Gluten Free Buns (Bread Rolls) | Vegan, Oil-Free Recipe - Elavegan (2024)

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It took me so long to come up with a recipe for vegan AND gluten-free buns (bread rolls). But finally, it’s here! And I love how the buns turned out. They are soft, oil-free, dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, and tasty!

Gluten Free Buns (Bread Rolls) | Vegan, Oil-Free Recipe - Elavegan (1)SOFT GLUTEN-FREE BUNS WITHOUT EGGS

Well, it’s not easy to create a vegan and gluten-free recipe for bread buns which actually tastes good and which is furthermore soft. It happens quite often that gluten-free buns (without eggs) turn out like brick and/or taste…well…not too good! If you are a gluten-free vegan, you know what I am talking about.

Most soft gluten-free yeast buns contain eggs which means they aren’t vegan. Most soft vegan yeast buns contain all-purpose flour which means they contain gluten… Ugh! Making soft vegan gluten-free yeast rolls without eggs is a difficult task. But it’s doable!

Gluten Free Buns (Bread Rolls) | Vegan, Oil-Free Recipe - Elavegan (2)THE SECRET INGREDIENT FOR SOFT GLUTEN-FREE BUNS?

Is there a secret for soft gluten-free rolls? Well, I don’t know if it’s a secret but I remember I tried this trick for the first time about 10 years ago. I made a pizza and added mashed potatoes to the dough!

The pizza crust came out soft and crispy at the same time. I really loved the result! After countless failed attempts at making soft gluten-free bread rolls which are also vegan I somehow remembered this mashed potato trick.

And it seems this was the missing piece of the puzzle because finally, the buns turned out soft!

Gluten Free Buns (Bread Rolls) | Vegan, Oil-Free Recipe - Elavegan (3)PSYLLIUM HUSK POWDER

Gluten-free recipes often contain Xanthan which is a gum that isn’t very healthy. It might make the dough rise a little bit more but I heard that many people have allergies and try to avoid “gums”. Therefore, I don’t use any Xanthan gum, however, I love to add psyllium husk powder.

It is not only a great ingredient for gluten-free doughs, but it’s also very beneficial for our gut health! Psyllium husk powder provides elasticity and structure for gluten-free doughs. It’s basically fiber that’s why it binds a lot of liquid, so you really shouldn’t leave it out.

Gluten Free Buns (Bread Rolls) | Vegan, Oil-Free Recipe - Elavegan (4)WHICH FLOUR BLEND?

I rarely use store-bought gluten-free flour blends because they are very expensive where I live. That’s why I make my own gluten-free blend by simply mixing rice flour with tapioca flour, sometimes cornstarch and sometimes oat flour (ground oats).

I also use chickpea flour quite often, which is also the main ingredient of my homemade gluten-free tortillas and homemade gluten-free gnocchi. However, when I used it in these gluten-free buns the result wasn’t too good. The yeast rolls turned out rather dry and brittle. I had the best result with a mixture of oat flour, rice flour, and tapioca flour.

I believe buckwheat flour (and maybe also sorghum flour) would be another good substitute for oat flour, however, I didn’t try it out yet. You could try using a store-bought mixture but the result will probably be different from my result since gluten-free flour blends often contain different gluten-free flours.

But if you try a different blend, then definitely let me know which one it was, as I would love to add it to the recipe notes!

Gluten Free Buns (Bread Rolls) | Vegan, Oil-Free Recipe - Elavegan (5)THESE ROLLS ARE:

  • Vegan (egg-free, dairy-free)
  • Oil-free
  • Gum-free (no Xanthan gum)
  • Soft
  • Easy to make
  • Great for a burger or sandwich

Gluten Free Buns (Bread Rolls) | Vegan, Oil-Free Recipe - Elavegan (6)

HOW TO MAKE GLUTEN-FREE BUNS?

This recipe is fairly easy to make and I hope you will give it a try. Should you recreate these burger buns, please leave a comment below and don’t forget to tag me in your Instagram or Facebook post with @elavegan and #elavegan because I love to see your recreations.

Also, one more thing before we get to the recipe. I have made some recipe testing with soft pretzel buns and I actually included the variation to the recipe notes. So if you love the pretzel taste, definitely check out the recipe notes below.

Here you can see a photo of the pretzel buns. Also, click HERE if you would like to check out my Sloppy Joes recipe.

Gluten Free Buns (Bread Rolls) | Vegan, Oil-Free Recipe - Elavegan (8)

Gluten-Free Buns

Author: Michaela Vais

Soft gluten-free buns (bread rolls) which are vegan (egg-free, dairy-free), oil-free, and also gum-free (no Xanthan gum)! This recipe is easy to make and perfect for a burger or sandwich! Do you love the pretzel taste? If yes, definitely check out the recipe notes for a soft pretzel bun variation!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Resting time 1 hour hr

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Bread, Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 6 buns

Calories 182 kcal

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Peel a big potato and cut it into 2-inch pieces. Cook it in a pot of salted water until tender (about 15 minutes). Drain the water and mash the potato with a potato masher (you will need 1/2 cup/120 g of mashed potatoes for this recipe). Let cool.

  • In a small pot, dissolve the dry yeast with the sugar in the lukewarm milk (about 100°F/38° C). Let the yeast proof for 10 minutes. It should get frothy and rise a little bit.

  • Put all flours into a bowl, add the psyllium husk powder and salt and stir with a whisk.

  • Pour the yeast mixture into the bowl and also add 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes.

  • Mix everything together with a spoon or your hands and knead the dough for a few minutes. It should be moist and not dry. If it's too dry add a little bit of water. If it's too sticky, add a little bit more tapioca flour.

  • Divide the dough into 6 equal parts and roll each piece into a ball with your hands.

  • Place the buns onto a baking pan, lined with greased parchment paper or into a burger silicone pan (see pictures above in the blog post) and score a cross on the buns.

  • Cover the pan with a wet kitchen towel and let them rise in a warm place (e.g. in a 100°F/38°C oven) for about 60 minutes. They will rise a little bit (not as much as a dough made with wheat flour though).

  • After 45 minutes, preheat oven to 360°F/180°C. Put a heat resistant container into the oven and fill it with water (it will release steam during baking which will make the buns soft).

  • Bake the buns in the oven for about 25 minutes. Enjoy warm!

  • They taste best on day one. You can store leftovers in the fridge but since this is a gluten-free buns recipe they will become a bit drier on the second day. That's why it's best to reheat them in the microwave for 30-45 seconds when you eat them the next day. Check the recipe notes below if you want these gluten-free buns to taste like soft pretzels!

Notes

  • For the pretzel taste, mix 1 cup (240ml) hot water with 2 tbsp baking soda.
  • Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray each bun with this mixture before baking! The buns will brown a little and also taste like soft pretzels!
  • Make sure to also check out my Gluten-Free Vegan Bread recipe!
  • Recipe makes 6 buns. Nutrition facts are for one bun.

Nutrition Facts

Gluten-Free Buns

Amount per Serving

Calories

182

% Daily Value*

Fat

1.6

g

2

%

Carbohydrates

34

g

11

%

Fiber

4.5

g

18

%

Sugar

2.6

g

3

%

Protein

3.7

g

7

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition information is an estimate and has been calculated automatically

Gluten Free Buns (Bread Rolls) | Vegan, Oil-Free Recipe - Elavegan (9) Simple and Delicious Vegan Cookbook by ElaVeganCLICK HERE to order!

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FAQs

What is the trick to making good gluten free bread? ›

Tips and Techniques to make better Gluten Free Bread
  1. Use psyllium husk powder.
  2. Let the dough rest (not exactly the same as a bulk proof)
  3. Mix or knead thoroughly.
  4. Use less yeast.
  5. Bake in a tin with tall sides.
  6. Bake for longer, often at a lower temperature.
  7. Create steam in the oven.
  8. Use the tangzhong or scalded flour method.

Why oil in gluten free bread? ›

Most gluten-free recipes will call for the addition of eggs and oils to enhance moisture. Eggs are also natural leaveners that support the volume, texture, color, and shelf-life of gluten-free bread. Including oil can also result in a richer, more tasty loaf and provide a bit more moisture too.

What is the raising agent in gluten free bread? ›

In any case, xanthan gum and baking powder/baking soda fulfil completely different roles in gluten free baking: xanthan gum is a binder (acting as a “glue” that holds your bakes together), and baking powder and baking soda are raising or leavening agents, making your bakes nice and fluffy.

Are bread rolls vegan? ›

Yes, bread can and often does contain other ingredients like sugar and molasses (not to mention preservatives and fillers in processed bread), but the majority of those ingredients are also vegan. Generally, most flatbreads, rolls, loaves, bagels, sandwich breads, and crackers don't contain non-vegan ingredients.

What is the biggest challenge of making gluten-free bread? ›

One of the main challenges in making gluten-free bread is achieving the same texture and rise as traditional wheat bread.

Which yeast is best for gluten-free bread? ›

What type of yeast should be used to bake Gluten Free Bread? Active dry yeast and instant yeast both work well and are often interchangeable. Be on the lookout for any Rapid Rise yeast that is best for one rise. For most of us that's the way gluten free bread is baked, a single rise in the tin.

What happens if you don't put oil in bread? ›

The rye bread without oil had a slightly tough, chewy crust. Fats work as tenderizers in breads by coating some of the proteins that form gluten, preventing them from hydrating and linking up to form large networks that would lead to toughness.

What does egg do in gluten-free bread? ›

The most common binder in gluten-free baking is eggs. Eggs can replace many of the functions that gluten provides, such as binding, enhancing texture and helping set the structure of the final product.

Why is gluten-free bread so hard to make? ›

Gummy on the inside- bake for a longer time. Gluten free bread takes much longer than a regular loaf to bake and therefore a sticky crumb is generally the result of under baking. It is easy to see why this can happen, gluten free bread dough needs more moisture and is often difficult to knead with conventional methods.

What gluten free flour is best for 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 cream of tartar do in gluten-free bread? ›

Promoting Better Rise

Cream of tartar acts as a natural leavening agent when combined with baking soda.

What does baking powder do in gluten-free bread? ›

Baking powder releases carbon dioxide into your batter and dough, creating tiny bubbles in the mixture that helps it rise as it is baked. These bubbles give muffins, bread, cakes, and other types of baked goods their light and fluffy texture that we all know and love.

Why is garlic bread not vegan? ›

Generally speaking, the actual dough used in garlic bread is vegan. What could catch you out is the butter contents. Fortunately though, a lot of shop-bought garlic bread uses margarine or olive oil – so just make sure to check the ingredients first!

Can vegans eat ketchup? ›

To put it simply, yes, Heinz ketchup is vegan-friendly. Not only are all their ingredients plant-based, when it comes to Heinz tomato ketchup they've said 'we can confirm that the product is suitable for a vegan diet. Our sugar is not refined using bone char from animal bones. ' Making it entirely suitable for vegans.

Can vegans eat olive oil? ›

The short answer is yes, olive oil is vegan! Olive oil is a completely plant-derived product that is made entirely from the fruit of the olive tree. The product does not require animals for sourcing or processing in any way.

Why is it so challenging to make good gluten-free bread? ›

A note about moisture in gluten-free bread recipes: getting the right amount of moisture in GF bread dough is crucial to success. If the dough is too moist, the bread will rise well but sink in the middle when baking. If it is too dry, the bread will not rise.

Is there a trick to baking with gluten-free flour? ›

2 teaspoons of baking powder per cup of gluten-free flour is necessary to ensure proper leavening. Baking soda and buttermilk can be used to leaven instead of baking powder, but 1-1/8 teaspoon of cream of tartar should be added for each 1/2 teaspoon baking soda used.

Why do you put vinegar in gluten-free bread? ›

Apple cider vinegar or another acid lightens up the dough. You can add up to 4 Tbsp of acid for 500 g gluten-free flour. Don't worry, you won't be able to taste it afterwards. To lighten up a yeast dough even more, you can add a packet of baking powder or cream of tartar baking powder to 500 g flour.

How do you make gluten-free bread less crumbly? ›

The gluten in traditional flour is what gives dough its stickiness. Without it, gluten-free products can be dry and crumbly. There is a way to compensate for this however — use xanthan gum. Some bakers also use gelatin or agar.

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