Wholesome Gluten-Free Flax Bread

Nutritious and delicious, Wholesome Gluten-Free Flax Bread is the ultimate sandwich bread.

“Unlike most gluten-free breads, this flax bread is adaptable, too. Feel free to experiment with different flour combinations here,” says Laurie Sadowski, creator of this recipe, and author of The Allergy Free Cook series.

“To this day, it’s one of my most popular recipes,” she says.

Makes: 12 to 16 slices
Free of: gluten and top allergens

Photo: Getty

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups + 1 tbsp warm water
  • 2 tbsp pure maple syrup or agave nectar
  • 2 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
  • 1/4 cup + 3 tbsp ground flaxseeds
  • 3/4 cup + 2 tbsp sorghum flour
  • 1/2 cup arrowroot starch or potato starch
  • 1/2 cup quinoa flour
  • 1/4 cup garfava or bean flour
  • 1/4 cup tapioca flour
  • 2 1/2 tsp xanthan gum
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 2 tbsp canola or olive oil
  • 2 tsp cider vinegar

Instructions

  1. Lightly oil an 8 1/2 x 4 1/2-inch loaf pan. Pour 1 cup of the water into a large measuring cup. Stir in maple syrup and yeast. Let stand for about 5 minutes, until yeast has bubbled and foamed about 1/2 inch. 
  2. Put remaining 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon of water in a heavy-duty stand mixer or large bowl. Stir in 3 tablespoons of the flaxseeds. Let stand until thickened, about 5 minutes. 
  3. Place remaining 1/4 cup of flaxseeds, sorghum flour, arrowroot starch, quinoa flour, garfava flour, tapioca flour, xanthan gum, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir with a whisk until combined. 
  4. Add oil and vinegar to the thickened flaxseed mixture. Using stand mixer or a hand mixer, beat on medium speed for about 30 seconds, until well combined. Turn mixer to low speed and gradually add the proofed yeast mixture and flour mixture to make a dough. 
  5. Turn off the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Resume mixing on medium-high speed for 5 minutes. The dough will be very sticky, similar to thick muffin batter. 
  6. Scrape the dough into prepared pan using a rubber spatula. Smooth out the top. Let rise uncovered in a warm, draft-free place for about 70 minutes, just until the dough reaches the top of the pan. 
  7. About 10 minutes before the dough is done rising, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. (If the dough is rising in the oven, be sure to remove it first.) 
  8. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until top of the loaf is browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. A fully baked loaf should register 200 degrees F. 
  9. Carefully remove the loaf from the pan and put it on a cooling rack. Let cool completely before slicing. 

Reprinted with permission and minor updates from Laurie Sadowski’s The Allergy-Free Cook Bakes Bread © Book Publishing Co.

Related: Dairy-free, Gluten-Free Spiced Banana Oat Bars

is the author of The Allergy-Free Cook series and specializes in baking recipe development. Visit https://www.lauriesadowski.com, and follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/letsbakelaurie