If you're looking for the perfect sorghum bread recipe, this is it! With a full cup of sorghum flour, this bread tastes like a cross between a hearty wheat bread and a sweeter Hawaiian bread. In other words, very mild and ideal for a sandwich.
The recipe is dairy free as written and even keeps the sugar to a minimum (need a sugar free bread? Check out this sandwich bread). After a short, 20 minute rise and 45 minute baking time, you'll have a delicious yeast bread, ready to sink your teeth into.
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Why this recipe is the best!
It's not every day that you have both a delicious bread recipe and one that doesn't require a long prep time. In fact, if you use a stand mixer (highly recommended!), it makes the process even easier. The mixer does all the work for you. In addition to being a somewhat hands-off bread, this recipe is also:
- Dairy free
- Low sugar
- Light, not dense
- Sandwich worthy
- Perfectly textured
A little about sorghum flour
What gluten free flour is mild, balanced in terms of fiber and protein content and the same price as white or brown rice flour?
You guessed it! Sorghum flour!
I've worked with sorghum flour quite a bit (see this article on 5 reasons why you'll love working with sorghum flour) and baked with it just as much - see this delicious banana cake for proof! And one of the reasons it's a great baking flour to get to know is that it's incredibly versatile. Millet, buckwheat and amaranth are all very close in composition to it so if you need to substitute these gluten free flours, sorghum would be your go-to.
As for where sorghum comes from - it's milled from the sorghum kernel. It's an ancient grain that is found in Asian countries, Australia and Africa. Fortunately it's readily available both online and in many stores.
Baking pro tips
These tips will ensure that you have the absolute best, lightest, fluffiest bread ever.
Weigh the ingredients
Few things will be a game changer for your baking like the method you use to measure the ingredients. Instead of using cups, use a digital scale to weigh the flour in grams. I explain this in a little more detail in this baking masterclass, but it has to do with how much flour actually gets added to the recipe. Digital scales run about $15 on Amazon - and they're one of the best investments you'll ever make for successful bread baking.
Room temperature ingredients
Another very important rule of thumb is to make sure your ingredients are at room temperature. Unless the recipe states differently, water, oil, flours, eggs, even sugars should be room temperature. This is another topic I cover in depth in the Masterclass, but warmer ingredients mix better creating a better textured end result.
Watch the rise time
There is a range offered for the rise time, but you'll want to watch it carefully because as soon as it comes close to the rim of the pan, preheat the oven to get it ready to bake. If left to rise too long, two things may happen: 1. The bread will overflow in the pan while rising or 2. The bread will overflow in the oven, while baking. Either way, a mess!
Use an instant read thermometer
You may remember or even seen people tapping the top of a loaf of gluten yeast bread to check for doneness... if it sounded hollow, then it's done, if not, you'd let it bake longer.
Ah the good ole' days!
With gluten free bread baking, we have to rely on more advanced equipment! This handy instant read thermometer lets us know if our bread is done or not. It may sound complicated but it's really very easy to use - you'll simply remove the bread from the oven, open this thermometer, stick it in the middle of the loaf and watch the temperature climb. If it hits between 205-210 F, then it's done. If not, place it back into the oven to bake a little longer.
It's not tapping, but you can't beat accuracy!
How to make this recipe
Ingredients (& substitutions)
If you need to make substitutions in the recipe, my guide to gluten free flour substitutions chart is an excellent reference for more in depth, why, how and when for using each flour. I'll offer some alternatives as a starting point here though...
Sorghum flour - the main ingredient in this bread and not one I would recommend substituting.
Tapioca flour - cornstarch or potato starch
Brown rice flour - white rice flour
Sugar - coconut sugar
Xanthan gum - not recommended, but if you're feeling adventurous, psyllium husk powder
Eggs - not recommended, but use caution with a chia egg substitute
Vegetable oil - melted coconut oil
Mixing
Use a stand mixer and the mixing process couldn't be easier! Add the dry ingredients to the mixing bowl and mix (image 1). Add the wet ingredients to the dry (image 2) and mix on medium speed for 3 minutes. The batter will look nice and thick (images 3 & 4).
Rising
Scrape the thick batter into a greased 8" x 4.5" baking pan (image 5) and set aside to rise for 20-25 minutes. At the end of the rise time, the batter should barely crest the top of the pan (image 6). You'll want to watch the rise time so it doesn't overrise!
Baking & cooling
Jut as the same with this buckwheat bread, this sandwich bread and this oatmeal bread, let the bread cool completely before slicing and enjoying. Otherwise the slices could end up gummy and that would get a big thumbs down.
FAQ's
Yes, instant yeast goes by several names - bread machine yeast and fast rising yeast are two that I've noticed. But they are interchangeable.
I haven't tested it so I can't say for certain how the results will be but essentially, yes, you can, just proceed with caution.
Yes! Coconut sugar would work well. And even Swerve sugar substitute. I wouldn't recommend honey or maple syrup as the added liquid would change the consistency of the batter.
Tapioca flour and tapioca starch are exactly the same thing. Use them interchangeably.
This bread, like other yeast breads, does not last very long stored at room temperature. It's best enjoyed within 24 hours. But for longer storage, freezing is the way to go. Simply slice the loaf, place wax paper in between each slice and then freeze the entire loaf. (We cover this in baking Masterclass too). Slices can be toasted from frozen for delicious toast and sandwiches.
Other recipes you may like!
Sorghum Bread {Gluten & Dairy Free}
Ingredients
- 125 grams sorghum flour about 1 cup
- 120 grams tapioca flour about 1 cup
- 155 grams brown rice flour about 1 cup
- 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon xanthan gum
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons instant yeast
- 12 ounces water about 1 ½ cups
- 2 eggs
- 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, add the sorghum flour, tapioca flour, brown rice flour, sugar, xanthan gum, salt and yeast. Mix for 30 seconds to combine.
- Add the water, eggs, vegetable oil and apple cider vinegar to the dry ingredients and mix for 30 seconds. Stop machine and scrape batter down.
- Mix on medium speed for 3 minutes.
- Prepare 8" x 4.5" baking pan by spraying with cooking spray.
- Scrape batter into the pan and set aside to rise for 20-25 minutes, just until the batter comes close to the rim of the pan.
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Bake bread for 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and test for doneness with an instant read thermometer. Bread is done when thermometer reaches 205-210F.
- Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from the pan to finish cooling completely before slicing.
Video
Notes
- Measure ingredients by weight.
- Use room temperature ingredients.
- Bread should rise just to the top of the rim.
- Use an instant read thermometer to test for doneness.
Mary
This sorghum bread looks wonderful. I wonder if it could be the base for a savory bread, one with some herbs and diced onion? What do you think?
Christine
Hi Mary,
I think it would make a wonderful savory bread with onions & herbs! I'm actually working on a roll version with this recipe too, so yes, many options with it 🙂
~Christine
Phyllis
Is there a yeast replacement that would work?
Christine
Hi Phyllis,
Unfortunately, no. But if you need a yeast free bread, this might work https://zestforbaking.com/ultimate-gluten-dairy-yeast-free-white-bread
~Christine
Alar
Hi. The recipe sounds excellent. But can it be made with a hand mixer instead of a stand mixer? If so, could you please advise me on the duration and speed?
Thank you.
Alar
Christine
Hi Alar,
Great question - so yes, the time frame would be the same, start on low speed then increase it to medium speed for the same amount of time (3 minutes). Scrape the bowl down occasionally to get all the batter mixed.
~Christine
Debbie
What size loaf does this make? One pound? Thanks.
Gallotta Dominique
The batter seems so liquify. I just made the batter for the first time and it’s much more liquify than any other bread I’ve made. It’s raising now and I’ll keep you posted.
Christine
Hi Gallotta,
The batter is on the thinner side, so that sounds correct. Hope you enjoy it!
Christine
Barbara Southard
Looks good. Can i use this recipe but make them into rolls instead?
Christine
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for asking - you possibly could, I haven't tested this, but here's what I'd recommend:
After mixing, drop large spoonfuls of batter into a 9"x13" baking baking coated with cooking spray.
Let rise for 20 minutes, then bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes (you'll have to watch them)
If you try it, let me know.
Christine
Barbara Southard
Hi, Christine, i did make this as rolls with your instructions. It took a bit longer to bake than 20 min., more like 30, but came out okay. But they just weren’t that tasty.
Anita Lusby
Just made this beautiful loaf in the bread machine and it turned out marvellously. Liquids first, then dry as per machine instructions and baked as gluten free loaf. As I’m also allergic to eggs I only used one but added a flax egg and a chia egg instead. Thank you for this recipe, it’s moist, tastes great and cooked evenly in machine. Looks good for toasting too.
Christine
Hi Anita,
Thank you for the great feedback and for sharing your experience with making it in a bread machine.
Very helpful for everyone!
Christine
Donna
Hello,
I would love to make this bread for my husband but he is very allergic to all things potato which includes tapioca. I am new to gluten free baking. Do you think I could substitute sweet white rice flour in place of the tapioca?
Thank you
Christine
Hi Donna,
Use cornstarch instead - it works wonderfully. I haven't tested sweet rice flour - though it may work just as well since it has the 'starchy' properties to mimic the tapioca, I just haven't done testing on it to be sure.
Thanks,
Christine
Dave K
Finally got a gluten free recipe that worked for me. Came out light and fluffy but cohesive with good crust. I might add another half teaspoon of salt next time. I followed the recipe exactly and it worked.
Christine
Hi Dave,
Great to hear it! Thanks for sharing your feedback!
Christine
Deborah
No rating yet because it is in process...I mixed the ingredients, as written for this Sorghum bread. It did NOT say to use warm water (mine was room temp). Very wet batter and not rising. Should I just wait longer (it's been 40 minutes now and only a little rising so far), or is there a "fix"? Also, I used half brown rice (75 gms) and half millet flour (60 gms) instead of the entire 1 cup (155 gms) of brown rice. I think I adjusted weights appropriately. Would appreciate any help. thank you! GREAT website and info, by the way!
Christine
Hi Deborah.
Thanks for the kind words! And then for the question - let's see, so the only brown rice flour substitute I've tested with success is white rice flour. That could be the issue.
And the rise time will vary, (it might take longer in a colder room), but it shouldn't go too far above the pan.
Christine
Dawn
Can you leave out the acv? My daughter can’t tolerate it. Thank you!
Christine
Hi Dawn,
Thanks for asking - so I haven't tested it without it, but I wouldn't advise just leaving it out. Can she tolerate apple juice or lemon juice? Those can both substitute for it. Just use 1 teaspoon lemon juice though as it can have a powerful flavor. But 2 teaspoons of apple juice will work just fine.
Hope that helps!
Christine
Abimco
Can I replace eggs with flaxseed, what quantity of flaxseed can replace the egg
Christine
Hi Abimco,
Possibly, I just haven't tested it. For one flax egg, I like to ground my flax seeds first, but either way, use 1 Tablespoons of flax seeds mixed with 3 Tablespoons warm water. Two eggs would be 2 Tablespoons of flax seeds and 6 Tablespoons water.
Christine
Carol
Followed recipe exactly...using cup measurements, not weight. First time using sorghum flour. Turned out great! Best gluten free bread I have made....I will make this again. Only thing different is my bread was done in 30 minutes, not 45. Glad I checked. Thanks for the recipe. 😊
Christine
Hi Carol,
Hearing you enjoyed it just makes my day!
Thank you for the feedback!
Christine