Mock Udi’s Gluten Free Whole Grain Bread Recipe

If you haven’t heard of Udi’s gluten free bread, you’re missing out on a great textured gluten free bread that is also dairy-free. However, if you’re into gluten free baking or avoiding processed food, this recipe may help you. It is the softest gluten free bread I have made thus far, and works wonderful for sandwich bread, as well as kid-friendly. It turns out a decent sized slice, and when the crust cools it softens like gluten sliced sandwich bread.

My first attempt at creating bread like Udi’s Gluten Free Whole Grain Bread turned out delicious, but I had to cut off the ends of the bread to allow the steam to escape so it would not continue to cave in on the sides and bottom. I continued to improve upon this recipe and finally achieved a good result.

Though I used Expandex modified tapioca starch in the first recipe that I made, with the improvements made in later attempts it rose just as much without the use of Expandex (modified tapioca starch). Udi’s gluten free bread is made with tapioca maltodextrin (update 7/25/2014: and now with modified tapioca starch). I avoided it and all of the rest of the chemical-like additives which make many gluten free baked goods, as well as other baked goods, have a better texture. I avoided the use of a mold inhibitor (cultured corn-syrup, citric acid). Instead, I substituted apple cider vinegar. Instead of using dry molasses which contains molasses and maltodextrin, I used regular unsulphurated molasses. In addition, I avoided ascorbic acid which contains ascorbic acid, microcrystalline, cellulose and cornstarch. I used 1/8 teaspoon of Vitamin  C in earlier versions as a preservative, but it is not needed. And instead of using sunflower oil I used grape seed oil. However, you can use any neutral oil. I’ve even used extra virgin olive oil.

Udi’s gluten free bread contains evaporated cane juice (less processed sugar) in addition to the natural sweeteners. Sugar makes gluten free bread soft, especially when rewarmed. In addition, it feeds the yeast. You may skip the evaporated cane juice, if desired, as the the molasses and brown rice syrup were enough to proof the yeast, but feel free to add some, as the more sugar you use, the softer the bread. When viewing the order of the Udi’s ingredients the evaporated cane juice is pretty high on the list, meaning the quantity is pretty high, though I only suggest 2 teaspoons.

As I try different methods that turn out well, I will update this recipe.

UPDATE March 15, 2013: Now that I have more experience in gluten free bread baking, I am updating parts of this recipe. This particular bread just wasn’t baked long enough. I have updated the baking time from 35 minutes to 45 minutes. That should do the trick, though I haven’t tried it myself. It will not be as soft as you see in the photo when baked longer. Therefore, it’s up to you if you wish it soft, or prevent the sides or bottom from caving in a bit. I prefer soft.

Update February 6, 2022. Several years ago I created a recipe testing out gum Arabic. In addition to xanthan gum in equal amounts, it creates a very soft bread even one fully baked. Give it a try!

Udi’s-Style Gluten Free Whole Grain Bread Recipe

41

Yield: 1 loaf (about 15 slices)

Udi’s-Style Gluten Free Whole Grain Bread Recipe

Best texture gluten free bread ever! Very soft! Still being perfected, though. You need to slice the ends off during the cooling process.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup filtered water, heated to 110-115°F
  • 2 teaspoons evaporated cane juice or sugar
  • 2 teaspoons unsulphurated molasses
  • 2 teaspoons brown rice syrup
  • 2 teaspoons instant dry yeast
  • 1 1/8 cup brown rice flour
  • 3/4 cup tapioca starch
  • 3/4 cup potato starch
  • 1/4 cup teff flour
  • 1/8 cup (2 Tablespoons) flax seed meal
  • 2 teaspoons xanthan gum*
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 teaspoon gluten-free baking powder (I use Rumford's)
  • 1/4 cup neutral cooking oil (I used grape seed oil.)
  • 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
  • 3 large egg whites, at room temperature

Instructions:

  1. Grease or spray oil a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
  2. Preheat oven to 170 – 200°F (lowest possible).
  3. Mix warm water with brown rice syrup, molasses, and yeast in a cup larger than 8 oz., as it may bubble over; set aside until foamy on the top, no more than 5 minutes.
  4. In the bowl of your mixer, beat the eggs at high speed in a large mixing bowl until large bubbles form, about 20 seconds.
  5. Whisk together the dry ingredients; set aside.
  6. Add the oil, vinegar and yeast mixture to the egg whites and blend on low for a few seconds.
  7. Add dry ingredients all at once and mix on low speed until all dry ingredients are moistened. Then beat on high for 1 minute.
  8. Add dough batter to prepared pan and distribute and smooth the top using a rubber spatula. You'll want to meet all sides of the pan. If you miss the corners that will still be okay. It will fill in upon rising. To even out top, drop a few drops of filtered water on top, and spread evenly with a rubber spatula, or dip spatula in water several times.
  9. Place the bread pan in the oven. Turn oven off. Allow the dough to rise until the center is about 1/2” over the top of the pan, about 22 minutes. It will rise more while the oven is heating and during baking.
  10. Remove pan from oven and preheat oven to 375°F.
  11. Place the pan on the center of the rack in the center of the oven and bake for about 45 minutes or more.
  12. Remove the loaf from the oven and immediately remove it from the pan (careful it will be hot), and set the loaf on a cooling rack to cool. If you do not remove it right away the steam will make the crust soggy.
  13. Slice off the two ends to allow the steam to escape, or it will begin to sink in on the sides and bottom.
  14. Once cooled, it will shrink a little bit. Slice it with an electric slicer, electric knife or serrated knife. You'll get about 13-16, depending upon how thick you slice it.

Tips

If you desire a darker bread, use additional molasses or substitute more molasses for some brown rice syrup or evaporated cane juice.

For corn-free dieters, use guar gum instead of xanthan gum.

You can skip the evaporated cane juice and substitute with more brown rice syrup and molasses.

Update - April 9, 2012: I tried using only 1 1/2 teaspoons yeast this time around. I allowed it to rise about 1" over the top of the pan. In the past it continued to rise, way too much, during the baking process. This time it ended up even with the pan after baking. No more denting/caving in on the sides or bottom. However, I'd like it to a little higher and lighter next time. Perhaps a longer rise will help or 1 3/4 teaspoon yeast.

21 Replies to “Mock Udi’s Gluten Free Whole Grain Bread Recipe”

  1. King Arthur flour sells a high sided loaf pan specifically for GF baking or you could wrap a double layer of foil around the top of the 8×4 pan to extend the sides. I only allow my dough to rise to within 1″ below the top. That avoids many problems.

    I proof covered in my microwave after I’ve zapped a wet sponge to make the chamber warm and moist.

  2. My Celiac son and other family members have been having increased health problems, and I feel like I’ve traced at least a lot of it to Udi’s Whole Grain bread.

    From reading the ingredient list on Udi’s Whole Grain bread, and from reading at “Hidden MSG” sites, and from comments from lot of other people reacting to this bread, it looks like this bread has LOTS of MSG in it.

    1. Sue,

      Udi’s changed their ingredients sine my writing of this recipe. They now use modified tapioca starch (such as Expandex). This may bother others as well as it is usually chemically processed.

      Carla

  3. Hi, I was wondering what I could use in place of teff flour. I have everything else to make this except for the teff. :/ Would millet or buckwheat work?

    1. Hi Melissa,

      Teff is a heavy flour. Amaranth is the best substitute. If you do not have that, I would try buckwheat. It is lighter and contains less fiber, therefore, you may need to reduce the water in the future. But I would make it as is for now and see how it goes.

      Enjoy,
      Carla

  4. An email message I received:

    “Hello,

    “I just found your site after searching for a Udi’s Bread recipe. Yours looks really nice, and I will have to try some of your yummy recipes!

    “I have been baking gluten-free for several years now, and just this past year found a wonderful alternative to xanthan or guar gum, since some people are sensitive to them (including me). The texture it makes possible is fantastic, and even more like gluten-containing breads. I use 1/4 to 1/3 cup EACH ground chia seed and psyllium hulls for a recipe containing about 2 1/2 cups total flours. The yeast measure remains the same. These have to be added in a certain way. After getting all your dry ingredients mixed together, and your wet ones, and your pan is ready, you then quickly wisk these into your wet ingredients, and let it sit for JUST a minute or two. Then, you go ahead and combine all, and spoon into your pan. It works for both hand mixing, or in a Breadmaker. (If you want to try this in your Udi’s Whole Grain Bread recipe, you could add them after proofing your yeast mixture. To keep the bread lighter in color, use white chia seeds. You grind them just like flaxseed, and store in the freezer.) I found out about this method from The Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen’s website, in Ali Segersten’s recipe for Farmhouse Seed Bread, found here:
    http://www.nourishingmeals.com/2011/04/gluten-free-bread-xanthan-free-vegan.html

    “I have since used it in several different recipes, including one using only the pseudo-grains quinoa, amaranth and buckwheat, which still came out lovely, and I had no tummy trouble!

    “Hope to use your attractive site soon!

    “Sincerely,
    P.S”

  5. Can I substitute a few ingredients for something else and still get the same results. I can’t get brown rice syrup, and only have regular tapioca starch. Is there anything else I can use instead of the syrup? If you have any suggestions, please let me know.
    Thank you
    Donna

    1. Donna,

      I would either honey to replace the brown rice syrup, though it is not as thick, and updated list of ingredients does not call for Expandex (modified tapioca starch), but regular. It should be very close to the same, but of course, I haven’t tried it.

      And I buy my brown rice syrup through vitacost.com.

      Enjoy!

      Carla

  6. Hi Carla. thank you for this recipe. I have never baked any bread but will try it some day hopefully.
    I was wondering if you would be interested in trying another bread.. 7 grain – gluten free. I really enjoyed it and am not able to get it where I live. It’s the best gluten-free bread I’ve ever tasted but I haven’t had Udi’s… any way if you would be willing to try to concoct it I could send the ingredients. Of course I don’t have the recipe – just the ingredients from the package but I was thinking an experienced baker could figure it out… I’ve been looking for someone to try it for a while…
    Please let me know if you’re willing to try – I would really appreciate it as it uses olive oil instead of sunflower oil – which I’m allergic to. I also commented on the facebook site but realized perhaps you might see it here instead. Hope you don’t mind me asking. Thank you.

    1. Hi Annie,

      I’m not sure if you posted to my personal FB account (Carla Spacher) or my fan page (Gluten Free Carla), but I’m sorry I missed it. I’m not much on my personal account at all, and sometimes the miss comments on my fan page.

      Meanwhile, send me what you have, along with the name of the manufacturer and the product. I’ll see what I can do. If I’m allergic to any of the ingredients I would either need to make substitutions or send you my suggestions. Either way, I’ll help any way that I can.

      You can email through my contact page at http://glutenfreerecipebox.com/contact .

      Looking forward to hearing from you.

      Carla

  7. Hello, I too have tried to recreate the Udi’l show grain bread as it’s the only bread my son likes.

    My son was diagnosed with ADHD. About a year ago we started him on a gluten free and casein free diet, along with supplements. He is like a different child now, it has done wonders for him.

    I started a blog to share our story and the journey to become gluten and casein free. Here is a link to my blog if anyway cares to read it.

    http://troysnewstart.blogspot.com/

    Thank you!!

  8. Udi’s uses modified tapioca starch to keep the bread soft. I recently purchased some and it has done wonders for the texture of my breads. They stay soft for days!

  9. Yes, this recipe sounds very tasty. i have most of the GF products already on hand. Thanks for posting it, I will have to make it to see if it is as great as Udi’s.

    1. Hi Caroline,

      Since this bread is not full of preservatives, it does not stay fresh on the counter. You can add 1/8 teaspoon of Vitamin C (capsule or well crushed) to the dry ingredients as a preservative, though. I suggest freezing whatever you do not plan on using soon. I haven’t tried letting it defrost on its own, but it’s so soft, it may work out. I haven’t left it on the counter, either. Old habits die hard. I don’t leave Udi’s bread out, either. So far, I’ve microwaved it. As with all gluten-free bread, it is best to freeze whatever you do not use (never refrigerate, as this dries it out), and then defrost on low in the microwave or microwave a moistened paper towel and lie it on top of the bread until defrosted. Let me know if you give it a try!

      1. Hi. I’m just baking the bread now. The top is lumpy looking, not smooth. Not sure what I did wrong there. However it rose like crazy. Looking forward to tasting it and seeing how long is stays soft.

  10. Hi Carla! I’m thrilled to see your recipe…I’m going to bake it this week & will let you know our results. :-) Thanks for sharing!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.