Gluten Free Easy, Easy, Easy! French Bread Recipe

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3.85 from 52 votes

Gluten Free Easy, Easy, Easy! French Bread Recipe

Prep Time25 mins

Cook Time45 mins

Proof/rise time35 mins

Total Time1 hr 10 mins

Cuisine: French

Servings: loaves

Calories: 1124kcal

Author: Gluten Free & More

Ingredients

2 tablespoons Dry Active Yeast
2 teaspoons sugar
1½ cups warm water it should be pretty warm to the touch but not hot
3 teaspoons xanthan gum
2 tablespoons olive oil
1½ cups super fine or Asian white rice flour*
½ cup superfine or Asian sweet rice flour*
1 cup tapioca starch*
1½ teaspoons kosher or fine sea salt
2 large eggs lightly beaten
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons cornmeal optional
2 tablespoons butter or Earth Balance melted

Instructions

Combine the yeast, sugar and warm water in a bowl about twice the size of the mixture and whisk to dissolve the sugar. Let sit for 5-6 minutes (10 if the yeast has been in the fridge) or until it is foamy and doubled in size.
In a small bowl stir the xanthan gum with the olive oil until the xanthan gum is dissolved.
Combine the flours, tapioca starch (or gluten free flour blend) and salt in the bowl of a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (or just the regular beaters – don’t use a dough hook) and mix to combine. Add the yeast mixture, xanthan gum mixture, eggs and vinegar and mix on low to combine. Scrape down the sides of the bowl once. Turn the mixer to high and mix for 3 minutes.
Spray a French bread pan (with 2 forms) with gluten-free, non-stick cooking spray or brush with more olive oil and sprinkle a teaspoon of cornmeal onto the bottom of each pan.
Spoon the batter into the forms and shape into an oval with a spatula. Using a razor blade or sharp knife cut 3 or 4 diagonal slashes on top of each loaf. Cover the loaves with a clean kitchen towel and set in a warm, draft-free place to rise. Let rise for 30 minutes or until the loaves have doubled in size.
Place a baking pan on the floor of your oven (or on the bottom shelf) and fill it with about an inch of really hot water. Position the rack you are baking the bread on in the middle of the oven. Turn the oven on and preheat to 400 degrees.
Brush the top of the loaves with the melted butter or Earth Balance and bake for 40-45 minutes or until the loaves are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes then remove to a wire rack to finish cooling.
You can also make crusty rolls by scooping the dough into 2 standard sized muffin tins, letting them rise 30 minutes and baking for about 20 minutes.

Notes

*In place of the flours and starch you can use 3 cups of a good, pastry quality gluten free flour blend.

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