With pizza topping the charts as a long-time favorite American dish, more and more restaurants are getting creative with their recipes. Whether you're craving something a little different or have been actively searching for gluten free pizza dough, you're in luck! Although gluten free may seem challenging at first, we've taken the guesswork out of it and created a guide to make homemade gluten free pizza dough easy to craft.
Gluten free pizza dough is made for a variety of reasons. Chances are, whether or not you're following a gluten free diet yourself, you know someone who is. Increased awareness of gluten intolerance and celiac disease has made gluten free cooking more popular than ever. Following a gluten free diet doesn't mean you can't enjoy your favorite foods, there are so many easy substitutes you can use to eliminate gluten from a recipe and we're here to prove that! Use these simple tips to help make the perfect homemade gluten free pizza dough.
Free Your Baking Space of Gluten
When crafting any gluten free recipe, it's important to assess your cooking environment. Celiac disease and gluten allergies can be triggered by even the smallest amount of gluten. Have you recently prepared foods with wheat flour in your kitchen? Before you begin crafting your dough, it's important to fully wipe down all baking surfaces and remove any gluten-containing products that are nearby. Cross-contamination can be very dangerous for those who are gluten intolerant and you'll want to avoid it at all costs.
Don't Substitute or Omit Ingredients
When learning how to make a gluten free pizza crust, it's important that you follow the recipe. Gluten free flours are very different than traditional flours and each ingredient is important when it comes to creating the right flavor and texture of pizza crust. The gluten found in most traditional homemade pizza dough works to create the texture of the dough and helps it rise correctly. Since you'll be working with a dough that's free of gluten, many recipes will include important gluten substitutes like whey protein, rice flour and even garbanzo beans to help mimic the same texture found in traditional doughs. Make sure you do your research and gather the correct ingredients before you start making your homemade gluten free pizza dough.
In this delicious gluten free pizza dough recipe, a mixture of garbanzo bean flour, white rice flour, potato starch, cornstarch and xanthan gum is used to mimic the texture and flavor of traditional pizza crust. Following this mixture accurately will create a crispy-on-the-outside, chewy-on-the-inside pizza crust that can also be used to make soft doughy rolls or even a savory stuffed calzone!
Let Your Dough Rest
Most gluten free pizza crusts have a high starch content. Starchy ingredients take time to consume the moisture from wet ingredients. When learning how to make a gluten free pizza crust, it's important that you allow the mix to ferment and rise before baking. While each recipe is different, we recommend letting your dough rest for at least an hour. This rest period will help ensure that the starches are accurately hydrated and that, when cooked, your dough will properly rise. If followed correctly, you'll end up with a crispy crust with the chewy soft center often produced in traditional pizza crust recipes.
Oil Your Baking Surfaces
Gluten free doughs tend to be a bit more sticky than traditional wheat flour pizza doughs. Greasing your baking surfaces will stop your crust from sticking to the sheet or pan that you're using. Using a silicone baking mat is also a great way to keep your crust from sticking. These non-stick baking mats are often used as a replacement for parchment paper and they don't require any greasing.
Use a Recipe That Calls for Thin Crust
Gluten free pizza doughs often produce a thinner crust compared to traditional pies. The lack of gluten in the dough produces a more batter-like mixture, which creates a deliciously thin crust. If you’re craving a thicker crust, don't be discouraged. There are simple tweaks that you can make to any gluten free recipe, which will allow your crust to reach greater heights. For a thicker gluten free crust, many recipes suggest adding a teaspoon or so of xanthan gum to help the dough rise.
Here's a recipe we love that calls for xanthan gum and active dry yeast to create a crust with outstanding texture and flavor.
Skip the Kneading
The gluten found in most flours is what gives the dough its texture and elasticity and if made the wrong way, your homemade gluten free pizza dough can become a flavorless, textureless mess.
While conventional pizza dough is kneaded multiple times to help develop the gluten and create the desired rise, gluten free doughs are not kneaded at all. With no gluten to develop, kneading a gluten free dough is pointless. In fact, most gluten free doughs are incredibly sticky and trying to knead a sticky dough will create a mess. When mixing a gluten free dough, skip the kneading and focus on the specific ingredients added to the recipe to help the dough rise properly.
Press Your Dough
In the same way that gluten affects the rise of your dough, it also influences the elasticity of your dough. Gluten free dough is often less stretchy that traditional pizza dough and because of this, it's important that your press your dough to stretch it out instead of rolling it. In order to stretch your gluten free dough properly, you'll need to press the dough into a thin layer onto your pre-greased baking pan, parchment paper, or silk pat. Don't worry about overstretching your dough to account for it bouncing back, as gluten free dough rarely retrieves its previous form.
Understand the Importance of Yeast
In any recipe, yeast can be used to help give rise to your dough. Yeast creates gas that, when cooked, allows your dough to expand. This air helps the inside of your pizza crust stay soft and chewy, while the heat from the oven creates a browned crispy outside. Because there is no gluten, gluten free dough often lacks the structure that most wheat flours provide. The amount of yeast needed to create that structure will vary per recipe, and many recipes may call for other ingredients that may not commonly be found in pizza dough to help create that structure.
Choose Your Toppings Wisely
While pizza toppings are not often talked about when discussing the making of pizza dough, they do play an important step in the actual baking of the dough. When making any pizza, it's important that you avoid piling on the sauce and toppings. Too many toppings can affect the structure of your pizza dough and cause a soggy crust.
Our Favorite Easy Gluten Free Pizza Dough Recipes
Easy Gluten Free Pizza Dough Recipe
A great gluten free pizza dough for beginners, this recipe also uses our gluten free and vegan egg replacer, making it a great starter dough for individuals with allergies and dietary restrictions. Easy to make entirely vegan, this dough creates a delicious crust with outstanding texture and flavor.
Easy Gluten Free Pizza Dough with Sourdough Starter
A delicious way to use our millet flour, this easy gluten free pizza dough recipe is a great way to curb your pizza cravings. Top this crust with your favorite sauce and pizza topping combos and serve it at your next gathering!
Foolproof Gluten Free Pizza
This foolproof recipe for easy gluten free pizza dough is a great way to warm up your appetite and the house on a night in. Use our gluten free pizza crust mix to achieve a crispy base perfect for those who are sensitive to wheat or gluten.
Gluten Free Pizza Crust Mix
Our gluten free pizza crust mix makes it easy to make a crispy and delicious pizza crust. Easy-to-make, this flour bakes up to two 12-inch gluten free pizzas.
Are you looking to accommodate a vegan diet? This mix makes it easy to create an egg-free variation. Just combine 2 tbsp flaxseed meal and 6 tsp of water and let stand for 1 minute, then add to the recipe just like you would with traditional eggs.
Gluten Free Deep Dish Pizza
Just mentioning deep dish pizza can sound daunting, but this mix makes it incredibly easy to make! While this recipe can also be made egg-free, it's a great way to create a thick crust filled with your favorite sauce and toppings!
As you can see, anyone can enjoy a delicious pizza no matter their dietary restrictions. With just a few easy recipe tweaks, you’ll be able to create the perfect pie for any occasion! Visit our website today for more tasty pizza-making tips and recipes!
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