Gluten Free Brown Bread {Dairy Free}

If you're looking for a bread that's as delicious with breakfast as it is alongside dinner, this gluten free brown bread is it! The soft texture and hint of sweet from the molasses takes this bread over the top in both flavor and appearance.

But there's something else that truly sets this bread apart from all others... it's the distinct style of baking that you'll use for this gorgeous loaf. Nothing complicated or overly hands on, but the baking process involves actually steaming the bread (more on that later!) but the result is a light, perfectly textured bread. This method and this bread were inspired by none other than Boston brown bread. You'll find a lot of similarities in the recipe.

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 you'll love this recipe!

I have to warn you up front, this recipe makes just one loaf of bread. Seems like all the best bread recipes make just one loaf of bread! This tasty white bread is the same thing. (Tip on single loaf breads... they don't double well, instead make 2 batches side). But back to this amazing bread... this recipe isn't just delicious, it's also:

• Dairy free (just like these fluffy dinner rolls!)
• Egg free - this unique beer bread is too
• Xanthan gum free - I've written a lot about xanthan gum alternatives here and even have a
• Yeast free (Here's another yeast free bread)
• Quick to mix
• Beautifully textured

It's a spin on traditional Boston brown bread, only without the gluten!

Bread baking pro tips

1. Use room temperature ingredients

I often get asked about storing flours since gluten free baking means we end up with more flours and starches than with gluten baking. The chart in the article linked above is a great breakdown of the individual flour or starch and then how long they can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer. But if you do opt to store them in the refrigerator or freezer, you'll have to add time to make sure they come to room temperature before using in the recipe. That goes for pretty much any gluten free recipe - room temperature ingredients blend better and are a must for baking.

For the milk, just heat the milk in the microwave for about 30 seconds, then add the vinegar to make the buttermilk.

2. Measure by weight

Like temperature of the ingredients, the way you measure ingredients is equally important in gluten free baking. Use a digital scale like this one and measure the flours and starches in grams.

Think of it like this - two cups that appear equal can actually contain different volumes of flour or starch.... It's true. I actually show this happening in my baking class but they really are different!

3. Let the batter rest

If you've been perusing my recipes you'll see me talk about a 30 minute 'rest time' after mixing the batter. This goes for everything from these zucchini muffins to these almond flour cupcakes.

This rest time is an essential part of gluten free baking. It gives the starches time to absorb the liquid to create a nice fluffy end result. I show an example in my baking class, but the difference between batter that has rested and batter that hasn't rested isn't just the height, it's the texture, the crumb... everything!

4. Use the pan size indicated

I've experimented with different pan sizes for this bread but the best size to use is the 8" x 4.5". This size ensures that the bread isn't flat, but has a nice crown on it and also doesn't overflow in the pan.

5. Follow the steaming tips

I mentioned before but this loaf bakes differently. It follows the steaming method where you create an environment that steams it so the resulting loaf is super tender and moist. Follow the details for it below but this steaming method is very important to proper bread texture.

How to make this recipe

Ingredients & substitutions

The ingredients list for this recipe is nice and short. Below are the brands I use and recommend and then some substitutions I recommend if you need to substitute an ingredient...

Cornmeal - the Nuts.com brand of cornmeal is the perfect texture, plus it's GF.

Sorghum flour - also head to Nuts.com for your sorghum flour, it's the most budget friendly option. To substitute sorghum flour, check out the guide to GF flour substitutes chart.

Brown rice flour - I buy the 5 pound bag of flour from Nuts.com. The quality is amazing and the price is super. Also reference the flour substitutes chart above for an alternative to brown rice flour.

Baking powder - I use Clabber Girl brand, but any brand that is GF would work well. As a substitute to baking powder, you could use xanthan gum.

Psyllium husk powder - I use and recommend this brand of psyllium husk powder. An alternative to it would be ground chia seeds or flax seed meal.

Buttermilk - make your buttermilk using almond milk and white vinegar. (Pour 2 Tablespoons of white vinegar into a 1 cup measuring cup then fill with milk to the 1 cup line). I would not advise substituting this.

Molasses - I recommend the Grandma's brand of molasses. If you need to substitute this, use ½ cup honey and a ½ cup dark brown sugar. Add it when instructed to add the molasses.

Mixing

Mixing this batter is super simple. Pull out your stand mixer and add the dry ingredients to the bowl (step 1 in image above). Mix together well and add the buttermilk and molasses (step 2). After the batter has mixed thoroughly, set it aside to rest for 30 minutes (step 3). Meanwhile spray an 8" x 4.5" baking pan with cooking spray (step 4).

Steam prep

After the batter has rested, pour it into the prepared baking pan (step 1 above). Cover the pan with a sheet of foil (step 2).

Place the pan inside a 9" x 13" baking pan and fill the 9" x 13" pan with water (step 3).

Side note: Water plays a critical part in this bread. When you add the water in the pan, it should reach a couple inches up on the loaf pan. I’ve found that either a Dutch oven or a 9" x 13" pan works equally well. Use a pan that will give the bread loaf pan room on each side, so it's not hitting the sides of the water bath pan.

Cover the 9" x 13" pan tightly with foil (step 4).

The bread in the water path should be baked on the lowest rack in your oven. This allows for enough air to circulate around the pan and it creates an optimal steam bath for the bread.

FAQ's about this recipe

Check out these other quick bread recipes!