Making homemade gluten-free bread is known for being downright difficult. After hearing a lot of my chatter about the Cuisinart Gluten-Free Bread Maker (with special gluten-free setting), I decided to give it a try myself. Could this be the answer I was looking for?
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“Gluten-free bread sucks”
I remember thinking this A LOT when I started this gluten-free life. And while it’s gotten better over the years, it’s still hard to find good gluten-free bread at the store. Most of the time, GF bread is either very expensive or too dry and crumbly. So, I was really excited to try the Cuisinart Bread Maker to see if it lived up to all the hype.
In this article, I will share my experience with making gluten-free bread in this bread maker, as well as give my honest opinion on whether or not this machine is worth purchasing.
Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
Why Choose the Cuisinart Bread Maker?
There are a few reasons you might want to choose the Cuisinart Bread Maker for your gluten-free bread needs.
- It has a special gluten-free cycle. This is huge because most traditional bread machines do not have this option.
- It is a very affordable price compared to other bread machines on the market (especially ones with a gluten free setting).
- This machine’s compact size allows you to store it in a cupboard when not in use.
- Finally, it has great reviews online. People who have purchased this bread maker seem to really love it.
The main benefit of buying a bread machine with a specific gluten free setting is that gluten-free bread with yeast requires an extra mixing cycle and only one rise cycle.
On settings for bread with gluten, the mixing time is shorter and it will pause for a second rise – not ideal for gluten-free bread. This is why the best bread machines for GF baking have a specific gluten-free setting, like the affordable Cuisinart.
How to Make Gluten-Free Bread in the Cuisinart Bread Maker
With a few simple tweaks, making a yummy gluten-free loaf of bread in the Cuisinart Bread Maker is very easy! I will walk you through the process step-by-step so that you can make bread like a pro, from your first loaf and beyond!
First, you will need to gather your ingredients. For this recipe, you will need:
- 1 cup warm milk
- 4 tablespoons butter, softened
- 4 large eggs
- 3 cups and 3 tablespoons of gluten free all purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 and 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
- 1 and 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons instant yeast
Check out the quick video below and see how to make gluten-free sandwich bread in the Cuisinart Bread Maker. The recipe in this video came straight from the instruction manual included with the bread machine.
Troubleshooting Common Problems
As you can see in the video, my first try with the bread maker went well. However, there were still a few improvements that needed to made for me to ditch my favorite (and expensive) store-bought GF bread.
The main problems I encountered with this recipe are:
- The bread had a slightly bitter taste – this came from the yeast not fully activating.
- The bread was very dense.
After doing some research, I found many other people had these same problems. So let’s take a look at some solutions that worked well for me.
Why is My Gluten-Free Bread Not Rising in the Bread Maker?
You follow the directions carefully, but your bread didn’t rise. What gives?
The first thing I would check is the type of yeast you used. For bread machines, use instant yeast or bread machine yeast. Active dry yeast must be proofed before adding to the bread machine, thus adding an additional step to the process. Make life a little easier by using either instant yeast or bread machine yeast.
If you used the correct yeast and still ran into trouble, take a look a some of the tips below for help.
Why is My Gluten-Free Bread So Dense?
Here are my tops tips to avoid dense (or otherwise unappealing) gluten-free bread.
- Weigh your flour carefully. Gluten-free baking is notoriously finicky, so having just the right amount of flour is very important. I always suggest weighing your flour instead of measuring with cups for a more accurate measurement. A simple food scale is less than $10 and is so helpful with gluten-free baking.
- Gluten-free flour takes longer to absorb moisture. So it’s important when working with GF flours to let the batter rest before baking. That’s why I love this machine – the gluten free setting has two knead cycles.
- Let the bread cool completely. Once the bread is done baking, remove it from the loaf pan and then return the loaf to the bread maker to finish cooling completely. This will ensure the bread is cooked completely through and the crust doesn’t become hard and leathery.
Do I Need Xanthan Gum for Gluten-Free Bread?
The simple answer is yes. Xanthan gum is needed for adding structure and maintaining moisture in gluten-free bread.
When baking gluten-free bread, it’s important to use an all-purpose GF flour without added xanthan gum (like King Arthur Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour). Not a 1:1 GF baking flour.
The reason is gluten-free bread requires an exact ratio of xanthan gum. The xanthan gum in “measure for measure” GF flour is not enough to yield good results.
Xanthan gum is easy to find at Walmart, Target, and many grocery stores.
Is the Cuisinart Bread Maker Worth It?
Overall, I love the simplicity of using the bread maker. The fact that it has pre-programmed menu options for GF bread allowing you to simply add in the ingredients and let the machine do the rest is very very convenient.
While I did have to make a few adjustments to the recipe included with the bread machine, they were easy changes. The result was a home filled with a warm, delicious smell and a loaf of gluten-free bread that reminded me of a time before this gluten-free journey.
What about the cost?
At roughly $100, the Cuisinart Bread Maker provides an easy and affordable way to enjoy freshly made gluten-free bread. Plus with the cost of store-bought GF bread, this machine will pay for itself in just a few months of use!
Easy Gluten-Free Bread Maker Recipe: Sandwich Bread
Follow these simple instructions to get the best results with your bread maker!
First, add all the wet ingredients (milk, butter, and eggs), into the baking pan of the bread maker. Tip – take the bread pan out of the bread maker to add the ingredients. It’s much easier to clean up any spills 🙂
Next, add in the dry ingredients; gluten-free flour, salt, sugar, xanthan gum, and yeast.
Select the gluten-free setting on your bread machine (setting 6 on the Cuisinart) and set the crust to medium. Press start.
4. Once the machine begins to beep after the first cycle, use a spatula to scrap the edges of loaf pan, and then press the start button to continue the baking process.
Note – It will beep one more time after the second knead, but you don’t need to do anything. The machine will start baking automatically.
6. Let the bread maker finish on it’s own. When you hearing the final beep, you can unplug the unit but leave the bread in the machine to cool. It’s best to give it a good 30 minutes before slicing. I know it’s hard to wait, but it’s so worth it!
Finally, the time has come! Slice and enjoy your freshly made, gluten-free bread!
Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread: Bread Machine Recipe
Yield: 10
Prep Time: 12 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 12 minutes
Simple and tasty gluten-free sandwich bread made in a bread machine.
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm milk
- 4 tablespoons butter, softened
- 4 large eggs
- 3 cups and 3 tablespoons of gluten-free all purpose flour
- 1 and 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 and 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum
- 2 teaspoons instant yeast
Instructions
1. Add all the wet ingredients (milk, butter, and eggs), into the baking pan of the bread maker.
2. Next, add in the dry ingredients; gluten-free flour, salt, sugar, xanthan gum and yeast.
3. Select the gluten-free setting on your bread machine (setting 6 on the Cuisinart) and set the crust to medium. Press start.
4. Once the machine begins to beep after the first cycle, use a spatula to scrap the edges of loaf pan, and then press the start button to continue the baking process.
Note - It will beep one more time after the second knead, but you don't need to do anything. The machine will start baking automatically.
6. Let the bread maker finish on it's own. When you hearing the final beep, you can unplug the unit but leave the bread in the machine to cool. It's best to give it a good 30 minutes before slicing.
7. Enjoy your freshly made, gluten-free bread!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 102Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 89mgSodium: 130mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 0gSugar: 5gProtein: 4g
Other Great Gluten-Free Bread Recipes!
Want to make other types of fresh bread? Try another mouth-watering, gluten-free bread machine recipe! Here are some highly rated options from around the internet 🙂
Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Muffins from Breadish
Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Bread from Breadish
Vegan Cinnamon Raisin Bread Maker Recipe from Baking Vegan Bread
Paleo Bread Machine Recipe from My Natural Family
Take Away
Overall, the Cuisinart Bread Maker is one of the best gluten-free bread makers out there. It’s easy to use and produces delicious gluten-free bread.
With a few adjustments to the recipe, it is possible to make perfect gluten-free bread that tastes like regular homemade bread.
Bottom line: This machine is a great investment for anyone following a gluten-free diet.
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