coconut Flour
Look for coconut flour in larger grocery stores and natural food stores. Look for it in the baking aisle, gluten free section, or bulk bins. You can also find it online with the following links.
- Anthony’s Organic Coconut Flour – 4 pound bag
- Viva Naturals Organic Coconut Flour – 4 pound bag
- Bob’s Red Mill Organic Coconut Flour – 1 pound bag (2 Pack)
Cassava Flour
What is Cassava Flour
Cassava (also called yuca) is a root vegetable native to South America. The root is ground up and dried out completely. It is then ground into a fine powder, making it into flour.
What Does Cassava Flour Taste Like
A great benefit of Cassava Flour is that it has a neutral, mild taste.
Cassava Flour Uses
Cassava Flour is used in breads, pastas, and cakes. It can also be used to make tortillas, crepes, and pie crusts
How to Store Cassava Flour
Store Cassava Flour in an air tight container in the pantry
Where to Buy Cassava Flour
Look for Cassava Flour in large grocery stores and natural food markets. Here are some online options for Cassava Flour.
Masa Harina
What is Masa Harina
Masa Harina starts as corn soaked in lime water. The lime water is not the citrus fruit but rather a solution made with calcium hydroxide. The solution helps loosen the hulls from the kernels and softens the corn. The corn becomes infused with calcium and niacin and makes the corn more easily digested by the body.
The corn is then rinsed multiple times to remove any solution residue. The corn is dried out after washing it and finally, it is ground into Masa Harina.
What Does Masa Harina Taste Like
Masa Harina taste like corn with a slightly nutty taste.
Masa Harina Uses
Since Masa Harina is made from corn it makes great tortillas and is used in many Latin American recipes like arepas, tamales, and pupusas. It’s also a great chili thickener.
How to Store Masa Harina
Store Masa Harina in an air tight container in cool, dry place. Store Masa Harina in the freezer for longer storage.
Where to Buy Masa Harina
Masa Harina is found in most grocery stores in the Ethnic Foods or Latin American Foods aisle. You can also find it online.
- GoldMine Organic Masa Harina – 2 pound package
- Bob’s Red Mill Organic Masa Harina – 2 pound bag (4 Pack)
- Quaker Corn Masa Harina – 70.4 ounce Package
Millet Flour
What is Millet Flour
Millet is the broad name for a grain that is comprised from about 500 different grass seeds worldwide. The seeds are ground down into a flour.
What Does Millet Flour Taste Like
Millet Flour has a light taste that works for both sweet and baking recipes.
Millet Flour Uses
Millet Flour works well in baked goods like cakes and scones. It also blends well with other gluten free flours for making an all-purpose gluten free flour.
How to Store Millet Flour
Store Millet Flour at room temperature
Where to Buy Millet Flour
Look for millet flour at grocery and natural food stores. Check in the gluten free section, bulk bins, and baking sections. Millet Flour can also be found online.
- Bobs Red Mill Millet Flour – 23 Ounce Bag (4 Pack)
- Arrowhead Mills Organic Millet Flour – 23 Ounce Bag
Oat Flour
What is Oat Flour
Oat Flour is whole or “old fashioned” oats that have been ground down into a fine powder to make oat flour.
What Does Oat Flour Taste Like
Oat Flour has the subtle flavor of what it is made from, oats.
Oat Flour Uses
Oat Flour works well in bread, cookie, and cake recipes.
How to Store Oat Flour
Oat Flour is best stored in the refrigerator or freezer
Where to Buy Oat Flour
Look for Oat Flour in large grocery or natural food stores. Look in the gluten free or baking sections of the store. It is also available online.
- Arrowhead Mills Organic Oat Flour – 1 Pound Bag
- Bob’s Red Mill Whole Grain Oat Flour – 22 Ounce Bag (Pack of 4)
Rice Flour – Brown
What is Brown Rice Flour
Brown Rice Flour is made by finely grinding brown rice. The flour still contains the bran of the rice and contains more fiber, protein and fat than white rice flour.
What Does Brown Rice Flour Taste Like
Brown Rice flour has a light earthy, nutty flavor.
Uses for Brown Rice Flour
Use Brown Rice Flour in pancakes, muffins and breads.
How to Store Brown Rice Flour
Because of its higher fat content, store Brown Rice Flour in the refrigerator or freezer
Where to Buy Brown Rice Flour
Look for this flour in large grocery and natural food stores as well as Asian markets. Find it in the gluten free section, bulk bins or baking section. It is also available online.
Rice Flour – Sweet
What is Sweet Rice Flour
Sweet rice flour finely ground short grain glutinous rice. While this rice sounds like it contains gluten it does not. What sweet rice does have is a higher starch content, giving it good thickening power.
What Does Sweet Rice Flour Taste Like
Sweet Rice Flour has a mild, neutral taste that is not sugary as the name would suggest.
Uses for Sweet Rice Flour
Use Sweet Rice Flour in breads, cakes, muffins, brownies and more.
How to Store Sweet Rice Flour
Store sweet rice flour in an air tight container for up to 6 months in the pantry. For longer storage, keep it in the refrigerator or freezer.
Where to Buy Sweet Rice Flour
Look for sweet rice flour in Asian Markets and Natural food stores. Here are some online options for the sweet rice flour.
- Bob’s Red Mill Sweet White Rice Flour – 24 ounce bag (2 Pack)
- Mochiko Sweet Rice Flour – 16 Pound Bag (2 Pack)
Rice Flour – White
What is White Rice Flour
White Rice Flour is made by finely grinding white rice. The bran and germ are removed from the rice before it is ground.
What Does White Rice Flour Taste Like
White Rice flour has a neutral flavor that works well in sweet and savory recipes.
Uses for White Rice Flour
White Rice Flour works well in breads and cookies, as well as a coating for fish and chicken.
How to Store White Rice Flour
White rice flour has a long shelf life and is best stored in the pantry
Where to Buy White Rice Flour
White rice flour is easily found in grocery and natural foods stores, and Asian markets. Look for it in bulk bins, the baking, and gluten free sections of your store. It is also available online.
- Bob’s Red Mill White Rice Flour – 24 ounce bag (2 Pack)
- Pure Organic Ingredients White Rice Flour – 3 Pound Bag
Sorghum
What is Sorghum Flour
Sorghum is a cereal grain. In the Southern United States, it was used as a sweetener a few generations ago as it was less expensive than other sweeteners. Sorghum Flour, also known as Juwar or Jowar, is made by grinding up the grains into a fine powder.
What Does Sorghum Flour Taste Like
Sorghum Flour has a light sweet taste.
Sorghum Flour Uses
Use Sorghum Flour in cookies, cakes, breads, muffins and waffles.
How to Store Sorghum Flour
Store Sorghum Flour in an air tight container for short term storage in your pantry. For longer storage, keep it in the freezer or refrigerator.
Where to Buy Sorghum Flour
Sorghum Flour is found in large grocery stores and natural food markets. It is also available online.
Teff Flour
What is Teff Flour
Teff flour is made from a small grain around the size of a poppy seed that is native to Ethiopia. It is rich in vitamins and protein.
What Does Teff Flour Taste Like
Teff Flour has an earthy taste. It is slightly sweet and nutty.
Teff Flour Uses
Use Teff Flour in pancakes, waffles, and quick breads. It also works well in brownies, cakes, cookies, muffins and more.
How to Store Teff Flour
Store Teff Flour in an air tight container for short term storage in your pantry. For longer storage, keep it in the freezer or refrigerator.
Where to Buy Teff Flour
Look for Teff in large grocery and natural food stores. It’s also available online.
Tigernut Flour
What is Tigernut Flour
Tigernut is not a nut. It is a root vegetable native to Northern Africa as well as the Mediterranean. The tigernut is dehydrated and ground into a fine powder making it a flour.
What does Tigernut Flour Taste Like
Tigernut flour is slightly sweet and nutty. It has a light taste making it good for baking.
Tigernut Flour Uses
Tigernut Flour works well in brownies, pancakes, pie crusts, cookies and other baked goods.
How to Store Tigernut Flour
Store Tigernut Flour in the panty or refrigerator.
Where to Buy Tigernut Flour
Tigernut Flour is easily found online but look for it in health food grocery stores as well.
- Kate Naturals Organic Tiger Nut Flour – 12 ounce bag
- Anthony’s Organic Tiger Nut Flour – 1 Pound Bag
Gluten Free Baking – All-Purpose Flours
If you bake occasionally and are looking for all-purpose gluten free flours you can find those at well. Look in the baking section or gluten free section of your local grocer, natural food store, or online.
Here are some that are available online.
- Cup 4 Cup Gluten Free Flour 3 Pound Bag
- King Arthur Flour, Measure for Measure Flour – 3 Pound Bag
- Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour – 22 Ounce Bag (4 Pack)
- Namaste Foods Organic Perfect Gluten-Free Flour Blend – 5 Pound Bag
Baking Gluten Free is Achievable
While Baking Gluten Free is more challenging than traditional baking, it doesn’t have to be stressful. Pick up a few of these flours and BE OK WITH EXPERIMENTING. Start with a traditional recipe and swap wheat flour out for an all purpose gluten free flour. Take a few flours and blend them together to make your own gluten free flour. Then replace the traditional flour in a recipe with your blend.
It takes time to adjust to gluten free baking, but with some practice and research, you will still be able to find desserts that you like.
If you are looking for a few gluten free sweets that don’t involve baking, check out the recipes below.
