10 tips for Gluten Free Baking with Video

Welcome to the post on the website where we dive right in and cover 10 tips for gluten free baking. On the daily show (Monday-Friday), I will be covering topics ranging from Paleo Cooking, Fitness, Mindset, Life, Marriage, Pit Bulls and anything else you ask me for. If you have any topics, questions or suggestions leave it in the comments below.

Housekeeping for the series

There are a couple of “Rules.” Actually they are requests so we can continue inspire and empower people to Join the Civilized Caveman family using our #hugsandbacon power. Here they are:

• Paying it forward and sharing is encouraged and requested. My content is free so I ask that you “pay” in social currency. Pinterest, Instagram, and Periscope are my preferred platforms, but everything is appreciated.
  1. Follow me on all those Social media platforms and tell your friends too :)
  2. To Pin the post, place your mouse over the image at the top of the post and click the red pinterest icon.
  3. If posting on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook use the hashtag #hugsandbacon so we can find it and share it.
• Positivity is not only recommended, it’s actually required. No negativity will be tolerated. You will be blocked and banned. We are here to inspire, empower and encourage each other to be the best versions of ourselves, nothing less than that will be allowed.
• Feedback is Requested – These posts and shows are evolving and I want to make them as best as possible. Please share ANY ideas, questions, or critiques you have in the comments. I read them all.
• Every post will have the video of the live show. The post will be live for 1-2 days before the video is uploaded due to processing. If you find this post and missed the live show, check back in 24 hours.

Information for all Products and Discounts

Here are all of my tips for gluten free baking and as requested, all the links where we source all of our ingredients with the discounts and specials.

• Thrive Market – $10 Off, 2 months free and Free Shipping. Pretty much ALL of our non perishable goods at over 50% off retail prices.
• Otto’s Cassava Flour – The best gluten free and grain free baking flour in the world
• BUBS Naturals – The only collagen we use and add Collagen Peptides to everything (use code JOSH20 for 20% off)

Recipes Mentioned in the Show

• Pumpkin Pie Muffins
• Recipes using Coconut Flour

Articles Mentioned in the Show

• Why Peanut Butter is HORRIBLE for you!

10 Tips for Gluten Free Baking

1. Forget everything you know about traditional baking. Most, if not all of it will not apply.
2. Coconut Flour is not a 1:1 substitution with traditional flours or pretty much any other flour. It needs to be treated as it’s own special ingredient because if used incorrectly, it will ruin your baked goods. The most important tip: Never let your batter with coconut flour in it sit for any period of time. It will continue to absorb moisture and ruin your batter. The best way to use coconut flour in baking is to start with a recipe you already know works.
3. For those of you with nut allergies, Sunbutter is a great nut-free alternative in all baking. For a fun tip, add baking soda to the batter and it will turn the Sunbutter green. Don’t get scared, it’s just the chlorophyll reacting but you can use this to make St. Patty’s day treats for your kids.
4. There IS A difference between almond flour and almond meal. Almond flour is finer and the skins are removed. Almond meal is best used for cookies or less delicate baking needs
5. You can use REAL FOOD for color in your gluten or grain free baking. Here are the colors I have used:
   • Pink – beet powder or freeze dried raspberries
   • Orange – goji berries
   • Red – freeze dried strawberries
   • Blue – freeze dried blueberries
6. If you are allergic to eggs or just don’t like them, you can substitute organic unsweetened applesauce. It acts as a binder in baking and also provides moistness.
7. Most gluten free baking recipes call for coconut oil. When coconut oil is added to cooler substances, such as eggs, the oil can solidify which makes it harder to distribute evenly. Make sure you melt it before adding it to your batter.
8. Different brands of the same ingredient may taste and react very differently. If your recipe doesn’t result in exactly what you were shooting for, don’t give up, try another brand. In all of my recipes, I specify a brand where it matters. The biggest culprit for this tip is coconut flour.
9. If there are fruits in your recipes that are out of season, head for the arctic section of the store. Organic frozen fruits can go straight from the frozen bag, into your batter and then into the oven. I have only tested this with raspberries and blueberries, but I hear others work too.
10. If you don’t have access to gluten free baking ingredients (almond flour, coconut flour, collagen (20% off with JOSH20), arrowroot flour, raw honey, organic maple syrup), sign up for Thrive Market and get shopping. You will typically save around 50% compared to stores and it’s delivered right to your door. Normally in 1-2 days for free (orders over $49).