The History of Ethel’s Baking Co.

I’ve known Jill Bommarito, owner of Ethel’s Baking Co., for quite a few years. I don’t think it’s simply a coincidence that she feels like a member of my family. That’s just how Jill operates. Family, friends and community are important to her. That’s why she named her business after her grandma when she started her business.

Her products definitely have made an impact on my family. Her products were one of the first things my dad purchased after he had major oral surgery. She hopes to impact many more families. Ethel’s started as a a stand at a farmer’s market, and now sells her products throughout Michigan and the country. Her dear grandmother would be so proud to see what she has done and created. Read more about Jill’s passions and dreams below.

1. What inspired you to become a baker? Why the focus on gluten-free?

I left my highly successful real estate career in 2010 to pursue gluten-free baking. My family’s 35 year history with Celiac disease inspired me to start this company. I saw first-hand how their food intolerances made them feel like an outsider at meals, when food is usually the thing that brings us together.

My business started small, using a church facility as my kitchen, but my dream was big. My goal from day one has been to make ridiculously good food that is LOVED by all.  I want wheat-free individuals to be the “rock star” when they arrive at the party with Ethel’s Baking Co. to share! Our products are made in small hand-crafted batches, just like my grandma Ethel made.  That’s the passion we strive to live out, daily.

2. Are there other highlights of your products? Dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, etc?

We are a peanut-free facility. (Our Pecan Dandies contain tree nuts.) We offer some dairy-free producs, and all of our products are certified kosher and free of preservatives. Ethel’s commits to using the highest quality ingredients to obtain the highest quality product. The same kind of nuts, honey, butter, etc. that you would personally seek out when you are making that “extra special” something.

Regardless of how much our business grows, we will continue to source our ingredients this way, and we will never cut corners. We aren’t about healthy. We are about eating what you want (in moderation), eating real food, and enjoying an occasional indulgence that makes you smile.

3. What steps do you take to insure that your products are truly gluten-free?

Ethel’s Baking Co. is a dedicated facility. Every single raw material is certified gluten-free. We require our suppliers to provide us with a Certificate of Analysis (COA) prior to the materials being delivered and entering our facility.  We have a very tight HACCP plan as well. (This states we allow no gluten on our premises. That includes employee lunches or snacks.) We take the term “dedicated” very seriously! Our products are third-party tested by Midwest Laboratories and and are certified gluten free.

4.  Can you share a story of a customer who’s been greatly impacted by your business?

We have so many stories from customers that it’s hard to recount them all. We cannot believe how lucky we are, because bringing joy to others with food is a gift to us. For a few samples of customer comments, you can read the reviews on our Facebook page.

5.  What would you like consumers to know about your products and your business?

I desire for Ethel’s Baking Co. to be the first gluten-free item on the mass market that is THE preferred baked good, enjoyed by all, regardless of food allergies or intolerance.  We are always looking ahead, investing in our future and in those who work for us.  

Our team is like our family, and that’s where all the goodness starts. We want customers to know we really do care about everyone involved in making Ethel’s Baking Co. a success. We love our customers, respect our suppliers and our business partners, and understand our responsibility to the community around us. Every day, ee are here to make a difference.

Ethel’s Baking Co. Contact Information

Ethel’s Baking Co.
15000 Commercial Dr
Utica, MI 48315
(586) 552-5110

Website/ Facebook/ Instagram / Email

You can find Ethel’s Baking Co. goods in Whole Foods, Plum Market, Westborn Market, Nino Salvaggio’s, Meijer, Kroger and more. Use their store locator to find them near you.  You can enjoy them at Socra Tea, The Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Company, and Joe Louis Arena. You can also find Ethel’s on MSU’s campus Sparty Stores.

* All images sourced from Ethel’s Baking Company.

Originally published March 2016

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Paul Swanson, on the right, is the man and vision behind this line of gluten-free sauce bases. Their products makes it easier for life to “go back to normal” after a Celiac Disease diagnosis.  Green Bean Casserole becomes easy again with their Cream of Mushroom Sauce Mix. Their cream sauce allows my pork-free husband to easily have biscuits and gravy again. Simply put, they help bring the joy back to cooking

Read further for the background behind Paul and his company, in his own words.

1. What inspired you to become a food producer? Why the focus on gluten-free?

Well, here is the “short” story:  We have a long family background (over 100 years combined) in the creation of  commercial soups, sauces and gravies.  My mother discovered her intolerance to wheat/ gluten almost 50 years ago.  She felt frustrated about the lack of quality options at the grocery store, so we started making our own. As the gluten free industry grew, we felt there might be real interest in quality soup, sauce and gravy choices like ours.

2. Are there other highlights of your products? Low sodium, fat free, etc?

Full Flavor Foods products are free from gluten, egg, nuts, MSG, hydrogenated oils, and trans fats.  They contain no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.  In addition, the majority of our products contain no soy. (The beef gravy is the exception.) Our 4 gravies are also dairy-free.  In addition, our Mushroom and Cream Soups/Sauces are also lactose free! (We use coconut oil instead of cream in our cream soups and sauces.)

3. What steps do you take to insure that your products are truly gluten-free?

A company independently tests every batch of Full Flavor Foods mixes before we ship them for sale.  We have never received a result indicating a trace of gluten, using the very best testing, which tests for less than 5ppm. (“parts per million”). Our products are also third- party certified as being gluten-free by the Gluten Free Food Program. (Which is endorsed by the National Celiac Association.)

4.  Do you have any stories of customers who reported back to you how important your products have been in their life?

I had a woman in Texas literally break into tears after tasting our Southern Style Breakfast Sausage Gravy (made with our Cream Soup/Sauce Base mix).  She had not enjoyed it in years because she could not find anything GF or make it correctly without using wheat flour. So, it feels like we are make a small difference in people’s lives, helping them recreate many of those comfort foods they miss.

5.  What would you like consumers to know about your products and your business?

We want consumers to know our products are safe for those with Celiac Disease. Not only that, but they are quite delicious, very versatile (check out our GF Recipe Booklet) and better than most similar products found in the marketplace. Why? Because we care about quality.  Where other companies make “brown gravy,” our beef gravy mix is made from real beef.

To us, this company is more than just a business.  We understand (from firsthand experience) about the challenges faced by those with Celiac Disease or Gluten Intolerance . We know they still want, and deserve, great tasting food.  Being gluten-free does not mean consumers have agreed to settle for substandard food!

We also want to spread the word that our mixes now come in bulk for food service customers and larger families. Our larger bags can make up to a full gallon of sauce or gravy. Orders have mostly been from grocery chains (with commissary operations), nursing homes, schools, and hospitals. However even larger families love our bigger, resealable bags.

You’ll find Full Flavor Foods products on their website, in many stores, and at many events nationwide. Some of their products are also available on Gluten Free Mall. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram to see where they’ll be next as well as recipe ideas!

**Full Flavor Foods sponsored this post. I adore them regardless, and all of my thoughts and opinions are my own.**

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Who Wrote The Easy Diabetes Desserts Cookbook? 

Mary Ellen Phipps, the face behind the Milk and Honey Nutrition website, wrote this dessert cookbook. This book is personal to Mary Ellen,  because she lives with Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease. In addition, Mary Ellen is a registered dietitian, and is the first person I recommend when someone is newly diagnosed with Diabetes. 

Are the Recipes in This Cookbook Gluten Free?

All recipes in this cookbook are written with gluten free ingredients. However, please note many recipes call for oats. If you have Celiac Disease, I HIGHLY recommend using only purity protocol oats, such as Avena Foods or Montana Gluten Free Oats. Can’t tolerate oats? Mary Ellen offers recommendations for oat substitution in the intro of her cookbook, such as using a gluten free flour blend. 

What Flours are Used in The Easy Diabetes Desserts Cookbook? 

Great question! As mentioned above, many recipes call for oat flour, or oats. Most of her recipes call for the use of almond flour, plus an additional flour or starch. For example, the cookie skillet on the cover uses a blend of almond flour and tapioca starch. Her pumpkin bread uses coconut flour. 

Do the Recipes in this Cookbook Use Alternative Sweeteners?

The recipes in the Easy Diabetes Desserts Cookbook use traditional sweeteners such as powdered sugar and white sugar, although often in small amounts. Many recipes use maple syrup as a sweetener, while a few use coconut sugar. Few, if any, recipes call for Truvia, Monkfruit or other alternative sweeteners.

Where Can I Buy This Cookbook? 

You can order The Easy Diabetes Desserts Cookbook thru many online website, such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Looking for savory recipes? Try her first book, titled The Easy Diabetes Cookbook, thru online sites, as well.

For more recipes, follow Mary Ellen on Facebook and Instagram. Also check out the recipe section on her website. For even more gluten free recipes, check out my list of recommended gluten free cookbooks. 

**Mary Ellen Phipps sent me a free copy of this cookbook for my own use. I was not otherwise paid or compensated for my time. This post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through those links, or the Amazon search bar above, help support this blog with no extra expense to you. Thank you for your continued support!**

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My Favorite Cookie from Childhood

I am a veritable cookie monster. While I enjoy cake and pie, I gravitate towards cookies automatically. As a kid I LOVED the Keebler fudge stripe cookies. Doesn’t everyone have fond memories of sticking your pinky finger through the center, munching around the side? Oh how I’ve longed to taste them again since my Celiac Disease diagnosis.

Imagine my joy when  Goodie Girl Cookies created a gluten-free version of my childhood favorite! They even use purity protocol oats in these cookies, and a few of their other flavors. Thank you Goodie Girl for taking Celiac Disease and the gluten-free diet so seriously!

Thanksgiving Gluten Free Cookie Pilgrim Hats

Years ago, my aunt made the most adorable pilgrim hat treats. I vividly remember that year. I made amazing gluten-free sweet potato gnocchi and she cooked me my own Cornish game hen. Years have passed. However, I still remember the disappointment of not being able to eat the adorable treat she set on my bread plate. When I learned about the release of the Goodie Girl Fudge Striped Cookies, this was THE first thing I wanted to make.

Note About Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Minituares

They are super simple to make. Take one of the Goodie Girl Fudge Striped cookies and turn it upside down, so the chocolate side is showing. Unwrap a miniature Reese’s Peanut Butter cup and pipe a rim of frosting around the edge. (It is my understanding that the mini cups that are already unwrapped in a bag are not safe for those who have Celiac Disease. Make sure to get the ones you have to unwrap yourself.)

Then, attach the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup to the Goodie Girl Fudge Striped cookie. Pipe a small buckle on the hat and you’re finished! (Or skip the buckle. Supposedly that is not true, as buckles didn’t come into fashion until the 17th century. Check out the History Channel website for this and many other “Mayflower Myths.”)

Thanksgiving Gluten Free Fudge Stripe Cookie Turkeys

Turkey. Thanksgiving holds no item more iconic than turkey. On Pinterest, there are all sorts of sweet Thanksgiving treats that resemble turkeys. Some use chocolate covered cherries, like my fellow blogger at A Different Survival Guide did with her Fudge Striped Turkey Cookies.

Great minds think alike, as I also planned to use my Goodie Girl Fudge Striped cookies to make turkeys. However, I’m super cheap thrifty, and wanted to use the remaining peanut butter cups I had on hand. In addition, I thought using gluten-free pretzel twists as feet would be TOTES adorable. (If you’re concerned about stability, you could use another cookie as the bottom.)

If At First You Don’t Succeed …

Total confession. When I first tried these, I put the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in the oven on top of the pretzel. That literally turned into a hot mess. (For hilarious proof, check out my #PinterestFail on Instagram!) I finally found success by using melted Enjoy Life chocolate chips as the cement between my pretzels, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Goodie Girl Fudge Striped Cookies.

As I hate to throw anything away, I used my remaining yellow frosting to adhere the candy corn to the back of the cookie, as well as add a beak to the front of my “bird.” Admittedly, a few candy corn fell off, so you might want to use the melted chocolate to adhere those as well. I have to admit that I’m really happy with how these turned out.

Where To Buy Goodie Girl Fudge Stripe Cookies

Wanting to make these Thanksgiving treats for yourself? If you’re an online shopper, find them on the Goodie Girl Cookies website, Amazon and Vitacost. If you’re like me, and you actually like to go to the store, use their store locator to find them near you. They’re available at Kroger and Walmart.

**Goodie Girl Cookies compensated me for my time in recipe and photography creation. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This post does contain affiliate links. Purchases made through those links, or the Amazon search bar above, help support this blog with no extra expense to you. Thank you for your continued support!**

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Gluten, Egg and Dairy Free Bread

These fresh, never frozen, Schar Artisan bread  loaves are soft and ready for your sandwich fixings straight out of the bag. In addition, this bread  is egg-free and dairy-free as well! Made with millet, quinoa and honey, provides more nutrition and deeper flavor than overly processed rice flour. No toasting needed. That is, unless you want toast, which is simply smashing!

What Do You Look For in Gluten Free Bread?

I recently asked my Facebook followers what they defined as the ultimate test of a gluten free bread. One person stated that when it was toasted, she wants the butter to melt into all the nooks and crannies like real bread. Well, the Schar artisan bread definitely stood up to that challenge! Many stated the wanted to be able to eat it fresh from the bag. I definitely find myself wanting to snag a slice right out of the package!

The Schar Artisan bread meets many of the desires my followers mentioned.

• Doesn’t crumble or fall apart. This bread is sturdy!
• It smells amazing fresh out of the bag
• Doesn’t mold immediately after opening the bag. I’ve left a package open 3-5 days with no problems.
• Doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. At my local Meijer, this package costs only $5.99.

Ultimate Test- Gluten Free Grilled Cheese

However, my test for gluten free bread always involves a grilled cheese sandwich. Not matter how old you get, nothing beats a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup. The Schar Artisan bread, while sturdy, is a bit rigid. It didn’t make for the most flexible grilled cheese. Regardless, the cheese melted well and the sandwich tasted delicious. I layered spinach and thinly sliced apple in mine. What extras do you like in your grilled cheese, if any?

Gluten Free Bread that Doesn’t Fall Apart

Another follower mentioned that they longed for a bread that made a PB + J sandwich that did not fall apart. Well, this Schar Artisan bread definitely passes that test. I actually used sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter. Between preparing lunches for my husband at school, and running a kids GF camp, I try to use products that are free of as many allergens as possible.

If the Schar Artisan bread line contains one fault, it is that it contains soy. I love that the bread is egg and dairy free. I hope that someday they can find a way to remove the soy from their ingredients as well. OYou can now order these breads, and all their shelf stable products, directly from the online Schar store.

Have you tried the newer Schar Artisan bread? What are your thoughts? Share any creative recipes with me, please!

I was given these products to review but my opinions are completely my own.

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Foster Farms Gluten Free Honey Crunch Corn Dogs

I first discovered the Foster Farms Gluten Free Honey Crunchy Corn Dogs at my local Kroger store, back in 2014. Which is highly impressive, as I don’t live in a nice part of town. I SO wanted to try them. However, I don’t have children and knew if I bought them I’d quickly eat the whole 12 count box. Then I received  an email from Foster Farms wanting to know if I would like to review the Foster Farms Gluten Free Honey Crunch Corn Dogs. As in, we’ll send you a box for FREE.  Well of course I said yes! That’s such a friendly thing for them to do!

Made From Chicken, Not Pork

Now it’s 2018 and I’m updating some of my old posts. Okay, let’s just be honest. I loved them so much I just wanted an excuse to buy more! One of the “bonuses” of these Foster Farms gluten free honey crunch corn dogs is that they really are leaner than regular ones. They are made from chicken instead of fatty pork. So I wanted to come up with some “healthier” side dishes to pair with these dogs. I really didn’t want to do potatoes, because that’s just more starch. So I chose to make a recipe for “Healthy Baked Carrot Fries” I found on the Internet, from 2 Teaspoons.

Carrot Fries????

Can I just that these were AWESOME?! Your kiddo will have no idea they are eating carrots instead of sweet potatoes. You slice the carrots thin, toss them in a tiny bit of oil, then coat them with salt and a bit of garlic powder. Telling ya, this will CHANGE YOUR WORLD. I may never want to eat French Fries again! But I digress.

I also paired these Foster Farms  gluten free honey crunch corn dogs with barbecued lentils (which cook quicker than beans) and short and sweet fruit kabobs. Some are successfully on spaghetti strands. Note, use fresh fruit, not frozen and thawed fruit, because it gets all soggy and makes the pasta break. I may or may not know this from personal experiences.

Certified Gluten Free Corn Dogs

For those of you who may be unfamiliar with Foster Farms gluten free corn dogs, Foster Farms corn dogs are the #1 selling corn dog in America. Their gluten-free corn dogs are certified by the Gluten Intolerance Group, contain less than 10ppm of gluten per serving, and they feature a 100% chicken frank dipped twice in a honey crunchy batter. (As my husband’s system is apparently intolerant to pork, this last fact was a major bonus!) Foster Farms Gluten Free Honey Crunch Corn Dogs are also certified by the American Humane Association for their poultry raising practices.

Where Can I Find Foster Farms Gluten Free Corn Dogs?

You can dip these Foster Farms  gluten free honey crunch corn dogs in your favorite dipping sauce. Ketchup. Mustard. Barbecue Sauce. But seriously, they were so good, I don’t feel they need it. In addition, I was REALLY impressed with the breading! It was the perfect thickness and completely in tact. No falling apart like other gluten-free corn dog bites I’ve tried. It was firm but not dry and there was a perfect ratio of breading to hot dog. All in all, a big thumbs up.

So where can you find these amazing hand held delights? Foster Farms gluten free honey crunch corn dogs are available nationwide at many retailers. The list includes Safeway (Von’s, Randall’s. Tom Thumb), Kroger (Fry’s, Smith’s), Raley’s, Lucky, Albertsons, Giant Eagle, Woodman’s, Copps/Roundy’s, Schnuck’s, Food Lion, HyVee and Marsh.  You can also call Foster Farms at 1-800-255-7227 for help finding a retailer near you.

Or, if you want to make your own gluten-free corn dogs, try my recipe for Gluten-Free Corn Dog Waffles!

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Old World, Made in Michigan

I keep my eyes peeled and ears perked for all things gluten-free. Old World Gluten Free came to my attention after  their attendance at the “Making It In Michigan” Conference.

Not only did Old World Gluten Free attend this conference, they won a Product Placement Award! Not a “gluten-free” award, but a general award that covered all food products!

What Are Pierogi?

Pierogi are versatile in the dumpling world. While other countries usually only focus on savory filled-dough delicacies, pierogi can be made savory OR sweet. And true to form, Old World Gluten Free offers both!

I had a friend purchase a bag of them for me while they were at the Tri-County Celiac Support Group’s food fair. I received pierogi stuffed with Farmer’s Cheese and Green Onions. (Click here for a list of their flavors, and their ingredients.) The first thing I noticed is that they are not some itsy-bitsy two bite dumplings. These are HUGE!

So How Do These Gluten Free Pierogi Taste?

These are also DELICIOUS! Seriously, what’s there not to like about hot cheesy goodness?

What’s that you say? You’re vegan and don’t eat cheese? Old World Gluten Free makes VEGAN pierogi as well!

Where Can I Buy Old World Gluten Free Pierogi?

Dedicated gluten free bakeries Rumi’s Passion, and No More Belly Aching in Brighton stock them. Also many metro Detroit stores sell Old World Gluten Free Pierogi. Click the “Find Our Pierogi” link on their website for a complete list of store locations.

Does Old World Gluten Free Ship Their Gluten Free Pierogi?

Don’t live in Michigan? No problem! You can now order their pierogi ONLINE and sent right to your door through the Polana website. It’s like Polish Christmas, all year long!

Gluten Free Pierogi Recipes

Want to make your own? Find Gluten Free Pierogi recipes from GF Jules, Officially Gluten Free, and Faithfully Gluten Free. Looking for Farmer Cheese? Lifeway Kefir Farmer Cheese is certified gluten free. Use their store locator to find it near you. 

Old World Gluten Free
27203 Harper Ave. 
St. Clair Shores MI 48081
586-873-0354

Website | Facebook | Email

Are you a fan of pierogi? What’s your favorite side dish to enjoy with it? Leave me a note below!

Originally Published July 2014

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Dr. Alessio Fasano, Author of Gluten Freedom

If you don’t know of Dr. Fasano, he is a pediatric gastroenterologist. Dr. Fasano has been on the forefront of Celiac Disease for decades. He founded the Center for Celiac Research in Boston, MA. Originally from Italy, Dr Fasano came to the United States in the 1990’s. The knowledge of Celiac Disease is where it is today because of his research.

In 2014, Turner Publishing provided me a free advance copy reading of Dr. Alessio Fasano’s book “Gluten Freedom.” It was waiting for me when I returned from the Chicagoland Gluten & Allergen Free Expo. (Now called Nourished Festival.) I started reading it as soon as I was unpacked.

The History of Celiac Disease

Gluten Freedom opened my eyes about the history of Celiac Disease. The first recorded observations about Celiac Disease were known 2,000 years ago. However, Samuel Gee didn’t recognize it as malnutrition disease until the 1880’s.

Even more shocking is that doctors didn’t discover gluten as the trigger until the 1950’s. The treatment for Celiac Disease, a gluten free diet, has been around less than 100 years. It wasn’t even until the 1970’s that a “diagnostic tool” was created and doctors actually began to study it. We’ve come a LONG way!

My Personal Revelation

We know that it is a genetic disorder that we can pass it on to our children. My grandmother had Celiac Disease, and my dad has Celiac Disease. In all honesty, I felt upset for years that my dad didn’t think to have me tested. Didn’t he know that it was genetic, didn’t he know the damage could do to me?

Honestly, based on what I’ve read in this book, I would say no. So dad, please accept my apology. And even if he did know, there’s no guarantee that a doctor would take him seriously in a request to get me tested. When Dr. Fasano came here in the 1990’s, doctors in the US told him Celiac Disease didn’t exist here. Thank God that Dr. Fasano didn’t believe them.

1 in 133 Live with Celiac Disease

Know the study that people always cite, stating that Celiac Disease affects 1 in 133 people? Yeah, that is the result of Dr. Fasano being curious. After sampling blood from donations at the Red Cross, he published his research in 2003. That’s right, 22 YEARS AGO. So this disease has been around almost 2,000 years and doctors here in the U.S. started taking it seriously 22 YEARS AGO. Let that sink in.

So what does 1 in 133 look like in population numbers? 2.5 to 3 MILLION people have Celiac Disease, but at the time of his study in 2003, only 2 PERCENT were diagnosed. Dr. Fasano believes with those numbers, it makes Celiac Disease “humankind’s most prevalent genetically linked disease. It occurs much more frequently than type 1 Diabetes, Cystic Fibrosis, or Chron’s Disease.” (Page 19) Wow!

Other Information in Gluten Freedom

Not only does Dr Fasano discuss Celiac Disease in his book Gluten Freedom, he also elaborates about Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity. He actually goes as far to say, based on research, that NO ONE can fully process gluten. HOWEVER, and hear me on this, he does NOT feel that everyone has to stay away from gluten.

Other topics in this book include autoimmune disease, and methods for achieving a proper Celiac Disease diagnosis. Gluten Freedom also discusses what you can and can’t eat on a gluten free diet, including recipes by Jules Shepard. Also, he gives a breakdown on how Celiac Disease affects you in each stage of your life. He finishes the book with current research and the future of Celiac Disease.

Promoting Celiac Disease Awareness

There is so much here to read and digest and disseminate. I suggest getting a copy for yourself. (Your primary doctor too, if you think s/he will read it!)  Even though E-books are popular, I suggest getting this book in hard copy. I have underlined so many parts of this book and written in the margins, it’s ridiculous.

While Dr. Fasano obviously did not work alone, imagine how much more can be done when we ALL work together. So this May, get this book, educate yourself and someone else. Do whatever you can to bring about Celiac Disease Awareness!

**While I was given this book for free, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Looking for other Celiac Disease related books to read? Check you these other books for adults about Celiac Disease.

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Mix It Up

I originally tried the Hodgson Mill’s Gluten Free Bread Mix back in 2013. If I failed to mention before, I love to scour clearance shelves for deals. The first time I tried this mix, I snagged a box for less than $1.50! For that price, I’ll try anything once. It turned out ok, buy my pictures left much to be desired. Therefore, I chose to make it again, update the pictures, and talk a bit about bread machines.

The Hodgson Mill’s Gluten Free Bread Mix offers two methods for baking. One option is in the oven, the other is in a bread machine. However, they specifically state to only use on a bread machine with a gluten free setting. My mother-in-law gave me a Breadman TR520 over 10 years ago that does not have this setting. Therefore, I use the “Basic” setting on my machine. The bread tastes good, but is a bit dense.

Bread Machines and Gluten Free Settings

When it comes to gluten free bread, Jules Shepard is my go to resource. She writes a gluten free blog, and owns the business GF Jules. (I love her cookie mix and her pizza crust mix!) Her tips on baking gluten free bread in a breadmaker are the best, in my opinion. In that article, she recommends a variety of bread machines, all with gluten free settings, with a range of prices.

In her T Fal Gluten Free Bread Machine review, she shares how this machine compares with the more expensive Zojirushi. She states it performs very well, at a fraction of the price. She also offers a tip for those own a Cuisinart gluten free bread maker. I recently saw people mention in a Facebook group that their loaves always come out underdone in that machines. Jules recommends the following. “I preheat my oven to 350°F and place the bread pan from the bread maker into the oven to bake approximately 10 more minutes at the end of the bread maker cycle.“

No Gluten Free Setting?

As mentioned, I could easily make this Hodgson Mill’s Gluten Free Bread Mix in the oven. Since making this the first time, I perfected getting yeast based breads to rise. However, Jules Shepard also shared on her blog how to program a bread machine for gluten free baking. Her recommendations are as follows. Set the machine for a “20 minute mix cycle, followed by a 1 hour rise cycle, and finally set it to cook for a 1 hour bake cycle.” The trick is to getting the machine to NOT allow a second punch down. Since the dough lacks gluten, it doesn’t need it nor does well with the second punch down.

I also highly suggest this article from Gluten Free and More magazine, written by Beth Hillson. In “A Lofty Loaf: How to Make Gluten-Free Bread,” Beth also shares tips on buying a gluten free bread machine. For example, she states that bread machines that make a horizontal loaf work better than those that make vertical loaves. If possible, buy a machine that has two paddles. Also, her programmable cycle varies slightly from Jules. She suggests programming the machine for the following cycles.”Warm 10 minutes; knead 15 minutes; rise 40 minutes; bake 55 to 60 minutes. Always set on Medium Crust.

The Verdict?

The bread from the Hodgson Mill’s Gluten Free bread mix tasted good. I found if I wanted to make toast, I had to toast it a second time. I’d love to try it again in a machine with a gluten free setting. This year I will at attend the Housewares show in Chicago for the first time. I hope to meet Zojirushi and see one of their bread machines in action! I also recommend the other gluten free baking mixes below.  Pamela’s Products gluten free bread mix also makes amazing bagels!

**This post is NOT sponsored by Hodgson Mill, nor any other brand mentioned here. This post does however include Amazon Affiliate Links. Purchases made through those links provide me a small commission. However, this does not influence the cost of your purchases. Thank you for helping to support this website!**

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