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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Hello,
This may be a stupid question, but I am new to the bread baking game. We can find regular and rapid rise yeast, but we have been unable to find any yeast that says that it is formulated for bread machines. What does that even MEAN? There has to be an alternative, correct?
It’s not a stupid question at all! There are some brands of yeast marketed as “Bread Machine Yeast,” usually in jars, but basically they are the same as the quick rise/rapid rise yeast that you do not have to proof first. There’s more information on this in my article on yeasts linked to here. Just look for those types of yeasts in packets at your local grocery store and you’ll be fine! Hope that helps!
~jules
That helps IMMENSELY! It can be sooooo confusing! Especially for someone whose culinary experience amounts to boiling water for tea and the occasional egg! 😂 Here’s hoping!
Awww I’m so happy to know that my bread baking information here is going to empower you to bake gluten free bread in a bread maker!
~jules
Hi, I have a 1lb bread maker do you have a recipe for this size. I am struggling with measurements. thanx
Hi Margaret, a 1lb bread machine is about half the size of a typical loaf. You could either halve most of the bread recipes on my site or you could use my gluten free Panettone recipe for fun. It was developed for a smaller bread machine.
~jules
I bought the Zojirushi Virtuoso Plus breadmaker machine you recommended in your article. In the article you say Don’t do the PUSH down section of the GF mode. But you don’t say how to do this. Can you help me? I thought buying a breadmaker would be a good idea, I don’t care for baking need something quick and easy.
I meant the PUNCH DOWN. The GF setting #5 shows the Course Overviews and on the Rise section there are 2 PUNCH DOWNS.
Hi Robyn, with the Zojirushi machine you should have received a manual. If not, they are all on-line. In the manual for each machine, it teaches the user how to program the machine (every machine is different in how to program the settings). Use the settings I give you in this article and follow the manual for your machine and program the machine for the optimum gluten free setting with no punch down. The programming step is usually pretty simple when you follow along with the manual. Once this is programmed, it’s saved on the Zojurishi machine as a “homemade” setting and from then on, all you have to do is hit that button when you want to bake bread — easy peasy!
~jules
If I am making a GF cinnamon bread from scratch in a bread maker at what point do I take it out so I can roll it out and add the cinnamon ? Would that be right after it mixes ? and then let it rise and bake ?
Hi Lori – I’ve got you covered!!! I just worked on this whole concept so that we could leave our precious gluten free loaves IN the bread maker when making cinnamon bread … if you want to, that is! Check out my gluten free cinnamon raisin bread recipe and video showing how to leave it in the bread machine if you’d like to. ENJOY!
~jules
Hi, any recommendation on which bread recipe to use for vegan & gluten free bread with a bread machine? Also due to current situation I can’t find yeast. Any subs for yeast and all of the above that will make good tasting bread?
Did I miss something? There was no recipe in this recipe, no ingredients?
I disagree with your pick for the cheaper zoster machine- I purchased for my daughter, and the gf setting had a second rise cycle and no way to cancel it or manually program
Hi Kim, did the bake out cause problems for you with that machine? As long as there’s not a punch down, it should be ok, even with two rise cycles. With my gfJules Bread Mix in that machine, I didn’t have any troubles, but if you did have some problems, you could try to return the machine and try for another one. The T-fal is in the same price range and has thus far proven to be a winner every time. Hope that helps!
~jules
Do I use the GF setting on my bread machine if I’m using the GF flour with basic bread recipe?
Hi Kate, are you using a recipe that comes with your bread machine or one of my recipes? Check out this information on converting recipes to gluten free for some more info if you are wanting to use a wheat bread recipe with gluten free flour. I’d recommend using one of my recipes or my gfJules Bread Mix on the gluten free setting for your first go at gluten free bread in a bread machine. Then you’ll know what it should turn out like and be able to experiment more with other recipes thereafter if you like. Feel free to also email [email protected] if you have specific questions I can help with!
~jules
Hi, can u use the sweet bread setting for gf bread or any other settings, help?
Hi Lisa, it depends on the machine. The problem with sweet/quick bread settings is there’s not a rise time. If there’s a way to program your machine or to set it for a mixing cycle, then turn it off to rise for an hour or so then bake, that could work.
~jules
I just got a bread machine. Cuisinart with a small / square pan. It has a GF setting but I tried using it and the mixing wasn’t good enough. I ended up adding more water, to a ratio of 3 cups flour and 2 cups water. Also even with your settings, I think with all that starch, one hour isn’t long enough to make any dent in it.
I made a decent loaf but I had to use two cycles of mix/rise, so that’s four total, then let it rest with the machine off for an hour, then the bake cycle. I think I could’ve let it rise longer too. It was nice. Not perfect but nice. Small fine bubbles, firm texture, but moist. Sandwich texture with a chewy crust. Maybe a bit sticky below the crust, even after cooling 4 hours. But easily sliced with no tearing or crumbling.
I think my first comment on bread machines in general is that I don’t like how fast the GF cycle is. There’s a lot of starch in GF bread, why give the yeast almost no chance to develop? I think the sweet bread cycle might be better if someone wants an instant solution, but I”m going to try dough / bake separately. I used Namaste flour this time because it was fresh and new and easy, and added a bit of psyllium, otherwise it’s pretty much what you say in your video.
Thanks for sharing your tips, do you use the bread machine every week?
I have an old Toastmaster bread machine. Does anyone have any suggestion on using this machine with gluten free recipes?
What blend of flours do you use? Would like to blend my own. Julie
Hi Julie, the gluten free flours I use aren’t available to consumers. The closest approximation would be found in this article on gluten free flours which also explains how my blend works and why it’s so much better! Happy baking!
~jules
Hi Jules!
I have tried making gf bread twice, and both times it has come out hard and dense. I have used your pre-packaged gf sandwich bread mix and club soda as the liquid. I have also used Ener-G Egg Replacer instead of eggs since there is an allergy in my house. My bread maker is a Zojirushi with a pre-programmed gf setting. Any tips? Should I override the pre-programmed setting and use your recommended settings? Any help would be appreciated!
Hi Bret, I feel your pain on the bricks-as-bread problem. I was there for so long before I finally cracked the code! The thing about the Zo is that the pre-programmed gluten free setting has a punch-down and second rise that I really don’t love. I would suggest you follow the program I propose in this article and do your own homemade setting. Secondarily, don’t use Ener-G for the egg replacer. When I make my gfJules Bread Mix in the Zo at shows for tasting or for classes, I make my bread mix egg-free by doing a flaxseed meal and water egg sub (here is more information on recommended egg substitutes) and it works great! I like Ener-G for cookies, but that’s about it. Let me know how it goes!
~jules
Hi ! I have a. Similar problem with my Andrew James Gluten free bread maker . . Pl help
Thanks
Hi, I have tried your gf pumpernickel bread 5 times and each time it sunk in the middle and once it overflowed. What do I need to do to make a loaf for sandwiches. I’m using the SKG bread maker. I’m so upset.
Hi Mary, have you tried making this recipe in the oven, instead? It is a large loaf, so it sounds like it’s too large for your particular bread machine pan. You could either half the recipe and try it again in your bread machine or just use a larger loaf pan and bake it in the oven. Breads will sink when they are not fully cooked and if it overflowed, it’s definitely too much for your pan. I’m not familiar with that brand of bread machine, but some pans are much smaller than others. You can also try another of my recipes or my gluten free sandwich bread mix to make regular sandwich bread; the mix and this gluten free sandwich bread recipe make smaller loaves than the pumpernickel recipe.
Hope that helps!
~jules
Totally bummed.
I have a Zojirushi without the GF setting bread maker that I received as a gift and I could not wait to use it. I used the King Arthur GF that has Xanthan gum in it so I did not add anymore because the King Arthur recipe said not to.. I watched your great video and added the liquids first (warm temperature) and placed the dry ingredients on top after I whisked the dry ingredients together. I made a hole and added the yeast. I read the guide and it said to use the basic setting and I selected light crust. Well my bread is more like cornbread and not soft and moist like I had imagined. Totally bummed! My house smells good though. What did I do wrong?
Hi Michelle, did you use one of my gluten free bread recipes or one from the KA website? The KA Flour is very different from mine, and performs totally differently as well; I’m sure that contributed to the results you got from this recipe. I would also recommend using my guide (in this post) to program the Zojirushi for a gluten-free bread setting. When people are starting out baking gluten free bread, I also recommend using my gfJules Gluten Free Bread Mix so you can see how it SHOULD turn out and you can either just keep using my mix or use one of my recipes and know what to expect, results-wise.
Thanks so much. I used the KA mix. Buying your mix now. I really appreciate you taking the time to respond. I was so excited to get started and bummed when it did not turn out the way I hoped. Since my bread maker does not have the GF option, do I use the following settings when making the bread using your mix?
1. a 20-minute mix cycle
2. a 1-hour rise cycle
3. a 1-hour bake cycle
Again, thank you.
Yep! That should do it. You should check the internal temp to be sure the bread machine is baking it all the way through, though, just to be sure since this is the first time using my mix in your machine without a GF setting.
I have a Cuisinart bread machine that I have used three times, without great results. I follow the recipes precisely. I have opened the lid during what is supposed to be the rising cycle and found the bread dough on the sides of the pan and had to use a spatula to form the bread loaf. Is this normal? The bread never rises, and comes out very dense and moist in center – no bread-like texture. What is wrong??
Hi Anne, It’s totally ok to open the lid during mixing and use a spatula to help mix it. Once it’s finished mixing and then enters the rising cycle, it’s hard to get that flour from the sides of the pan integrated and mixed well with the dough, so I’d suggest helping it along DURING the mix cycle, instead of after. Otherwise, what recipe are you using? What gluten free flours do you use? Do you weigh your ingredients or measure by volume? What liquids are you using? Do you use eggs or substitute? All these things will contribute to your success, so let me know and I’ll be happy to try to help!
~jules
Thanks so much for following up. I use the recipe in the booklet. I use two types of flour – Bobs Red Mill and a corn flour which I measure with a spoon and then level off. Liquids are eggs, milk (I substitute almond milk), oil and water. I just purchased another brand of GF flour at Aldi and will give that a try.
I also tried using two packets of yeast thinking that could be a problem, but had no affect.
Hi Anne, if you’re relying simply on the gluten free flours you can find at the grocer store, that’s definitely part of the problem. All gluten free flour blends are totally different and are not easily substituted in recipes, plus most grocery store brands are made with the cheapest combination of ingredients so that the price point can tolerate supermarket shopping.
If you’re using a recipe from my gfJules Bread Baking e-book, you should give my gfJules Flour a try. Or better yet, just use my gfJules Gluten Free Bread Mix. It takes all the guesswork out of it and makes award-winning bread in a bread machine. Imagine not having to throw out any more failed loaves!
gfJules Gluten Free Bread Mix
~jules