This is the best and original gluten free bread recipe for moist and tender white sandwich bread with a chewy crumb and a crisp, brown crust.
Ingredients
- 3 cups all purpose gluten free flour blend (See Recipe Notes)
- 3 teaspoons xanthan gum (omit if your blend already contains it)
- 2 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast (See Recipe Notes)
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 1/2 cups warm milk (about 95°F) (See Recipe Notes)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted and cooled (plus more for brushing if using seeds) (See Recipe Notes)
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 egg whites (at room temperature (See Recipe Notes)
- Toasted sesame seeds for sprinkling (optional)
Instructions
- 1Grease or line a 9-inch x 5-inch loaf pan, or a 1-pound Pullman-style loaf pan (with a lid) and set it aside. You can also line the bottom and sides of the pan with a piece of parchment paper.
- 2In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, place the flour blend, xanthan gum, instant yeast, cream of tartar and sugar. Whisk together with a separate, handheld whisk. Add the salt, and whisk again to combine.
- 3Add the milk, butter, vinegar and egg whites, and mix with the paddle attachment on low speed. Scrape down the sides of the mixer bowl as necessary during mixing.
- 4Turn the mixer to medium-high speed and mix for about 3 minutes. The dough will be thick, smooth and quite wet, and should become slightly whipped in appearance.
- 5Scrape the dough into the prepared loaf pan. Using a wet spatula, smooth the top.
- 6Cover the dough with lightly oiled plastic wrap (and the lid of a pullman pan on top if using), and allow it to rise in a warm, draft-free place for 30 to 45 minutes or until it’s about 150% of its original size. That means that it's about 50% bigger than when it started (it won't double).
- 7The dough may take longer to rise properly in colder, drier weather and less time in warmer, more humid weather. Be patient!
- 8When the dough has nearly reached the end of its rise, preheat the oven to 375°F. The dough is starting to overproof if the top of the loaf starts to break and craters start to appear.
- 9Remove the lid if using, and the plastic wrap. Using a sharp knife or lame slash the top of the loaf about 1/4-inch deep. If using the optional seeds, brush the top of the risen bread gently with melted butter, and sprinkle with the seeds.
- 10If using a Pullman pan, grease the inside of the lid of the pan, and slide it into place on top of the pan.
- 11Place the pan on the middle rack OR top oven rack (whatever is appropriate for your oven) of the preheated oven.
- 12Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour. If using a Pullman pan, remove the lid after about 40 minutes of baking and return the pan to the oven to finish baking.
- 13The loaf is done when the internal temperature of the bread reaches about 205°F on an instant-read thermometer and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean (not wet).
- 14The outside will form a thick, brown crust (thinner and less brown if you've used a pullman pan with a lid), and the loaf will sound somewhat hollow inside when you tap it firmly but gently with your forefinger.
- 15Remove the loaf from the oven, and allow the bread to cool for about 10 minutes in the pan. Transfer the bread from the pan to a wire rack, remove any parchment paper, and allow the loaf to cool completely. Slice the cool loaf into 10 equal slices with a serrated knife.
- 16Wrap the cooled loaf and any slices tightly in plastic wrap and store at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- 17To freeze this bread, cool completely and then wrap tightly, and freeze. Defrost the whole loaf at room temperature, still wrapped.
- 18You can also slice a cooled loaf and wrap each slice separately, and freeze. Defrost as many slices at a time as you need in the toaster.