Gluten-Free English Muffin Bread

Recipe by King Arthur Test Kitchen
1 Review 5.0 out of 5 stars

It’s easy to make a gluten-free version of our Hall-of-Fame English Muffin Toasting Bread thanks to our Gluten-Free Bread Flour. Like the original, this recipe is simple as can be and yields a coarse-textured loaf full of crannies, perfect for toasting and catching melted butter or turning into a great gluten-free sandwich. While the original recipe calls for vegetable oil, we found that butter adds richer flavor.

Prep
15 mins
Bake
23 to 29 mins
Total
1 hr 25 mins
Yield
one 8 1/2" x 4 1/2" loaf
Gluten-Free English Muffin Bread - select to zoom
Gluten-Free English Muffin Bread - select to zoom
Gluten-Free English Muffin Bread - select to zoom

Instructions

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  1. Lightly grease an 8 1/2" x 4 1/2" standard loaf pan and sprinkle the bottom and sides with cornmeal, tapping out any excess. 

  2. Weigh your flour; or measure it by gently spooning it into a cup, then sweeping off any excess. In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk the flour, sugar, yeast, salt, and baking soda. 

  3. In a microwave-safe bowl or in a small saucepan on the stove, combine the milk, water, and butter and heat to between 120°F and 130°F. Stir the liquid before measuring its temperature to get an accurate reading. If you don't have a thermometer, the liquid should feel uncomfortably hot when you quickly dip your finger into it. Be sure it doesn't reach 140°F, as temperatures in that range can harm the yeast. 

  4. Pour the hot liquid over the dry ingredients and mix briefly, using a spoon (if mixing by hand) or the flat beater attachment (if using a stand mixer), until combined. Add the egg and mix until thoroughly combined. 

  5. Continue to mix until a sticky, batter-like dough forms, about 2 to 3 minutes if mixing by hand (some lumps will remain; that’s OK) or 1 minute on high speed if using a mixer. It’s normal for the mixture to resemble thick cake batter at this stage. 

  6. Transfer the dough to the prepared pan, leveling it and smoothing the top as much as possible. 

  7. Cover the pan and let the dough rise until it has risen 1/2" to 3/4" over the rim of the pan, 45 minutes to 1 hour.

  8. While the dough is rising, preheat the oven to 400°F with a rack in the center. 

  9. Before baking, remove the cover and carefully brush the top of the loaf with melted butter. Bake the bread for 23 to 29 minutes, or until it's golden brown on top and a digital thermometer inserted into the center reads 208°F to 212°F. (Your bread may be golden brown after 20 minutes or so, but continue baking to the target temperature, tenting with foil if needed, to achieve the best texture.)   

  10. Remove the bread from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes in the pan before turning it out onto a rack. Let the bread cool completely before slicing. 

  11. Store leftover Gluten-Free English Muffin Bread, well-wrapped, at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, slice and freeze for several months. 

Tips from our Bakers

  • Want to add a tiny bit of sourdough tang to this loaf — plus use up some of your discard starter? It's simple. Use these ingredients:

    In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, mix together the flour, sugar, yeast, salt, and baking powder. Heat the milk and butter to between 120°F and 130°F. Pour the hot liquid over the dry ingredients and mix until thoroughly combined. Stir in the sourdough discard and the egg. Proceed with the recipe as directed above, beginning with step 5.  

  • Be aware: Some of your baking ingredients can be a hidden source of gluten. Learn more at our blog post: For gluten-free baking, think beyond just flour. For additional information on King Arthur-produced products, read the complete details of our allergen program, including our contact-prevention practices.

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