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Introduction : Gluten Free Monster Cookies
Gluten Free Monster Cookies are popular because they have a chewy texture and can be loaded with mix-ins, as well as an appealingly sweet flavor — however, if you’re gluten intolerant or living with celiac disease Monster Cookies will require flour substitutions. Luckily, there are a ton of gluten free baking flours now available and they can bring another layer of flavor and texture to your monster cookies.
We will cover the top gluten free flours to choose for your monster cookies, why you might want to try some gluten free baking, and teach you how NOT by adding Gluten back into a cookie of all things (scroll down for my lame Dad Joke). We will also share with you some tips to get it perfect, as well as provide other types of flour for different dietary requirements. This simple guide will show you how to make your own delicious gluten free monster cookies, perfect for beginners or seasoned bakers.
Understanding gluten free Flours
Gluten free flours are made from grains, and other plants that naturally do not contain gluten — a type of protein in wheat. As you undoubtedly know, gluten creates a lovely stretchy effect in traditional baking contributing to the rise of the dough and its ability to hold it together. Without gluten — that protein molecule), the structure of the final product is weak, so replacing it with different flour or a blend of flour will end up getting tastier alternatives without sacrificing vision and flavor.
Mind you, in the gluten free world — flours must often be blended to get the right blend of flavor, texture, and structure for baked goods. Different flour is more dense, less heavy, or possesses some flavor. With the proper mix of flour and a little trial and error, you can make recipes that are just as tasty as the ones made with plain old gluten!
The Benefits of Using gluten free Flours in Baking
However, people without these conditions as well are also moving towards gluten free baking because of its myriad benefits (of course the flours do have a wide range of differences in taste and textures).
The only properties of a baked goods recipe that are generally changed by using gluten free flours, and the benefit behind it include:
- Nutrient Density: Most gluten free flours have limited protein, or are incredibly fiber-rich but not entirely both at once. Almond flour, for example, is higher in vitamin E and healthy fats (source) whereas oat flour gives you some fiber plus other benefits.
- New Flavors: When you bake with gluten free flour, some new flavors make their way into your cookies. Coconut flour is sweet and almost tropical while buckwheat has a more nutty, earthy note. This allows for some interesting and intricate flavor possibilities.
- Texture Variety: All gluten free flour items will even help alter the actual structure of your baked products Brown rice flour will make it crispy as opposed to almond meal with which the pop tart is softer and moister. In my opinion, the ideal monster cookie should be crisp around the edges yet soft and chewy inside.
- Digestive Ease: Considering we all tend to bloat and feel bloated (or worse) after consuming gluten-based treats, most of you instantly fall under level one in the benefit/need department as far as digestive ease is concerned.
Top 5 gluten free Flours for Monster Cookies
- Almond Flour
- Overview: Almond flour may be milled without the skins, and some find this works better in certain baked goods. It is a popular gluten free baking choice because of its mild, sweet, and nutty taste as well as hefty protein content.
- Why It’s Great for Monster Cookies: Almond flour adds moisture and a soft, chewy texture so it works great in cookies. And helps flavor it with just a hint of nuttiness to go along with the other add-ins like chocolate chips and peanut butter.
- Oat Flour
- Overview: Summary Oat flour, which is made by grinding oats into a powder, has a gentle and slightly sweet flavor. Relatively speaking, half of my bar is relatively lower in carbohydrates from processed sugar and the oats part (oats are naturally gluten free but be sure to opt for certified GF ones, since sometimes during processing they can become cross-contaminated with wheat gluten).
- Why It’s Great for Monster Cookies: The texture from oat flour creates a chewy bite, while the fiber balances out all of that sweetness in monster cookies. Its natural vanilla flavor makes it the perfect complement to on-trend ingredients like raisins or chocolate.
- Coconut Flour
- Overview: Ground very absorbent coconut meat it will require a lot more liquid than the recipe might say.
- Why It’s Great for Monster Cookies: Coconut flour is sweet and has a mild coconut flavor. It also serves to help bind the ingredients, as well as develops a much more dense and chewy texture.
- Rice Flour
- Overview: Rice flour is white or brown rice that has been milled down to a fine powder. It is commonly used as a binding agent in gluten free flour blends and for its light crumb.
- Why It’s Great for Monster Cookies: The rice flour adds a nice crispness while keeping the cookie chewy (just how it should be for monster cookies). It’s also extremely neutral and very adaptable to the showcase it is with.
- Tapioca Flour
- Overview: Tapioca flour, also called tapioca starch, is made from the root of cassava. It is primarily used as a thickener but also adds chewiness to baked goods.
- Why It’s Great for Monster Cookies: Tapioca flour includes the fantastic chewy, elastic texture that things. like monster cookies require to be enunciated yet frangible at the same time utile!
Check Out: 3 Adorable Ways To Customize Your Monster Cookie recipe.
How to Use Each Flour in Your Recipe
If you are using gluten free flour, it is really helpful to understand what flour brings to the mix. Read on how to add them best:
- Almond Flour: It adds to the cookie’s moisture because of its high fat content. A note: If you use 100% almond flour, your bread may turn out a bit oily (or crumbly), so consider reducing the oil/butter slightly.
- Oat Flour: Oat flour as an ideal alternative. However, remember that it lacks gluten which helps things stick together and lift so a small amount of tapioca or rice flour can be added to improve the texture.
- Coconut Flour: Use roughly 1/4 cup of coconut flour per cup of wheat, and you may need more liquid or eggs in your recipe to keep the dough from drying out. It absorbs much, which is why I prefer to use it together with other flour.
- Rice Flour: Mix with almond flour or rolled oats at a 1 to 1 ratio for the best combination of fluff and stability. Rice flour by itself can have a gritty mouthfeel, but when it’s combined in such a recipe as this one… you get an ultra-crispy and light cookie.
- Tapioca Flour: To be used in a combination — no more than 25% of the overall flour called for by weight. Chewy and gorgeous, without drowning out the other ingredients.
Tips for Perfecting Your Gluten Free Monster Cookies Recipe
To win at the gluten free monster cookie game, here are some things to keep in mind.
- Use a Flour Blend: To get the best taste and a decent texture you should combine multiple gluten free flours. A mix of almond, oat, and tapioca flour does the same thing — chewiness, moisture content, and structure.
- Add Extra Moisture: Gluten free flours (except oat and millet) are very dry flour; coconut is another moisture-thief, also rice flour so this will drink your liquid; wheat is always more moist than GF-flours. Sometimes it is necessary to add more milk or water, and sometimes even oil if you made a particular type of dough in order not to get very dry dough.
- Use Xanthan Gum: Xanthan gum or psyllium husk. You can add about 1/2 tsp xanthan gum or psyllium husk.
- Chill the Dough: Naturally, gluten free doughs can be more ‘mature’ and taxier to use. This will make your dough easier to manage when you go to shape it and help the cookies keep their more uniform shape. Chill for at least 30 minutes!
- Don’t Overmix: Gluten free dough is easy to overwork, which will result in tough and dense cookies.
Alternatives to gluten free Flours
If you’re looking for alternatives to gluten free flours or want to experiment further, here are a few options:
- Cassava Flour: Derived from the yuca root, a South American staple in any home which is not dissimilar to our sweet potato this flour will act like A.P or wheat flour and lends itself well to lighter textures.
- Chickpea Flour: This high-protein flour is made from ground chickpeas, which provide a savory essence to the cookies. Use it in moderation or blend with other flours.
- Sorghum Flour: A mild flour with a slightly sweet taste that pairs well with stronger flavors such as chocolate or peanut butter, this is another one of my favorites.
Conclusion : Gluten Free Monster Cookies
The good thing is that making gluten free monster cookies does not take away flavors or the original chewy texture. By mixing almond, oat, coconut flour, and just a little bit of rice or tapioca you can form chewy cookies simply from the combination with no strange sweet aftertaste. Even if you are not especially gluten-sensitive, using these flours will help take your cookie game to the next level and give you clear results.
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FAQs of Gluten Free Monster Cookies
1. Can I substitute gluten free flour directly for wheat flour in any recipe?
Not always. However, gluten free flours do not function like wheat flour and may necessitate changes in hydration as well as the inclusion of xanthan gum or other physics-free agents to give structure.
2. Why is my gluten free cookie dough too crumbly?
They come in many forms: soy, chia seeds, and nuts; all of which can deliver the required starches needed to thicken custards as well as form a protein matrix that acts like gluten (sponging up liquid where appropriate). Gluten free flours (we’re talking you rice flour!) don’t have the same sticky binding properties as wheat flour. They’ll need more eggs or some other kind of binder — xanthan gum, for instance, psyllium husk maybe!
3. Can I use a single gluten free flour, or do I need a blend?
A note on gluten free flours: While some recipes call for a single flour (like almond or oat), combining multiple kinds of millings usually results in the best texture and taste with cookies.