Gluten Free Challah Bread

Chef #1283639's Note:

In a quest for 'normal' gluten free bread, I came upon a similar recipe to this, tweaked it, and was delighted with the outcome!! FINALLY a bread that rises, is relatively light, and actually has the tastes and consistency of REAL bread! It also makes great rolls, and while my family ate the bread and rolls with a small amount of jam on them, they would be great as well for sandwiches! Finally a GF variety that you dont have to A) choke down, B) rent a crane to lift while pondering whether you should instead use the loaf in place of bricks, or C) get strange looks of pity from your coworkers as you attempt to eat 4 tiny turkey sandwiches made on dense, crumbly "bread." :) Enjoy!!! Also, check out my blog at www.glutenfreegirls.blogspot.com for more recipes and fun!

• Total Time: 2 hrs 25 mins
• Prep Time: 2 hrs
• Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 1 loaf, o ...

• 2 cups rice flour
• 1 ¾ cups tapioca flour
• ¼ cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 3 teaspoons xanthan gum
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2⁄3; cup lukewarm water
• 1 cup lukewarm water
• 1 ½ tablespoons yeast
• 4 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• 4 eggs
• sesame seed (optional)

Directions:

1. In mixer, combine the flours, 1/4 c sugar, xantham gum, and salt.
2. Dissolve the 2 tsp sugar in the 2/3 cup of water and mix in the yeast. In a separate bowl combine the butter with the additional 1 cup water and vinegar.
3. With mixer on low speed, blend the dry ingredients. Slowly add the butter/water mixture. Blend in the eggs, 1 at a time. The dough should feel slightly warm. Pour the yeast mixture into the ingredients in the bowl and beat the highest speed for 2 minutes.
4. Place the bowl in a warm spot, cover with greased plastic wrap and a towel, and let rise approximately 1 hour.
5. Return the dough to the mixer and beat on high for 3 minutes. Spoon the dough into a greased, floured loaf pan. Fill 2/3 full, you may bake the remainder in greased muffin tins, etc. (or make all rolls~about 18). Sprinkle tops with sesame seeds. Let the dough rise until it is slightly above the tops of the pans, about 45-60 minutes.
6. Preheat the oven to 400 F and bake the large loaf for approximately 1 hour. Bake the rolls 25 minutes.

Reviews

[quiltz4yu]

FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I tossed it all in my bread machine and pushed the 80 minute express bake and out popped a GORGEOUS loaf of moist bread, it didn't crumble and I'm saying goodbye to Pamela's bread mix!!!! I will add an extra 1/2 teaspoon of salt next time because we felt it needed it.

[charliemerl]

This was really delicious, and surprisingly easy. When I put the Kenwood Chef on high after adding the yeast mixture, I did get splattered with dough which was quite amusing, albeit messy so watch out fellow bakers. I found that at 200 degrees celsius, my Challah got a little too brown on top so I'd maybe drop the temperature on the oven a littttttle bit. HOWEVER, all up an easy, successful recipe. The bread itself has SUCH amazing texture considering its sans-gluten. It stays together marvelously (NO crumbles at all), and is soft and fluffy and perfect. With the mixture I made one big loaf and six rolls and the timing was right on par. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I HIGHLY recommend fellow coeliacs to try this out, or even those who can eat gluten - my gluten-eating friend gorged on just as many rolls as me. LOVE. Seriously. Perhaps could have been a little sweeter but that's personal preference with your Challah. YUM.

[ThinkJen]

This bread was/is FABULOUS!!! I used to make Challah many years ago for fun. However, after going GF in November 2011, I was desperate for a bread to use with sandwiches. I hate the stuff I've found in stores. Anyway, I had something similar to this recipe at a local cafe but decided that $12 for a sandwich and potato salad was too much. I googled GF challah and found this recipe and am so glad that I did!

Using an inexpensive bread machine from Target, I made this bread and it came out WONDERFUL!!! I've made it twice. The only thing I did different was to use 3 3/4 cup of commercial GF flour (Better Batter) and no xantham because it's mixed in with the flour already. So happy to have found this recipe! I look forward to lunches at work now. :)