My education in catering and the food industry taught me all the basics for a successful bake, but at the time there was no information about gluten-free baking. It ultimately took a medical wake-up call for me to take interest in gluten-free cooking. I realised if I wanted to make (and most importantly eat!!) my favourite food I would have to learn everything I need to know about gluten-free baking.
Creating homemade bread flour or learning what techniques work best with bread, pies, tarts, cakes, cookies, etc has really opened up my world. If you love baking like I do and want to live a limitless gluten-free lifestyle, I highly recommend checking out my recipes below.
These sweet gluten-free bread loaves have a hint of saltiness and smokiness from the bacon pieces added. The small bread loaves are an interesting addition to a Thanksgiving bread basket assortment. I remember coming across sweet & salty cranberry muffins amongst...
Thanksgiving would not be the same without this traditional pumpkin pie, so if you have been missing out due to gluten-free restrictions, then this recipe will bring it back to your Thanksgiving table. My American father introduced pumpkin pie to me while we were...
As soon as pumpkins hit the stores, two thoughts cross my mind - Autumn baking and HALLOWEEN! These gluten-free dulce de leche pumpkin cupcakes will delight any trick or treater, so if you fancy handing out baked cupcakes instead of candy, this recipe can be baked and...
This is a very typical bread roll made & served in Austria known as the Kaisersemmel, meaning Emperor’s Roll. It is also called a Vienna roll and distinguished by the top side usually divided in an asymmetric pattern of five segments. Kaiser bread rolls are...
Being the national sweet pastry of the Netherlands, this Dutch apple pie was requested by my Dutch husband as his birthday cake recently, which conveniently falls during apple season. Dutch apple pie has a thick cake-like pastry as a base and as a lattice over densely...
Making the most of the summer season's stone fruits, I usually make several trays of this cake to eat on the spot or freeze for those dull winter days when I miss eating these fruits. In fact, I brought a couple of slices along for my recent train trip from Vienna to...
This is a quick-rise bread that makes the most amazing fluffy and tasty pull-apart bread buns filled with gooey mozzarella cheese. It really is amazing that they are gluten-free! With the addition of dried or fresh herbs, the bread is full of flavour and smells...
This is an impressive dessert that looks good and tastes even better. Full of crunchy toasted almonds, tangy candied citrus peel and small nuggets of rich chocolate, this ricotta cake will not disappoint. There seems to be plenty of different versions of Italian...
Spanakopita, meaning Spinach Pie in Greek, is one of Greece’s signature dishes. It is either made into a pie and cut into slices or prepared as small bite-size pastries. The filling is mainly made with spinach and feta or Kefalotyri cheese, but every household has...
Lamb pide (pronounced pee-dae and known as kiymali pide in Turkey) is a boat-shaped flatbread baked with a spiced minced lamb topping. The dough used to make pide is similar to pizza dough, in fact, pide is also known as a Turkish pizza when toppings are added. Lamb...
Before I moved to Vienna, I ran a small catering company in Singapore, mainly making birthday cakes and party food for adults and children’s parties. I was busy!! This chocolate cake recipe is the same one (except now gluten-free) which I used for countless birthday...
I came across these addictive cheese puffs at the United Nations Christmas Fair in Vienna. Every December, many countries prepare and sell their nation’s typical food and the money goes to charity. The Brazilian stand is always popular for its cheese puffs which...
This is an English vegetable pickled chutney, best known to accompany mature farmhouse Cheddar cheese and freshly baked bread. The three combinations make a typical Ploughman’s lunch, a popular pub meal in England, usually eaten at lunch. It is far from boring as...
This healthy, crisp oat “cake” is actually more of a cracker than a cake, in that it is eaten with cheese, smoked salmon and/or pickled jam. At one time, oatcakes were considered the bread of Scotland. Nowadays, store-bought or homemade oatcakes can be found in most...
In Italy, a vegetable egg slice would be called a frittata and in Spain, a tortilla. Both countries have many variations of fillings and are usually served as tapas or sold in slices to eat on the go. A slice is more solid in texture and doesn’t need any milk or...
When asparagus hits the shelves, you know Spring has arrived. Asparagus has a short season, April-June (Northern Hemisphere) or September-November (Southern Hemisphere). In Austria, asparagus is considered King of the vegetables, partly due to its short season and for...
I fell in love with these iconic biscuits while living in Australia for many years. ANZAC biscuits are a firm favourite for most Australians & New Zealanders who nostalgically have a family handed-down recipe for these chewy, crisp, buttery and robust oat...
The heavenly smell of bread baking in the kitchen is so satisfying especially when you know it is gluten-free! I am pleased with how this recipe works well with either store-bought gluten-free bread flour or my homemade gluten-free bread flour blend. It's entirely up...
Have you ever walked past your fruit basket feeling guilty seeing your over-ripe bananas staring back at you? I'm sure there are plenty of you, so here's a quick, easy recipe to convert 3 over-ripe bananas into a magical, luscious, fragrant loaf filled with walnuts...
These Greek Easter cookies, Kourabiedes, are also known as Greek wedding cookies, remind me of Christmas cookies as they are packed with the warming taste of cloves. The texture is similar to a soft shortbread with almond, vanilla and clove notes. This is a...
A true Cornish pastie would only have beef chunks, swede (rutabaga), potatoes and onion seasoned with salt and pepper and a sliver of butter. I've swapped the beef for lamb fillet, kept the traditional vegetables and added fresh mint. I thought this would be a nice...
I came across these meat and egg pasties while I was going through a 1970's cookbook that had some great picnic ideas. Similar to a Scotch egg filling, I liked how the meat encased the boiled egg within the pastie pastry. I chose a lamb mince seasoned with classic...
Something about Spring always makes me think of lemons. These lemon meringue cupcakes are perfect for a sugar-craving with a twist of lemon, especially as the cupcakes are light and fluffy, filled with a dollop of heavenly lemon curd and topped with a meringue...
I was very tempted to call this dish “Beef and Guinness Pie” to honour St. Patrick’s Day on 17th March, but as Guinness doesn’t have a gluten-free range (yet!), I am quite happy using one of the many gluten-free beers available. Although the Guinness is missing, the...
As St. Patrick's Day is approaching, I decided to try out a typical Irish soda bread using my gluten-free bread flour blend. Most soda bread recipes seem to only require a few basic ingredients - flour, salt, sugar, milk & lemon (or buttermilk) and most...
As scones have two different interpretations in the US and UK, this recipe is referring to the classic British afternoon tea scone that so many of us are familiar with. The US have a savoury twist to their scones (aka biscuits), usually served with casserole dishes -...
Who doesn’t love a baked fruit-filled flan? This recipe is a great way to use left-over fruits, as is the case with my nearly overripe pears. The almond cream filling (aka frangipane) compliments the pears, as well as the crisp, buttery pastry. Besides tasting great,...
Cinnamon rolls are the all-time favourite at breakfast or any occasion really, but what makes these extra special is the wonderful cinnamon buttery aroma that sends everyone crazy! I remember finding it so cruel walking past Cinnabon or other bakeries, smelling the...
Personally, I prefer receiving chocolates or biscuits instead of flowers on Valentine’s Day, but that’s just me being obsessed about food! If you feel the same way, here are some cute, gluten-free biscuits known as Linzeraugen in Austria, which are delicate, buttery...
Do you need a healthy change with your TV snacks? Here’s an easy, nutritional, full of fibre kind of snack that you can enjoy while watching your favourite TV show or the upcoming Super Bowl game. Most people are familiar with hummus, made with cooked chickpeas and...
Here’s a gluten-free flour I never heard of, amaranth flour, a very under-rated member of the gluten-free flour family. I suppose it depends on how you use this flour. From experience, I would only use it in savoury bakes and dishes, due to its nuttiness and...
Austrians and Germans have been baking Stollen for 700 years, calling it Christstollen as the stollen shape and appearance were reminiscent of the wrapped baby Jesus in swaddling clothes. Nowadays, Stollens are sold all over Europe just before Christmas at most...
Pavlova is a delightful, crispy meringue with a gooey centre, covered in seasonable berries and fruit on top of luscious amounts of freshly whipped cream. Yes, for those that know Pavlovas, I know Pavlovas are already gluten-free, but here is a dessert that is 100%...
Bagels are known for their classic, chewy texture and shiny coats. They also need a high GLUTEN flour to create this, so making them gluten-free took a bit of work to create the perfect bagel recipe. After several taste tests, the feedback was positive, although some...
For twenty years, I have baked hundreds of gingerbread cookies during the lead up to Christmas for my family, friends and catering events. I try to keep the icing decorations simple, but sometimes I get carried away and fill the whole biscuit with icing followed by...
Cookie Day falls each year on the 4th December, so as it is around the corner, I thought I would share my all-American classic gluten-free chocolate chip cookie to celebrate this day.After all, 7 billion chocolate chip cookies are eaten in the US every year! The...
Speculaas is my favourite Dutch cookie noted for its crunchy texture and spicy festive flavour – I could eat them all year round, but traditionally they are made and gifted for the feast on the eve of Saint Nicholas Day which falls annually on the 5th December....
The aroma of apple and cinnamon triggers many memories of home life, family, autumn and celebrations. Estate agents even use apple and cinnamon sticks simmering in water over the stove as a marketing trick to create a cosy atmosphere when the property is being viewed....
This cornbread recipe is so easy to make – 5 minutes of prep and 20 minutes to bake! Cornbread originated from the southern part of the US, accompanying spicy chillis and eventually became a traditional side to Thanksgiving meals. Originally, only yellow cornmeal was...
This week, my kitchen, not forgetting the whole apartment, has truly smelt like a bakery. I was obsessed with producing the perfect sandwich bread and after several attempts, I am so excited to declare victory with this most amazing gluten-free white sandwich bread!...
Snacking is not my thing, but every now and then, I crave for a savoury cracker to eat on its own or to accompany a hearty cheese slice or to dunk into a dip. Buying gluten-free crackers are expensive, quite boring in flavour and tend to have a high salt, sugar and...
Fajitas have evolved into a popular Tex-Mex dish that can be served with just about any meat, fish, seafood or vegetable. This versatile dish is a fun and sociable meal. Arrange all the meat, vegetables, condiments and tortillas on a large platter so that everyone can...
This chilled dessert is the Mexican equivalent of Italy’s tiramisu or England’s trifle - translated as Three Milk Cake - this cake gets its name from the three types of milk - fresh cream, condensed milk and evaporated milk. These kinds of milk infuse the gluten-free...
No kneading! No mess! This recipe is so easy! You just need to allow for time. I like to prepare the dough in the morning, let it rest & rise during the day and bake it just before dinner. Focaccia derived its name from the Latin words “panis focacius”. Panis...
Key lime pie has to be the quintessential American dessert that most people will be fond of. Bursting with citrusy freshness and a buttery pie crust, this dessert is perfect on a warm, balmy night after a salty barbecue dinner. Best of all, it can be made ahead of...
Pre-gluten-free days, I always had a packet of McVitie’s digestive biscuits handy for those peckish moments, or even when I felt under the weather. In the UK, they sell gluten-free digestive biscuits in most supermarkets. In mainland Europe, they are hard to come by,...
Vienna is lucky to have many beautiful blue skies with long sunny days in Summer at agreeable temperatures to make outdoor eating a pleasure. The food I prepared is usually light and seasonable, often served with a side salad. This Brie & Onion Tart is one of my...
Brownies are very forgiving in the gluten-free kitchen. They don’t need to rise, stick together to form a shape nor require that much flour. If you are new to baking, this recipe is a good start. I believe there are two important things about making a successful...
These pancakes are featherlight and perfect as a summer breakfast or afternoon snack. There is very little sugar in the batter which is great for those looking for a low-sugar snack or for keeping the sugar down with children. Any extra sweetness needed can be...
Use your favourite soft cream cheese. I like using the Italian soft cheese in my empanadas. Baby spinach leaves or Silver beet (Swiss Chard) are excellent choices for the greensFor the Homemade Gluten-Free Pastry:Ingredients: 460g/16oz Gluten Free Flour (either...
When I started my gluten-free diet, one of the first gluten favourites that I missed was definitely Argentine empanadas. I grew up snacking on these delicious pastry parcels with exciting fillings of either spiced meat or gooey cheese & spinach every time I...
