Your Guide To Baking Gluten Free Cupcakes

Gluten-free diets are all the rage these days, especially when it comes to baked goods and desserts like cupcakes. About 1 in 141 Americans have Celiac disease which means they can’t eat any foods or beverages that contain gluten. But if you just want to avoid gluten in favorite treats, never fear.

Going gluten-free can be tricky, even challenging. We’re here to help. Our guide is designed to educate you on the important aspects of gluten-free foods while providing yummy recipes for alternatives to your favorite cupcakes.

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The goal is to make you confident to bake the treats you love while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Or, if you are already a seasoned baker, it will give you some new ideas to try. So get those taste buds ready and read on to learn more.

What Does “Gluten” And “Gluten Free” Really Mean?

The phrase “gluten-free” is more than just a popular buzzword used by hipsters across social media. It refers to foods that do not contain gluten, a protein that can be found in a variety of things such as bread, barley, rye, wheat or blends like triticale.

Gluten is the compound that holds foods together. For most of us, eating doesn’t cause any ill effects. But that is not the case for everyone. For those individuals, gluten causes unpleasant and often serious health effects.

Some of the more common foods that contain gluten include:

• Nearly all alcoholic beer beverages
• Most desserts
• Cereals (wheat, rye and barley)
• Various candies
• Cakes
• Pies
• Processed Meats
• French fries
• Most soups
• Anything that contains malt (vinegar, yeast, beer and milkshakes)
• Sauce mixes like soy sauce
• Meat that requires self-basting

However, many foods do not have any gluten-based proteins and are safe to eat. They include food such as:

• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Eggs
• Meats
• Fish
• Poultry
• Seeds
• Nuts
• Dairy-based products
• Tapioca
• White rice

Are There Any Other Foods I Should Avoid?

Grains are the main source of gluten, but it can be found in various other ingredients that have grain derivatives like vanilla extract, baking powder, and confectioners’ sugar.

If you want to be sure your food is safe, read the nutritional label to be sure. Choose only certified products that are marked as gluten-free. The FDA requires manufacturers to list allergens like wheat and gluten on their list of ingredients.

What Is Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that affects the digestive system. It is a chronic condition. Eating gluten even in small amounts can trigger a negative reaction. If you have Celiac disease, you should avoid any and all foods with gluten.

Celiac disease affects nearly 3 million people, which includes those that have gluten sensitivities. For those individuals, the effects can be damaging to long-term health too and affect their quality of life.

Here are some of the classic symptoms:

• Inflammation or swelling of the small intestine
• Eventual destruction of the intestinal lining
• Malabsorption of nutrients leading to vitamin and mineral deficiencies
• Diarrhea
• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Anemia

There is no cure for Celiac disease. The only treatment is to avoid gluten-containing foods and beverages. But that isn’t enough. Those with the disease must also be aware of foods that come in contact with gluten is a source of cross-contamination. People with this condition can live a normal life as long as they follow a gluten-free diet.

Five Examples Of Gluten-Free Flour

If you are gluten sensitive or have Celiac disease, you can still enjoy delicacies such as gluten-free baked goods like cupcakes, but you’ll need flour alternatives. When it comes to mind, most people will opt for white or wheat on their shopping lists. But neither are good for you or your health.

Here’s why:

• Wheat and white flours contain gluten.
• Wheat and white flours are bleached.
• Both flours will harm your digestive system.

But here’s the good news. Alternative flours exist. There are a variety of natural, tasty flours that can be used as a wheat or white substitute that are also gluten-free. Some are even healthier than wheat-based ones.

Coconut Flour

If you are looking to not only have a gluten-free diet but a low-carb diet to lose weight, then look no further than coconut flour. Coconut flour is high in nutrients, fiber and healthy fats. That makes it an ideal replacement for white or wheat flour. It will also add a pleasant sweetness to your baking.

Sprouted Flour

Swap out that gluten-rich supermarket brand flour and make the switch to sprouted flour. This ingredient is made of yellow corn which is regularly used when making homemade loaves of bread, cornmeal or cornbread.

Brown Rice Flour

Brown rice already has some wonderful benefits. It is selenium and manganese-rich which can boost your immunity. It supports your digestive and central nervous system health too. It can even promote weight loss by leaving you feeling sated. Brown rice flour gives foods a hearty texture and flavor.

Almond Flour

Almond flour is full of nutrients like magnesium, calcium, potassium and manganese. It’s an excellent choice for pie crusts that will add a welcome nutty flavor. On the downside, it is expensive compared to the other options.

Tapioca Flour

A pure form of starch, tapioca is normally used to create thickness in recipes. Though it lacks the nutrients like some flours, tapioca is sugar-free and is low in calories. It has a powdery texture. You’ll often see it in a blend of other gluten-free alternatives.

What Are Some Recipes For Gluten-Free Cupcakes?

Gluten Free Vanilla Cupcakes

Here are the ingredients:

• 8 tablespoons of room temperature unsalted butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg and 1 egg white both at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
• 1 ½  cups of gluten-free flour
• ¾  teaspoon of xanthan gum
• 2 tablespoons of cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• ½  teaspoon of baking soda
• ½  teaspoon of kosher salt
• ⅔  cup of milk or buttermilk at room temperature

For the full recipe and baking instructions, please visit here.

White Chocolate Cupcakes

Preparation time: 15 minutes. Cook time: 20 minutes.

Here are the ingredients:

• 1 ½  cups of high-quality, gluten-free flour
• ¾  teaspoon of xanthan gum
• ¼  teaspoon of kosher-style salt
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• ½  teaspoon of baking soda
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 and a 1/2 ounces  white chocolate, chopped
• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
• ⅔  cup plain yogurt, at room temperature
• 1 ½  teaspoons vanilla bean paste (or pure vanilla extract)
• 1 extra-large egg
• 1 extra-large egg white

Full recipe and baking instructions

And if you want to take it a step further, use dairy-free (including soy) white chocolate by melting it along with butter and then mixing both together.

Whipped Ganache Frosting (to go with Cupcakes of any kind)

Here are the ingredients:

• ¾  cup of whipping cream or as much as your liking
• 10 ounces of chopped, dark chocolate
• Pre-made chocolate cupcakes
• ¾  cup gluten-free flour
• ½  teaspoon of xanthan gum (if necessary)
• 1 tablespoon (45 g) of unsweetened natural cocoa powder
• ¾  teaspoon of baking powder
• ¼  teaspoon of baking soda
• ¼  teaspoon of kosher salt
• ¾  cup (about 150 g) of granulated sugar
• 4 tablespoons (about 56 g) of vegetable or any neutral oil
• 2 eggs) at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
• ½  cup lukewarm water or milk, room temperature

Stuffed Gluten Free Red Velvet Cupcakes

Here are the ingredients:

• 1 ½  cups gluten-free flour
• ½  teaspoon of xanthan gum (again, if necessary)
• 4 tablespoons of cornstarch
• ¾  teaspoon of kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• ½  teaspoon of baking soda
• 4 tablespoons  of natural or unsweet cocoa powder
• 8 tablespoons of unsalted butter, set to room temperature
• 1 cup of granulated sugar
• 2 eggs at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
• ¾  cup milk, room temperature
• Red food coloring
• 5 ounces of chopped, dark chocolate,
• 2 tablespoons of vegetable shortening, preferably a non-hydrogenated option

For the full recipe and baking instructions, please visit here.

Cinnamon Roll Muffins

Here are the ingredients for the swirl and filling:

• 4 tablespoons of melted vegetable shortening
• ¼  cup of brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

Next, for the cupcakes:

• 2 cups of gluten-free flour
• ½ teaspoon of xanthan gum
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• ½  teaspoon of baking soda
• ½  teaspoon of kosher salt
• 8 tablespoons room temperature, unsalted butter
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 3 eggs, beaten at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
• ⅔  cup low-fat buttermilk

Now, the glaze:

• ¾  cup confectioners’ sugar
• ⅛  teaspoon of kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon of unsalted butter, preferably melted
• ½  to 1 ½  teaspoons of milk (your choice)

For the full recipe and baking instructions, please visit here.

Ready, Set, Bake!

Life with Celiac disease and gluten sensitivity can be a challenge. And it may be disheartening when you finally understand how much your daily life will be impacted by it. But with your new knowledge of gluten-free diets—and gluten-free recipes for your favorite snacks—you can approach baking with new confidence.

By knowing about alternative flours, you have what you need to start making your favorite treats. And armed with the knowledge of gluten-containing foods and beverages, you can make better choices for living a healthier lifestyle.

Last update on 2024-11-25 at 13:46 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API