GF Communion Bread

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Gluten-Free Communion Bread
Original recipe by Reverend Allison R. Cobb

This recipe is pure brilliance. The problem with most gluten-free bread is the freezing/thawing process. Re-heating and eating it warm gives the best texture - it's not as dry and crumbly. However, re-heating is not always possible during a church service - unless one has installed an under-altar microwave. DING! "Come, for the meal is ready."

Pastor Allison's gluten-free "wonder bread" survives the freezing/thawing process amazingly well thanks to molasses and honey. These two ingredients act as humectants - meaning they help retain moisture. We've had excellent results with bread spending four weeks in the freezer. Being able to bake and store ahead is a huge time saver.

This bread has become standard communion bread at St. Stephen's Lutheran, ELCA, Rogersville.

“We are Church Together:
Feeding & Equipping Leaders”

East Central Synod of Wisconsin ELCA Synod Assembly 2018

For the first time in the assembly's history, Peggy made this bread to provide an entirely gluten-free communion to the attendees.

East Central Synod of Wisconsin ELCA Synod Assembly 2019 will be offering this gluten-free bread again for their worship service!

In an effort to increase awareness and expand the knowledge-base, GIG of ECW created
The Gluten-Free Communion Guide.

The purpose of this guide is to give congregations the necessary tools to safely make, prepare, and distribute gluten-free hosts to their gluten-free members.

If you are making this bread for gluten-free members of your congregation, it is important that you read this guide.

Links to Download GF Communion Guide PDF
(including this recipe)

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“Basic kitchen safety rules tell us that we need to separate ready-to-eat foods from raw meats, poultry, seafood, and eggs - and to use separate cutting boards and utensils to reduce the risk of food poisoning.

The same rules apply to gluten and gluten-free foods - they must be kept apart.

Even though a recipe may use gluten-free ingredients, the food must be appropriately prepared, so it remains gluten-free. If you are making meals for a gluten-free guest, you must be mindful of gluten cross-contact.”

If you are making this recipe for a gluten-free guest, please read our Guide to Gluten Cross-Contact.



Ingredients:

4 large eggs
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 Tbsp + 1 tsp Honey
1 Tbsp + 1 tsp Molasses
½ cup water
1 ½ cups Pamela’s Bread Mix – firmly packed (very important to pack)
½ tsp salt
½ tsp gluten-free baking soda (Bob’s Red Mill Baking Soda)

Yield: 8 - 6” rounds (Each round serves about 20 people)

Directions:

GF Comm Wonder Bread
Heat oven to 350 degrees

Line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
[Use a dessert plate (about 6” diameter) as a template to draw four circles on the parchment paper.]

Whisk eggs in large bowl. Add and whisk with eggs the olive oil, honey, molasses and water.

Sift dry ingredients together (I use a strainer over a bowl). Add to wet ingredients a quarter at a time. Whisk well after each addition.
[Can use a stand mixer to mix ingredient for about 3 minutes].

Spoon 8 equal amounts of batter onto each circle. Spread to about ¼ inch thickness. The dough will rise slightly when baking. (they will not spread while baking – desired size is about 6 inches across)

Bake 14 minutes (may have to add 1 more minute if not done). When done use a spatula to transfer the rounds to a wire rack or a cookie sheet lined with three layers of paper towel.

Wrap cooled rounds individually in plastic wrap. Place 3-4 wrapped rounds in large baggie. Put a piece of paper inside the baggie with date of baking on it.

Store in refrigerator for 1-2 days or freeze until ready to use. If possible, set out for an hour or so before using.

(Note: We created a cardboard circle pattern so bakers could draw eight circles on the parchment paper for size).


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Croutons & Stuffing


Croutons

Gluten-Free Croutons


Special thanks to my Sister-In-Law Debi for showing Peggy how to make these for our Thanksgiving feast last year. They are great just for snacking on.


If you are making this recipe for a gluten-free guest, please read our Guide to Gluten Cross-Contact.



Ingredients:

1 to 1 ½ loaves of GF bread, cut or torn in desired size. For stuffing, pieces might be smaller vs larger for snacking/dipping.
GF Granulated Garlic
GF Granulated Onion
GF Ground Sage
GF Paprika (optional)
Salt
Olive Oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300.
Spread bread pieces on sided baking sheet. Allow to dry for at least 2 days – 3 to 4 is preferable.
Drizzle olive oil lightly over the bread and mix well.
Season to taste. Mix well after each seasoning.
Bake for 10 to 20 minutes or until GBDC (Golden, Brown, Delicious & Crunchy). Stir every 5 minutes.
Remove from oven and spread out to cool.

Note: Airbake pans won't brown as quickly. Try not to eat them all before you make your stuffing.

Tip: Instead of throwing out the heels or unused pieces of GF bread, put them in the freezer to be used later.


Gluten-Free Stuffing

Ingredients:

1 loaf gluten-free bread (or the croutons above)
3 tablespoons butter, unsalted
2 carrots, peeled and small diced
2 celery stalks, small diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, peeled and small diced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 cups gluten-free chicken broth
1 1/2 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325°F. Slice the bread into 1-inch cubes and spread out on a baking sheet.
Place in the oven and toast for 25 minutes, flipping/tossing once during toasting. (Skip this step If you are using the croutons you made from above recipe)

Melt butter in a large and deep cast iron or oven-safe skillet. If you do not have a large and deep oven proof skillet, you can prep the stuffing in a skillet and transfer to a 9" x 13" baking dish before finishing off in the oven. To the butter, add carrots, celery, garlic, onion, salt, and pepper. Sauté on medium heat for 15 minutes until the onions and carrots are soft and tender. If the onions or garlic start to brown, reduce heat to medium-low.

Once the carrots are tender, add chicken broth, sage, and thyme and stir to combine. Simmer for 5 minutes. Taste, and add additional salt or pepper, if needed. Next, add the toasted bread cubes/croutons and gently toss to combine. Transfer to the oven and bake for 25 minutes. Serve warm. Makes 6-8 servings.

Garlic Cheese Biscuits



Gluten-Free Garlic Cheese Biscuits

If you have missed Red Lobster's Cheddar Bay Biscuits, you'll like these! This is a slightly modified recipe from LARavenscroft on Food.com.


If you are making this recipe for a gluten-free guest, please read our Guide to Gluten Cross-Contact.



Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups Pamela's Baking and Pancake mix
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
4 tablespoons softened butter
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 beaten egg
2/3 cup buttermilk


Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Combine dry ingredients
Cut in butter.
Stir in cheddar cheese.
Add beaten egg and milk.
Drop onto an ungreased baking sheet
Bake for 15-17 minutes or until GBD (Golden Brown and Delicious)


Flat Bread

Flat Bread

This is my favorite home baked bread - hands down - bar none!

This bread is flexible enough to wrap around a brat or hot dog without breaking. Since this is baked in a jelly roll pan, it's one big piece of...flat bread. [Clever name, huh?]

For use with a hotdog or brat, the piece needs to be cut a bit larger than a slice for a sandwich.

As you can see in the picture below, Peggy has also made hamburger buns as well as a focaccia-style bread and veggie pizza.


If you are making this recipe for a gluten-free guest, please read our Guide to Gluten Cross-Contact.


Ingredients:

1 cup GF brown rice flour (Bob's Red Mill)*
1/2 cup GF tapioca starch (Bob's Red Mill)
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons xanthan gum
1 Tablespoon instant yeast
½ teaspoon salt
¾ c. water
1 teaspoon cider vinegar
2 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 eggs
2-3 Tablespoons sweet rice flour (for dusting pan/hands)

Directions:

1. Mix together all dry ingredients (not the sweet rice flour that's used for dusting).

2. In a heavy mixer, combine wet ingredients (water, vinegar, oil, and eggs).

3. Slowly add dry ingredients to well blended wet ingredients.

4. Beat on medium/medium high speed for 4 minutes.

5. Dust a large jelly roll (15 x 11) pan with flour (or oil bottom of pan and lightly dust oiled pan).

6. Scrape dough onto oiled/dusted pan and press as thinly as possible. (fill pan)

7. Using a fork, tap indentations across the entire dough.

8. Place dough in a warm spot, allow to rest/rise for 35-40 minutes.

9. Preheat oven to 425F.

10. Bake for 11-15 minutes or until the top is slightly browned.

11. It wil come out of the oven with a slight crust that will go away as the bread cools. Allow the bread to cool 15-30 minutes before using. It will become flexible and soft.

12. Cut into large pieces to use as a folded sandwich bread or as individual slices.


*Note: Instead of 1 cup of brown rice flour, try using any combination of sorghum, millet, oat flour, almond flour. Just make sure it totals 1 cup. This combination works well:

1/4 cup Millet flour (Bob's Red Mill)
1/4 cup Sorghum flour (Bob's Red Mill)
1/4 cup Almond flour (Honeyville)
1/4 cup Brown Rice (Bob's Red Mill)


Flat Bread






Veggie Pizza
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Topping Ingredients:
1 - 1 oz packet Hidden Valley Ranch Dip Mix
2 - 8oz. Packages cream cheese
Broccoli (raw)
Cauliflower (raw)
Cherry Tomatoes (raw)
Red Onion (raw)
Yellow Pepper (raw)
Shredded Cheese


Directions:

Make and bake crust as directed above.

While crust is cooling, chop veggies in small bite sized pieces. In a bowl mix together Dip Mix and cream cheese.

When crust is completely cooled, spread cream cheese mixture evenly on top. Sprinkle chopped veggies. Top with shredded cheese.