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)
*Some links in this post may be referral links. If you do decide to purchase a product at a retailer after following my link, I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you, which I use to pay for web hosting and services for this blog. Read my disclosure policy here.
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looking to get the advertised (free)” Baking gluten free bread in a bread machine”. can not find the spot to enter the e-mail address to get sent to me!
Can I use your regular flour for my bread machine?
Hi Barb, absolutely!! I have several great recipes on my site for bread machine using my gfJules Flour! Just search the homemade gluten free breads tab or use the search bar and look through the ingredients: sandwich bread, cinnamon raisin bread, beer bread … there are several yummy options!
~jules
I just received my new Zojirushi (BD-PPC20), which I purchased based on Jules, recommendation, and am excited about making GF bread. Trying to program a custom program as a HOMEMADE course per Jules’ suggestion (MIX 20 min, RISE 60 min, BAKE 60 min), I discovered that the only cycles offered are REST, KNEAD, SHAPE, RISE and KEEP WARM. How should I program the MIX cycle? I am at a loss. Please advise.
Hi Barry, happy to help! The general term “MIX” is the same as “KNEAD” in bread machine-speak; same with “RISE” and “REST.” So for your machine with those choices, you’ll Knead for 20 minutes, Rest for 60 minutes and Bake for 60 minutes.
Let me know how it goes!
~jules
Jules, I received a Hamilton Beach “HomeBaker” bread machine for Christmas. The GF setting has 2 kneading cycles (see attached). This seems important for recipes like your GF Panettone recipe, in which nuts and fruit are added after the initial wet and dry ingredients are mixed. However, you clearly state that the second kneading cycle should be avoided. If so, when do I add nuts and fruit? And even if I’m not adding in any nuts or fruits, should I skip the second kneading — even though the first kneading cycle is only 10 minutes not 20, like you recommend above? Please advise! My husband thought the bread machine would make my GF bread-making easier (and more frequent, since we both love your bread recipes!) but I’m so confused. Thank you!
Hi Suzen, I’m so glad you’re loving my gluten free bread recipes!!! A bread machine is a great idea to make it even easier to have gluten free bread! Do you know which model Hamilton Beach you received? Unfortunately the photo of the timetables is so small I can’t read it very well, but in the bread machines I have, there’s usually a beep towards the end of the single kneading cycle which indicates when to add the nuts and fruit. This makes it possible to both add those mix-ins and avoid having to utilize a second kneading cycle which we’re trying to avoid with gluten free breads. I reviewed a Hamilton Beach machine that I really liked in my Gluten Free Bread Machine Reviews Post and I also noted another Hamilton Beach machine to avoid, based upon other readers’ experiences. Check out that post and see whether you have one of those machines and perhaps avoid the headaches associated with the not-so-good machine by exchanging it now, if that’s the one you have!
~jules
Thank you so much, Jules! My new bread machine is indeed the one you specifically mentioned avoiding — yikes. My husband is going to try to exchange it for one that you recommend. Fingers crossed!
It’s so deceiving!! I don’t know why these companies make bread machines with gluten free settings that don’t work well for gluten free breads! They also publish terrible gluten free bread recipes in their recipe books, too! I guess we can’t all be experts at gluten free bread, can we? LOL
Hopefully the exchange will be painless since it’s so soon after purchase — I will keep my fingers crossed, also!!
~jules
Can you use Tonic in the bread recipe
Hi Wendy, you can, but tonic will leave a taste, whereas seltzer or club soda doesn’t have any taste at all so it won’t affect the taste of the bread.
~jules
Hi – I hope you can help me. We have a new Zojirushi that we bought for GF bread after our last machine stopped working after 27 years. I have used the recommended measuring on a gram scale twice, following the GF recipe exactly in the Zoji booklet, using #5, and they are worthless, after all the expensive ingredients! I’m ready to buy a bread mix and give up. Any ideas?
Hi Sally, I don’t use the recipes in the Zojirushi book at all. Frankly, I don’t know who writes the gluten free recipes in the books that comes with those bread machines, but I don’t like any of them! Have you tried the bread recipes on my site that I use with the Zo? This one works really well for regular sandwich bread; this gluten free beer bread is amazing; this cinnamon-raisin bread is stellar … but of course the absolute easiest is just to use my gfJules Bread Mix because you know it will work every time! (any of those recipes can be made using my bread mix, too)
I hope that helps!
~jules
Which Hamilton or oyster bread machine do you recommend
Hi Daryl, check out my gluten free bread machine reviews for the specific machines I tested and recommend (and those I don’t!).
Happy gluten free bread baking!
~jules
if i stop my bread machines cycle after the first two knead cycles and rest cycle and allow it to ferment and rise for 1 hour as you suggest, will it fall when i turn my machine back on to the bake cycle ? I’m thinking the time it takes for the bake cycle to get up to temp could be a problem. I have never timed it to see how long this takes.
Hi Gloria, the only problem I see with this proposal is that you said “The first two knead cycles.” If there are two knead cycles, that means there is a punch down cycle in between — you do NOT want that cycle! If you can stop the machine after the first knead cycle, then allow it to rest and rise but the machine will not be at all warm, so you will probably want a longer rise. Then turn on to the bake cycle. The machine is designed to go from rise to bake already with the dough inside, so I don’t think it will be a problem for the bread to come to temp with the bread inside.
~jules
Hi for the 1-hour bake cycle in the bread maker should it be set to 275 Degrees or 300 degrees cook temp? My gluten-free option automatically sets it to 275.
Hmmm. Interesting. Most bread machines don’t offer a temperature option, but when you bake in the oven, it’s at 350F. 275F seems pretty low to me for a bake temp. What brand is the machine?
~jules
i’ve tried 3 different recipes but all fail to rise in breadmaker so r really waste of time and ingredients. also allergic to eggs totally. Also nuts which i thought would rule out almond flour and coconut and coconut milk. Also allergic to dairy so cheese is also a no go for me. At moment trying Goats milk and seem ok with this milk as was brought up on goats milk. Aparently also allergic to wheat
Hi Chris, I hear you. Trust me though, it’s all about the right gluten free flour combination and in the case of using a bread machine, it also does make a difference that you’re using a bread maker with a gluten free setting and that the bread is cooked all the way through so that it does not fall after it cools (from being uncooked in the middle). By the time many people arrive on my site, they’ve experienced lots of expensive gluten free flour and bread failures, and are pretty dejected, so you’re not alone. Lucky for you, my gfJules Flour and Bread Mix meet your dietary restrictions (no nuts, eggs, wheat or dairy) and they make great gluten free bread in bread machines designed for gluten free breads like the ones I’ve compared in this bread machine reviews article. The best thing you can do to convince yourself that it’s not you, it’s the recipes you’ve used before, is to make one loaf using my gfJules Bread Mix because it’s all-in — just add the liquids. I use flaxseed meal and water as an egg sub with this bread mix all the time and it works deliciously without sinking, so I can tell you that you will be pleased. No need for dairy, either: I really like using bubbly liquid of some sort like sparkling water, gluten free beer or gingerale if you like a sweeter bread.
I hope this helps put you on the path to great gluten free bread from a bread machine. Feel free to reach out with any questions anytime, just email [email protected].
~jules
I just found your site and look forward to trying one of your recipes. I tried two others I found online on other sources, but both sunk in the middle. Do you have any idea why that would happen? I want to make nice bread with the rounded top as yours look. My machine is the Oster, with a GF setting.
I just came across your recipes while searching for a gluten free bread machine recipe. Excited to start baking but all I have is a 1:1 gluten free flour. I will have to wait to get other flour to start following your recipes.
Hi Millicent, I’m so glad you’ve found me and are excited to start baking!!! Check out this article on gluten free flours and blends and compare what you have on hand. While it’s not my gfJules Flour, you may still be able to use it for some or most of my recipes until you use it up!
Happy baking!
~jules
I have a question on the gf setting on the machine. My zojirushi has a second rise and punch down for the gf setting. Is that ok to use or I should custom program to only 1 rise? Thanks
Hi,
Do any of your gluten free bread making machine recipes come in spanish?
Thank you,
Manuel
Hi Manuel, I’m sorry but they are not translated on my site, however, you should be able to copy them from my site and paste them into Google translate. I hope that helps!!!
~jules