The Best Gluten-Free Sorghum Bread Recipe | Foodal (2024)

Looking for a go-to, gluten-free bread? Bake a loaf of our sorghum-based recipe!

The Best Gluten-Free Sorghum Bread Recipe | Foodal (1)

Sorghum is an ancient grain native to central and south Africa. Because of the plant’s high tolerance to drought and heat, it has gained global popularity as a staple cereal crop.

And since it doesn’t contain the proteins that make gluten, the ground form of this grain (as well as many others!) is perfect as an alternative flour in baked goods for those suffering from gluten sensitivity and celiac disease.

The Best Gluten-Free Sorghum Bread Recipe | Foodal (2)

With its high levels of protein, iron, and fiber, it’s a great addition in a nutrient-dense diet.

The protein content also helps to provide more substance and structure in this baked treat.

The dry base of our recipe combines this tasty ground grain with other gluten-free favorites like cornstarch, tapioca starch, and xanthan gum.

The Best Gluten-Free Sorghum Bread Recipe | Foodal (3)

Mixed with yeast, sugar, and eggs, topped with a crunchy mix of seeds, and baked until it’s beautifully golden in color, you’ll have a simply flavored and perfectly fluffy loaf of deliciousness that you can enjoy to your hungry stomach’s content.

No wheat? No problem. Make our recipe now:

Print

The Best Gluten-Free Sorghum Bread Recipe | Foodal (4)

Gluten-Free Sorghum Bread

★★★★★4.3 from 6 reviews
  • Author: Felicia Lim
  • Total Time: 1 hour, 55 minutes
  • Yield: 1 loaf
Print Recipe

Description

If you follow a gluten-free diet, you can still enjoy delicious baked goods, like our recipe for homemade sorghum bread.

Ingredients

  • 3teaspoonsactive dry yeast
  • 2teaspoonsgranulated sugar, plus 1/8 cup
  • 1 1/2cupswarm water
  • 2 1/2cupssorghum flour
  • 1/2cupcornstarch
  • 1/2cuptapioca starch
  • 1teaspoonsalt
  • 1teaspoonxanthan gum
  • 4largeeggs
  • 1/2cupmix of seeds of your choice(optional)

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, mix the yeast, sugar, and warm water together. Let the mixture sit in a warm place for 5-7 minutes, until it becomes frothy with small bubbles.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the sorghum flour, cornstarch, tapioca starch, salt, xanthan gum, and the remaining 1/8 cup sugar. Mix well with a hand whisk to fully incorporate before attaching the paddle attachment.

  3. Beat the eggs in a separate small bowl. Pour both the egg and yeast mixtures into the dry ingredients. Mix everything for a minute or so, until you get a hom*ogeneous dough (it will be the texture of a thick cake batter).

  4. Grease a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan. Spoon the dough mixture into the pan. Smooth the surface with the back of a wet spatula. If desired, sprinkle the top with a mix of your favorite seeds – pumpkin, sesame, sunflower, etc.

  5. Allow the dough to rest in a warm place without any drafts (either in a microwave that is not in use or in an oven that is switched off) until the dough has doubled in size, approximately 40 minutes.

  6. Preheat the oven to 350°F about 15 minutes before the dough has finished proofing. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour on the middle rack, until the loaf is light golden brown on top and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.

  7. Cool completely before slicing into it. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Category: Bread
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Gluten-Free

Keywords: sorghum, sorghum bread, gluten-free, gluten-free bread

Cooking by the Numbers…

Step 1 – Prepare the Ingredients for the Dough

The Best Gluten-Free Sorghum Bread Recipe | Foodal (5)

Measure the active dry yeast, sugar, warm water, sorghum flour, cornstarch, tapioca starch, salt, xanthan gum, and seeds.

Set out the eggs.

Step 2 – Combine and Mix

The Best Gluten-Free Sorghum Bread Recipe | Foodal (6)

Mix the active dry yeast, sugar, and warm water together in a medium bowl. Allow it to sit in a warm place for 5 to 7 minutes until it becomes frothy with tiny bubbles.

Note: If the mixture does not become frothy, it means the yeast is not working. The yeast may have expired. If it is not frothy, prepare another mixture with new yeast.

The Best Gluten-Free Sorghum Bread Recipe | Foodal (7)

In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together the sorghum flour, cornstarch, tapioca starch, salt, xanthan gum, and the remaining sugar. Mix well to ensure that the ingredients are evenly dispersed before attaching the paddle attachment.

Beat the eggs together in a small bowl, then pour the egg mixture and the yeast mixture into the large mixing bowl with the dry ingredients. Mix on medium speed for a minute or so, until the ingredients are thoroughly mixed and a hom*ogeneous dough forms.

The Best Gluten-Free Sorghum Bread Recipe | Foodal (8)

The dough will look like a thick cake batter, unlike normal bread dough. But don’t be alarmed! That is exactly how this dough should look. Resist the urge to add more flour or starch.

You can also choose to mix the ingredients together by hand. Be sure to mix thoroughly to create a uniform mixture.

Step 3 – Let the Dough Rise

The Best Gluten-Free Sorghum Bread Recipe | Foodal (9)

Grease a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan and spoon the dough into it, smoothing out the top with the back of a wet spatula.

The Best Gluten-Free Sorghum Bread Recipe | Foodal (10)

If desired, evenly sprinkle the top with the mix of seeds.

The Best Gluten-Free Sorghum Bread Recipe | Foodal (11)

Allow the dough to rest in a warm place without any drafts until it has doubled in size, approximately 40 minutes. I usually place the loaf pan in either a microwave or the oven, switched off.

Fifteen minutes before the dough is ready to be baked, preheat the oven to 350°F.

Step 4 – Bake and Cool

The Best Gluten-Free Sorghum Bread Recipe | Foodal (12)

Bake the dough for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the surface is golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.

Allow the loaf to cool completely before slicing into it.

Letting the loaf cool fully is fundamental, as the dough will continue cooking with the residual heat, so resist the urge to cut into it any earlier.

Store the loaf in an airtight container for up to 1 week in the refrigerator.

A Basic Bread to Use for Everything

This easy recipe will be the perfect base for any gluten-free feast!

Whether you use two thick slices for an epic sandwich, or simply slathersome butter and homemade jam on a thin toasted wedge, you’ll love having a fresh loaf of sorghum bread in your kitchen.

The Best Gluten-Free Sorghum Bread Recipe | Foodal (13)

Want even more gluten-free goodies to enjoy?

For a start, try our recipe for pizza topped with zucchini, or our paleo chocolate chip cookies.

And don’t forget to read all about the fundamentals of gluten-free cooking and baking.

Do you have a favorite baked base that you like to make if you follow a strict diet? Have any of you used sorghum flour for other baked goods? Let us know in the comments below.

Don’t forget to Pin It!

The Best Gluten-Free Sorghum Bread Recipe | Foodal (14)

Photos by Felicia Lim, © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. With additional writing by Felicia Lim.

*Nutritional information derived from a database of known generic and branded foods and ingredients and was not compiled by a registered dietitian or submitted for lab testing. It should be viewed as an approximation.

The Best Gluten-Free Sorghum Bread Recipe | Foodal (15)

About Felicia Lim

Felicia Lim is a Singaporean who moved to Argentina for love. Based in Buenos Aires, also known as “the Paris of South America,” she fills her days with freelance writing, recipe development, and food photography – three passions that give her endless joy. When she isn’t typing away at her computer, cooking in the kitchen, or shooting in her balcony-studio, you can probably find her curled up on the couch, lost in the pages of a good book.

  • More Posts(44)

The Best Gluten-Free Sorghum Bread Recipe | Foodal (2024)

FAQs

What does sorghum flour do in gluten free baking? ›

Sorghum flour's texture and density make it comparable to all-purpose wheat flour. One interesting property is that it helps to bind moisture into the dough or batter as well as promoting the formation of CO2 bubbles when making bread.

Is sorghum safe for celiac? ›

Yes, sorghum is gluten-free. Sorghum is gluten-free and is a great alternative to gluten-containing grains. It is a nutritionally dense whole grain that gives a higher amount of protein, iron, and numerous other vitamins and minerals than the much-touted quinoa.

Can I substitute sorghum flour for gluten-free flour? ›

Sorghum is naturally gluten free and there are a number of different varieties, though sorghum flour is usually beige or white in color and has a mild-tasting sweet flavor. This flour is often used in gluten free flour blends, though you can sometimes find 100% whole grain sorghum flour in specialty stores.

What is the trick to baking with gluten-free flour? ›

Use xanthan gum or guar gum: Gluten-free flours lack the elasticity and structure that gluten provides, so adding a binder like xanthan or guar gum can help to hold the ingredients together and give your baked goods a better texture.

Does sorghum flour spike blood sugar? ›

Sorghum is rich in phytochemicals that have been reported to have glucose-lowering (7) and cholesterol-lowering properties (8).

Does sorghum flour spike insulin? ›

The glucose level was significantly lower in sorghum treatments at 45 – 120 min intervals while insulin response was significantly lower at 15 – 90 min intervals. Incremental area under the curve (iAUC) was 35% lower for glucose response and 55% lower for insulin response with sorghum treatments.

What are the disadvantages of sorghum flour? ›

The biggest health risk of sorghum is tied to its potential as an allergen. Allergies associated with grasses and grass pollen are extremely common. Unfortunately, sorghum is a grass and is known to produce an allergic reaction in some people.

Who should avoid sorghum? ›

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if sorghum is safe to use when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Is sorghum inflammatory? ›

In addition to the high content of anti-inflammatory phenolic compounds, sorghum contains several groups of bioactive compounds with the capacity to induce pro-inflammatory immune responses.

Is sorghum flour anti-inflammatory? ›

The antioxidant activity of sorghum is even 3-4 times higher than some of other whole grains. Black sorghum is especially rich in antioxidants because of its high content of anthocyanins. The antioxidants found in sorghum have anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic effects.

Which is healthier, millet or sorghum? ›

The pearl millet bran is low in mineral matter like that of sorghum, but it is remarkably rich in protein ( 17.1 percent). The germ fraction in pearl millet is relatively large, 16 percent as against 10 percent in sorghum. It is also rich in oil (32 percent), protein ( 19 percent) and ash ( 10.4 percent).

Can you eat sorghum like oatmeal? ›

Sorghum is a versatile crop, serving as an excellent substitute for rice, oatmeal, and other grains such as quinoa and barley.

What is the secret to moist gluten free baking? ›

Moisture – for some reason gluten-free cakes tend to get a little dry. Any gluten-free cake will dry out super-fast and get hard on the outside if it's not properly refrigerated and covered. I swear by always using buttermilk and adding a little more fat into the batter to compensate for the dryness.

What is the closest gluten-free flour to all purpose flour? ›

Brown rice flour is about as close to a 1:1 substitute for all-purpose flour as it gets since it provides structure and a “wheat-like” flavor.

What is the best flour for gluten free bread? ›

If you'd like to turn your favorite bread recipe into a gluten free one, look no further than Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour. A great substitute for traditional bread flour, it is designed to be used in nearly every wheat flour recipe.

What does sorghum flour do in baking? ›

It can also substitute for other grains in cakes, cookies, breads and muffins. Due to its mild taste and smooth texture, sorghum flour is a great choice to replace wheat flour in sweet breads, cookies and more—although keep in mind you'll need to include a binder such as xanthan gum.

What effect of sorghum flour properties on gluten-free sponge cake? ›

Brown or white sorghum flour with smaller particle size produced high density and viscosity batters with small and hom*ogeneous air bubbles distribution. Independently of the sorghum variety used, smaller particle size flour leads to sponge cakes of high volume and low firmness.

Can I replace all-purpose flour with sorghum flour? ›

It has a very soft, light crumb with a mild, sweet flavour, allowing sorghum flour to yield smoother and softer textured gluten-free baked goods. It can be used as a 1:1 all-purpose flour substitute in just about any recipe, or blended with starches, other gluten-free flours and xanthan gum.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Ouida Strosin DO

Last Updated:

Views: 6692

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (76 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Ouida Strosin DO

Birthday: 1995-04-27

Address: Suite 927 930 Kilback Radial, Candidaville, TN 87795

Phone: +8561498978366

Job: Legacy Manufacturing Specialist

Hobby: Singing, Mountain biking, Water sports, Water sports, Taxidermy, Polo, Pet

Introduction: My name is Ouida Strosin DO, I am a precious, combative, spotless, modern, spotless, beautiful, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.