Baking Gluten Free Bread in a Breadmaker
Baking gluten free bread in a breadmaker can be an easy entree into baking gluten free bread from scratch. Add the ingredients, push the button and GO! Let the bread machine do the heavy lifting.
Using an easy gluten free bread mix makes things even more of a breeze. (The loaves pictured below are all made with my gfJules Bread Mix, which was just voted #1 Gluten Free Bread Mix again in the 2024 Gluten Free Awards – for the seventh time!)
But which gluten free bread maker is best? Does it have to have a gluten free setting to bake gluten free bread? What gluten free bread recipes work best in bread machines? Read on for answers.
Hop to my Reviews of Best Bread Machines for Gluten Free Bread
All about Gluten Free Bread Machines
For anyone leery of baking gluten free bread from scratch, and for those who don’t have a stand mixer, a bread maker may be your new best friend.
Since the hardest part is often just finding the patience to wait for that yummy nirvana of heavenly yeasty bread aromas to permeate every room of your home, beckoning you to make a sandwich or slather a warm fresh-baked slice with butter … it’s easy to see why gluten free bread machines are so well-loved!
BUT … don’t hesitate to try baking gluten free bread from scratch if you don’t have or can’t afford to buy a gluten free bread machine. The homemade gluten free bread recipes on my site are all designed to be made without a bread machine, though many may be made in a bread machine, as well. And you don’t have to be a bread baking expert to bake them — I promise!
Some of my favorite gluten free loaves are baked in my oven, and some recipes don’t even require a bread pan! Gluten free sandwich bread, challah, gluten free bread sticks, 10 Minute Gluten Free Focaccia … are just some of the amazing homemade gluten free bread recipes on my site that can be made easily without a breadmaker.
Here are some great homemade gluten free bread recipes for bread machine:
- Easy Gluten Free Sandwich Bread or Beer Bread in Bread Machine
- Gluten Free Sandwich Bread in Bread Machine
- Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Bread in Bread Machine
- Gluten Free Pumpernickel Bread in Bread Machine
- Savory Gluten Free Italian Bread in Bread Machine
Tips for Making Gluten Free Bread in a Bread maker:
1- You don’t have to have the most expensive breadmachine to have the best bread. I travel with my bread makers for many cooking classes, and I won’t risk a big investment being in the hands of the TSA. So I tend to prefer mid-range bread makers like this Oster® for travel. You can usually find this machine for under $100.
HOWEVER … not all bread machines are created equal. Even those that have a gluten free setting. Check out this video to see if your bread machine is going to do a good job on baking your gluten free bread:
I truly love the loaves my reliable, two-paddled Zojirushi® turns out; I don’t risk traveling with it because it is a costlier machine. You can read about the Zojirushi as well as my preferred mid-range and travel machines in my gluten free bread machine reviews.
The process of baking gluten free bread in a bread machine is the same, no matter which model you use: liquids first, then dry ingredients, then yeast. Here’s a quick video showing you how:
(The short video above shows bread being made with my gfJules Bread Mix; to make with a scratch recipe, simply use the ingredients in this Gluten Free Sandwich Bread or Dinner Rolls Recipe)
2- You don’t have to have a bread maker with a gluten free setting to bake gluten free bread. But it helps. If you have an older bread machine without a gluten free setting, make sure it’s totally clean from any gluten residue. If there are scratches on the pan or the paddle, buy new ones because they could house gluten left behind from the last loaf.
If you are in the market for a new bread maker, buy one with a gluten free setting. Check my review of gluten free bread machines though, as they are not all good for baking gluten free bread; just because a machine has a gluten free setting, does not necessarily mean it will produce a good loaf.
3- Using bread makers without a gluten-free setting. Read your manual to find out if it will allow you to, and how to override the pre-programmed settings.
How to Program Your Bread Machine for Gluten Free Bread:
1. a 20-minute mix cycle
2. a 1-hour rise cycle
3. a 1-hour bake cycle
Do not allow the machine to do a “punch down” or second rise! Those are settings specific to gluten breads, but they will damage your gluten free loaf.
4- Always bring ingredients to room temperature before mixing gluten free bread dough. For eggs, heat a bowl of water and put the un-cracked eggs in the bowl to bring them to room temperature.
5- Always put liquid ingredients into a bread maker pan first. Dry ingredients go on top. If you can whisk the dry ingredients together before pouring them into the pan, that is best.
6- Keep a rubber spatula handy and help the bread maker out a bit during the mix cycle. Go around the pan with the spatula to help the ingredients incorporate. Th mixing paddles on bread machines don’t always get the dry ingredients off the sides of the pan, so using a rubber spatula can help. You’ll know after first use if your machine needs a little help mixing or not.
If you don’t want holes from the paddles when you remove them after baking, once the bread is mixed and before the rise, reach into the dough and remove the paddles; use the rubber spatula to help clean them off and smooth the top of the bread before rising. Note: it’s totally fine to leave the paddle inside the loaf as it bakes — it’s purely aesthetic whether you want a hole in the bottom of the loaf or not. With most machines, there is only one paddle, so only one small hole in the bottom center of the loaf.
7- Buy an instant read thermometer. They’re not expensive but make all the difference in helping you decide if your gluten free bread is really fully cooked. Always take your bread’s temperature before you take it out of the oven or the bread maker. It might look and smell done, but if it’s not over 205° F, it’s not done in the middle. Add extra time to your bread maker or put the bread maker loaf pan into your oven on 350° F for another 5-10 minutes (keep taking its temperature).
8- Let your bread cool in the pan for about 5-10 minutes. Lay the pan on its side for a few minutes, then shift to the other side for a few minutes. Gently remove it from the pan after it has cooled a bit, then cool completely on a wire rack before cutting (if you can resist!).
9- Store fully cooled bread in a zip-top bag on your counter – Squeeze the air out of the bag first, then seal. Depending on the recipe and ingredients, it should stay fresh that way for a few days. Remember: this is homemade bread, not commercially-made, processed bread loaded with preservatives, so it will naturally be softest and taste freshest the first day or two. In France, people still buy fresh baguettes every day — there’s a reason!
10- Never refrigerate your breads or you will dry them out! If you can’t finish the whole loaf before it starts to get dry, you can slice the bread and freeze it in a zip-top freezer bag so you always have bread handy. Put parchment or wax paper between the slices to make separating the frozen slices easier. Then, just toast to enjoy! Or, use leftover bread that’s past its prime in homemade gluten free French Toast!
Bonus #11 – If you really want a tall, fluffy loaf of bread, use a carbonated beverage like gluten free beer, club soda or ginger ale! Check out the height of my gluten-free beer bread! This is my favorite, reliable from-scratch gluten free sandwich bread recipe which can also be made with carbonated liquids.
CLICK HERE TO GET A FREE COPY OF JULES’ “GLUTEN FREE BREAD BAKING” eBOOK (A $9.95 VALUE)
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I use almond flour, coconut flour, flaxseed etc.
but my bread maker calls for brown rice flour and potato starch. Can I substitute my flours? Do you have the almond flour, etc. for bread machines?
I have found your breadmaker tips very helpful. Thank you. Many of my recipes call for “bread flour.” Can I just substitute my gf flour or do I need to add anything to make my gf flour more like “bread flour?” Thanks for your help! Sue
Hi Sue, if you’re using regular gluten bread recipes and they’re calling for “bread flour” that’s usually HIGH GLUTEN flour, so there are lots of differences. Those would be the hardest recipes to try to convert to gluten free, just so you know. This article on gluten free bread baking might help in converting recipes. Glad the bread machine tips are helpful to you!
~jules
Hi Jules
My manual says to always put the yeast in first and make sure the liquid doesn’t touch it too quickly.
How come you say to put the liquid in first?
Cheers
Hi Malcolm, not sure about those directions. I’ve never seen a bread machine not say liquids first. It makes sense to have the liquids on the bottom so that the mixing paddle can pull the powdery ingredients down; if the powder was on the bottom, it won’t mix all the way with just that one little paddle. Putting the yeast in a well in the center of the powdered ingredients keeps it from touching the liquids too soon, as well.
Hope that helps!
~jules
If you don’t have a bread mix, how much gfJules All Purpose flour do I add?
Hi Linda, if you’d like to make sandwich bread from scratch, here’s my gluten free sandwich bread recipe. I also have several other gluten free bread recipes using my gfJules Flour on my site, just search “bread”. Enjoy!
~jules
Hi, I am eager to start baking gluten free bread and am wondering when the sandwich bread mix will be available again. Thank you.
Help! I need to order more jgJules gluten free flour. The site keeps taking me everywhere except where I can order.
That’s so odd, Susan! Here’s the direct link: https://shop.gfjules.com/collections/flour/products/gfjules-all-purpose-gluten-free-flour-1-5-lbs-pack-of-1?variant=30197819089
I hope that works for you! You can’t run out ifvtye flour you need to make all these yummy recipes!!!!
~jules
Please Julles, i live in Venezuela, my husband is a llergic to Gluten, i want to make a GF bread in my Bread maker but i cannot buy the JBread Mix, could you recommend me some mix that would work? Highly appreciate your help.
Thanks Paty…i have rice flour, cornstarch, oatmeal flour…and xantan gum, and yeast and baking powder
Hi Patricia, take a look at this article on gluten free flours and use the ratio recipe I provide at the end with the flours you have on hand. You should be able to make a blend to use in my recipes to make delicious bread for your husband. Best of luck!
~jules
Jules,
I am currently trying your recipe in my Zojirushing BBCC-X20.
It doesn’t have a GF bread program and I am using QUICK.
However, there is an option to save my own parameters for Preheating, Kneading, Rise, Bake and Keep warm. What timing should I assign to each for best results?
Thank you.
Jules,
I apologize, I found all the information in your wonderful book. I downloaded it and I printed it. You are a life saver😉
Thank you.
So happy it helped, Emilia!
~jules
I just purchased the Cuisinart CBK-110… the GF breads I’ve made go right into the garbage! The regular (gluten-filled) ones are just fine? Is the gf flour much heavier/denser than regular flour or Bread flour? I’m following the recipe perfectly, but still coming out with horrible loaves?
Hi Dee – what recipes are you using? What gluten free flours? If you’re using my gfJules Gluten Free All Purpose Flour, it’s not heavy or dense so you shouldn’t have those results, but there are certainly plenty of other gluten free flour combinations that can yield that result. I would lean toward thinking that is your problem, since you’ve turned out good loaves in the machine with regular bread. Have a look at this article on gluten free flours and hopefully that will help!
~jules
Thanks!
Hi, my son was recently diagnosed with Crohns. I want to make SCD bread in the bread maker but can’t find a recipe for the bread machine that uses almond flour and no yeast. Do I just follow the recipe and add al ingredients to the machine?
I’m not sure about an almond flour recipe with no yeast and how that would turn out, but in general, you add liquids first, then the sifted dry ingredients. If there’s no yeast, then you could set a machine on quick bread method. Check Gluten Free Goddess for more almond flour recipes, as I don’t prefer that in my gluten free recipes and that’s her primary ingredient.
~jules
I made GF bread in my very old bread machine using only the dough setting. I put the dough into the loaf pan and baked it. The bread was very tasty. I’m not sure if it would bake properly in the machine. I’ll give it a try and hope for the best. Thanks for the recipe!!!
You are very welcome, Mary Ann!
~jules
I’m confused – please help! I know you recommend and use the Zojirushi machine and I recently purchased the BB-PDC20. I’ve read on your website not to allow a punch down and second rise for GF bread, but the Machine manual shows that its GF course does just that. So do you use the standard Zojirushi GF course with punch downs, or do you program it manually for a 20 minute mix, 1 hour rise, and 1 hour bake (as you suggest to people who have a machine without a GF setting). FYI – I found a comment on the Zojirushi website asking this very question. Zojirushi responded that they were aware that no punch down was the general wisdom for GF breads, but they found their course for gluten-free with punch downs worked better and that’s why their machines are programmed that way. Thank you so much for your advice!
Hi Noelle, it IS confusing! I’m glad you told me about that comment on their site — I hadn’t seen that. I program the Zo as you referenced in your comment so it’s a homemade cycle without punchdown. I can tell you though that I’ve used the GF course for the Zo and it doesn’t seem to perform that differently. If you use the GF course and it’s not working well, then I would recommend programming a new cycle. I hope that helps!!
~jules
Thanks so much for your quick reply! I have tried the GF course and it was ok, but will try manually programming on my next loaf.
If you are interested, the comment/response is on the Zo Website at the following link. Comment is dated January 5, 2019. https://www.zojirushi.com/blog/?p=2089
Wow – thanks for the link, I’ll definitely check it out!
~jules
Hello. I own a Zojirushi. I programmed the machine for the settings above for Gluten Free Baking. I followed all of your steps, and the bread never rose and turned out to be as heavy as a brick. I live in an altitude of over 5400 feet. What adjustments should I make to your recipe so that I can bake a successful loaf in my bread machine? Thanks!
Hi Yvonne, what recipe and flour did you use? Did you test your yeast to see if it was active?
~jules
thanks for sharing this helpful article keep posting like that.
I bought the new 1lb Zojirushi BB-SSC10 Breadmaker. It has a gluten free setting. I would like a recipe using your flour sized for this bread maker. I love your flour..
A recipe in the cookbook for GF Brown Rice Bread has 1 c potato starch, 7/8 cup brown rice flour, 1/2 tsp. xanthan gum, 1 tsp salt, 1-1 1/2 tsp active dry yeast.
The wet ingredients are 3/4 c milk, 2 large eggs, 1/2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar, 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil and 1 Tbsp honey. How can I modify this recipe to use your flour?
Hi Sandra, I actually developed my gluten free Panettone recipe using that very machine! Here’s a link to that recipe: https://gfjules.com/recipes/gluten-free-panettone-recipe/
You can also just use my award-winning gfJules Gluten Free Bread Mix in that machine for the best, easiest way to make delicious gluten free sandwich bread. I would stay away from the recipes they have in the books that come with the machines. You have to buy a bunch of ingredients, they all call for brown rice flour so the bread is gritty, and the results are usually dry and don’t rise much. Just use the recipes on my site or my mix – much easier that way!
~jules
Can you please send me this recipe? It looks great!!✩✩✩✩
Hi Marcy, be sure to sign up for my free recipe e-newsletter at the top of the page. We’ll send you lots of great bread (and other) recipes that way. Also, use the search bar on my site to search for whatever you want, from gluten free sandwich bread to pita to artisan bread or baguettes … not sure which recipe you wanted, but several of them are actually linked in this post as well. Don’t forget my award winning gfJules Gluten Free Sandwich Bread Mix is always an easy option!
~jules
One question – which machines allow you to adjust the cycles so you can do the simple cycle you suggest?
Hi Len, you’ll have to look into each of them individually, as even between model numbers, options vary. Zojirushi units do seem to all be programmable.
~jules
My 6 year old grandaughter has been begging for cinnamon rolls. She is gluten free, dairy, free, and egg free. I need to purchase a bread maker because I can’t knead the bread with my hands. I think I will get the T-fal. Do you have a recipe for cinnamon rolls? I know the dough has to be removed and rolled out, so it will not bake in the bread maker.
Hi Jane, I can totally understand your granddaughter’s craving for cinnamon rolls! I have 4 or 5 different cinnamon rolls recipes on my site, so you’re in luck! I will tell you that with gluten free doughs for rolls, there’s no kneading of the dough, so it’s much easier on your hands. Do you have a stand mixer? If not, I’m wondering if that might not be the better purchase for you. All you need to do is put the ingredients in the stand mixer bowl and let it mix for you. Then you roll or pat out the dough and top it and then roll them up. No kneading whatsoever. Bread machines don’t do a great job with “kneading” doughs, anyway (In my humble opinion), so the stand mixer may be more versatile than the bread machine unless you’re really wanting to also use it to bake sandwich bread. Here’s one of my favorite cinnamon roll recipes: https://gfjules.com/recipes/mindys-famous-gluten-free-cinnamon-rolls-recipe/ But here’s another that doesn’t even have yeast or eggs in it (all my recipes are already dairy-free) so it’s ready even faster! https://gfjules.com/recipes/52-minute-gluten-free-cinnamon-bun-recipe/
I hope this information helps! Let me know what you decide to do!
~jules
I got the expensive machine above. I have attempted to make the gf bread in the book that came with it. I substituted the brown rice flour with oat flour and the milk with oat milk since I can’t have the other ingredients and both of them raised and then fell once it was done. I feel like they were doughy and undercooked. I decreased the yeast in the second loaf. It didn’t help. What should I do? How do I stop the machine from beating it down?
Hi Audra, is there a reason you haven’t tried my gluten free bread recipes or my gfJules Mix? I don’t find that the recipes in those bread machine books — at least the ones for gluten free bread — work very well; they’re usually dense and heavy. When getting the hang of baking gluten free bread and using a bread maker, I always suggest folks try my award-winning gfJules Bread Mix at least once so you know how good the bread can really be. If you still want to make your own flour blend, at least you’ll have something to shoot for. You can get a great loaf of gluten free bread out of these machines, you just have to use the right recipe!
~jules
Want to make gluten free bread for daughter who has Celiac’s. However, can I make regular bread with same machine? Worried about cross contamination – do I have to buy 2 to be safe? Thanks and love your products
My son is gluten free, dairy free and egg free. Do you know if I can replace eggs with flax eggs and still have similar result? Thanks
Hi Esther, I use flaxeggs with my gfJules Bread Mix and recipes all the time – it works great! It’s my favorite egg substitute for gluten free bread. Here are some others you might want to know about: https://gfjules.com/egg-free-vegan-baking-tips/
~jules