Hearty Chia Seed Bread (Gluten & Dairy Free)

With just 4 simple steps, this hearty chia seed bread is incredibly simple to make. You don’t even need a mixer! It's a naturally healthy seed loaf that's gluten and dairy free. This all-purpose bread recipe is sure to become a favorite in your home for sandwiches, toast, and more.

No need to spend all afternoon making bread from scratch – from start to finish this chia seed bread takes less than two hours to put together! Like this buckwheat bread, this recipe is made with buckwheat flour, but it also adds hearty ground chia seeds. This whole grain loaf is packed with essential nutrients like dietary fiber, iron, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids, similar to this flaxseed bread and these flaxseed muffins. Once you start baking this bread at home, you’ll never need to buy another loaf!

This post contains affiliate links. Affiliate links support Zest For Baking at no additional cost to you. I receive a commission if you choose to make a purchase through these links.

⭐Why this recipe is the best!

I love this hearty chia seed bread because it’s a hassle-free quick bread! Since it’s not made with any yeast (like this cassava bread or these yeast free cinnamon rolls!), there is no kneading or rise time involved. With just 9 simple ingredients, the bread batter is easy to prepare in 20 minutes. You’ll also love that this recipe:

• Is made in 4 simple steps
  
• Can be prepared without a mixer
  
• Contains no gluten, dairy, or yeast (and sugar if desired)
  
• Can be sliced up and frozen for long-term storage
  
• Is hearty and nutritious

💭Pro tips

Quick breads are among the easiest homemade breads to make. This is true for both traditional and gluten free baking. That being said, there are some best practices that should be adhered to in order to get the best outcome when making gluten free bread. Follow these tips to ensure your chia seed bread is a success!

1. Use room temperature ingredients

Make sure your ingredients are at room temperature for this recipe. This will allow the ingredients to mix together evenly. Having the right batter consistency is important for the texture of the bread.

2. Measure the specified ingredients by weight

Use a digital scale to measure the ground chia seeds and buckwheat flour by weight as specified in the recipe. This is the most accurate method of measurement and will ensure your bread comes out with the perfect texture.

3. Use ground chia seeds

For this recipe, you’ll want to use ground chia seeds rather than whole ones. This prevents you from having large pieces of the seeds in your bread. You can purchase ground chia seeds or grind them yourself in a food processor or high-speed blender.

4. Let the batter rest for 30 minutes

It is necessary to give the batter 30 minutes to rest before putting it in the oven. This allows the dry ingredients to absorb the liquid ingredients. This is another step that contributes to the texture of your bread.

5. Prepare the pan with non-stick spray and parchment paper

To prepare your loaf pan, grease it with non-stick spray and line it with parchment paper. Allow the paper to drape over the sides of the pan so that you can easily remove the bread loaf after baking.

6. Helpful tools

Here are a few tools that will make prepping your hearty chia seed bread super easy:

• Digital scale
  
• Mixing bowls
  
• Fork
  
• Whisk
  
• Sturdy spoon
  
• 8” x 4.5” loaf pan
  
• Parchment paper
  
• Wire cooling rack

🧾Ingredients & substitutions

• Ground chia seeds - Be sure to use ground chia seeds rather than whole ones. There is no substitute for the chia seeds in this recipe.
  
• Water - There is no substitute for the water in this recipe.
  
• Buckwheat flour - I recommend using the Bouchard Farm brand of buckwheat flour for this bread recipe. If desired, it can be substituted with one of these substitutes for buckwheat. Also ensure your flour is fresh - check out these storage tips particularly for flours
  
• Baking powder - There is no alternative for the baking powder.
  
• Salt - There is no substitute for the salt in this recipe.
  
• Pure maple syrup - The maple syrup does not make this bread sweet, it just balances out the heartiness. It can be substituted with honey or completely omitted and replaced with the same amount of water.
  
• Vegetable oil - The vegetable oil can be substituted with melted coconut oil or canola oil.
  
• Sesame seeds - The sesame seeds can be substituted for poppy seeds or sunflower seeds if desired.

📖Mixing

To prepare this hearty chia seed bread batter, start by making sure all of your ingredients are at room temperature. Then, add the ground chia seeds and 1 cup of water to a small bowl. With a fork, mix until the chia seeds are completely combined with the water (step 1 above). Set the mixture aside. In a large bowl, add the buckwheat four, baking powder, and salt (step 2) and whisk until combined. Next, add the ⅔ cup of water, maple syrup, vegetable oil, and the chia seed mixture to the flours (step 3). Using a sturdy spoon, mix for 30 seconds to fully incorporate all of the ingredients (step 4). Then, set the batter aside to rest for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare an 8" x 4.5" loaf pan by lightly spraying it with non-stick cooking spray. Then, line the pan with parchment paper and form it to the pan. Allow the paper to drape over the sides of the pan for easy removal after baking.

⏲️Baking

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Once the batter is done resting, scrape it into the prepared loaf pan and spread it evenly. Finally, sprinkle the top of the batter with sesame seeds. Bake the bread for 1 hour or until it tests done with a toothpick. You should start checking the loaf after about 50 minutes to ensure it doesn’t get overbaked. Once it’s done, remove the bread loaf from the oven and allow it cool in the pan for 5 minutes. Then, turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

FAQ's

🍞Other bread recipes

Did you make and love this recipe? Give it your review and rating below! And make sure to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook too!

📋Recipe