Gluten free desserts made with rice flour are kind of my specialty. With the advent of bulk food stores in Australia, it is so much easier to get fresh and tasty white rice and brown rice flours these days. Rice flour is a great flour to use in gluten free desserts because of it’s sturdy nature and bland flavour. It is also one of the more inexpensive gluten free flours.
Gluten free desserts with rice flour
These dessert recipes are all made with white or brown rice flour. As often as possible, they are made without xanthan gum and nuts. I include lots of gluten free vegan options in there too, as well as egg free options.
There are all sorts of desserts using rice flour in this list: quick and easy, more advanced, overnight options and desserts made in 20 minutes.
Can you bake with only rice flour?
Yes! I have a number of recipes in this list that use solely rice flour – no other flours. It is totally possible and incredibly satisfying. It does require a few considerations, however. Firstly, the rice flour needs to be super finely milled and fresh.
Gritty and rancid rice flours are what often give gluten free baking a bad name. Finely milled rice flour will ensure you cannot detect granules of the flour as you eat your dessert. Fresh rice flour will blend, taste wise, seamlessly into your baked good. Fresh rice flour smells milky and almost undetectable. Rancid rice flour smells floral, musty and generally quite strong for a flour. Make sure your rice flour meets these criteria for optimum success.
Secondly, you will need to adjust the wet ingredients in your baked good. Rice flour is quite thirsty and absorbs the most liquid out of all the gluten free flours. When making a cake with only rice flour, things like yoghurt and extra eggs are often added to bring moisture back to the dessert.
Thirdly, you need to consider what you are trying to achieve, texture wise. Some desserts, like a gluten free shortbread, for example, need more than just rice flour to create the desired result.
How to bake with rice flour
Most of my recipes combine rice flour and tapioca flour to create delicious gluten free desserts. This combination, I believe, is the simplest blend of gluten free flours that still yields a great result. As a general rule, I try to keep the majority flour as rice flour. Tapioca flour can become gluggy, chewy or jelly like when it contributes to too much of the flour content. There are exceptions, like these gluten free scones, however.
Once you have a fresh rice flour and a great recipe, it is easy to make delicious homemade desserts with rice flour. I promise!
Is rice flour low FODMAP?
Both white rice and brown rice are FODMAP friendly and gluten free. As such, white and brown rice flours are also FODMAP friendly. White rice, brown rice and glutinous rice are all deemed without FODMAPs by Monash.
Is rice flour gluten free?
Yes, both white rice flour and brown rice flour are naturally gluten free. If you are catering to a coeliac, however, you will need to buy a brand that certifies their flour is processed in a strictly gluten free manufacturing facility. A bulk food store is not the right place to buy rice flour for a coeliac, as there is a risk of cross contamination.
Gluten free dessert recipes with rice flour
1. Easy gluten free chocolate cake
This recipe for gluten free chocolate is one of my best known rice flour dessert recipes. It uses only white rice flour and is free from xanthan gum. An incredibly moist and delicious gluten free chocolate cake.
2. Gluten free shortbreads
The combination of white rice flour and tapioca flour makes these gluten free shortbreads incredibly light and buttery yet shatteringly crisp. These shortbread cookies are made without xanthan gum.
3. Brownies with rice flour
My original fudgy brownie recipe uses almond meal, but these nut free, gluten free brownies use brown rice flour or white rice flour and tapioca flour. They are fudgy, rich and delicious and made without xanthan gum.
4. Fruit crumble or fruit crisp
This incredibly easy gluten free fruit crumble can be made with white rice flour, brown rice flour or even sorghum flour. It uses rice flour only, is free from xanthan gum and can easily be made vegan.
5. Gluten free vegan chocolate cake
This gluten free vegan chocolate cake is a recipe from my cookbook, Intolerance Friendly Kitchen. It uses white rice flour and tapioca flour to form a rich and delicious vegan cake made without xanthan gum.
6. Gluten free vegan muffins
Much like Ryan Atwood, these gluten free vegan muffins can be whoever you want them to be. They are made with a single flour (white rice flour) and are egg free and xanthan gum free. They can also be made with regular butter and yoghurt, if that’s what you have.
7. Classic gluten free blueberry muffins
Classic, buttery gluten free blueberry muffins that are buttery, sugary and delicious.
8. Gluten free scones (classic British style)
I have worked for years to develop a gluten free scone recipe that I am obsessed with. Often I find that gluten free scones are just a non descript vessel for jam and cream, but not these! These scones, made with white rice and tapioca flour, are buttery, flaky and light. They are absolutely delicious and hold their form without eggs.
9. Gluten free biscuits (American style)
Where there is a British scone, there must be an American gluten free biscuit! These biscuits are the same recipe as the scones but with American measurements. There is also an option to use buttermilk in these biscuits.
10. Blueberry scones without xanthan gum
A delicious gluten free scone made without xanthan gum. Sweet, moist and delicious. These scones are also made without nuts and eggs.
11. Babka
A buttery, rich and delicious gluten free babka from my cookbook, Intolerance Friendly Kitchen. It uses white rice flour and tapioca flour to create a plush crumb that has enough flexibilty to braid.
12. Gluten free strawberry cobbler
A fresh and delicious gluten free cobbler that would really work with any fruit you’d prefer. Use half strawberries and half rhubarb for a low FODMAP gluten free fruit dessert. It is also a xanthan gum free dessert.
13. Gluten free pastry with yoghurt
A gluten free pastry recipe is an incredibly useful thing to have on hand. Although my favourites are my gluten free puff pastry and gluten free shortcrust pastry in my cookbook, this rice flour gluten free pastry is a simple and delicious option. It can be made without xanthan gum, too.
14. Pumpkin bread
Plush, well spiced and super festive, this gluten free pumpkin bread uses rice flour and tapioca flour. It contains no added nuts or xanthan gum.
15. This adorable little vegan pumpkin mug cake
Need a gluten free dessert in five minutes? This pumpkin mug cake has your back. It is fluffy, light and can be made with just rice flour. It is free from xanthan gum, dairy, eggs and nuts.
16. Gluten free funfetti cake
A light and fluffy funfetti cake without xanthan gum or nuts.
17. Chocolate mug cake
The recipe that got me into mug cakes. A simple, easy and incredibly decadent dessert that is ready in five minutes. It’s made without xanthan gum, eggs or nuts, too. What’s not to love?
18. Gluten free Tiramisu
As an avid coffee lover, there is no better dessert in my eyes than Tiramisu. This recipe uses rice flour in the homemade gluten free savoiardi and lactose free mascarpone. It’s a gluten free, low FODMAP dessert that tastes anything but.
19. Gluten free Croissants or Pains au Chocolat
My baby! This recipe took me at least 100 attempts to perfect and is my pride and joy. Flaky and delicious gluten free croissants (or pains au chocolat) made with a simple mix of gluten free flours and a bit of love. This recipe is in my cookbook, Intolerance Friendly Kitchen.
20. Vegan and gluten free banana bread
A plush and delicious vegan and gluten free banana bread that will satisfy all your banana bread cravings. Egg free, dairy free (obviously, because it’s vegan!) and xanthan gum free.
21. Egg free choc chip cookies
Delicious gluten free choc chip cookies made without eggs. Perfect for egg allergies or intolerances.
22. Gluten free lemon drizzle cake
This beautiful, delicious and buttery lemon drizzle cake is made just brown rice flour or white rice flour. It is free of xanthan gum and can easily be used in any vanilla or pound cake type of scenarios.
23. Easy yoghurt cake
A quick and easy yoghurt cake that requires no special equipment. It uses a single flour (rice flour) and is xanthan gum free. Use a lactose free yoghurt to keep it lactose free and low FODMAP.
24. Vegan, gluten free cinnamon rolls without yeast
Fluffy, light and delicious vegan and gluten free cinnamon rolls, made without yeast or xanthan gum. They are perfectly light and easy to make.
25. Gluten free cream puffs
One of my favourite recipes in Intolerance Friendly Kitchen, these gluten free cream puffs can be made with just rice flour. They are free from xanthan gum and nuts, and low FODMAP with a lactose free cream filling.
26. Chocolate olive oil cake
Chocolate and olive oil are the perfect combination to create a complex and delicious gluten free chocolate cake. This cake is double chocolate (triple, with the icing) and is xanthan gum free.
27. Single serve microwave cinnamon scroll
A vegan, gluten free and xanthan gum free cinnnamon scroll made in the microwave? Yes please. This roll uses a simple combination of rice flour and tapioca flour for a plush vegan gluten free dough.
28. Lactose free vanilla cheesecake with a shortbread base
Rice flour is the hero in the shortbread base of this cheesecake. Used alone, it creates a crispy end result that doesn’t go soggy once baked. Cheesecake perfection.
29. Gluten free Graham crackers
Toasted quinoa and white rice flour work together to recreate the crisp yet toasty and nutty delicacy that is the Graham cracker.
30. Gluten free linzer cookies
Are they finnicky? Yes. Are they delicious? Also yes! Cold butter, patience and a combination of almond meal and rice flour are all you need to create these beautiful festive gluten free Linzer cookies.
31. Sourdough cinnamon rolls
An overnight proofing option for those who like a fresh cinnamon roll on Christmas day, these gluten free sourdough cinnamon rolls are complex and delicious. They are made without xanthan gum and easily vegan. The recipe is in my cookbook, Intolerance Friendly Kitchen.
32. Zucchini bread
An American style zucchini bread that is gluten free and free of xanthan gum. Perfect for those end of summer zucchinis.
32. Gluten free berry danishes
Might you permit me one more opportunity to talk about the gluten free croissant dough? These danishes are made with rice flour and tapioca, with an option to use glutinous rice flour in place of the buckwheat flour. They’re FODMAP friendly, buttery and generally heavenly. The recipe is in my cookbook, Intolerance Friendly Kitchen.
33. Refined sugar free vegan chocolate mug cake
The refined sugar free cousin to my original chocolate mug cake recipe, this one uses a liquid sweetener like maple syrup or rice malt syrup.
34. Brownie cookies
Gluten free brookies, or brownie cookies, have been a passion project of mine for a long time. These brownie cookies can be made with a number of different flours, rice flour being one of them. They are fudgy, complex and made without xanthan gum.
35. A gluten free version of Nigella’s courgette cake
Mum requests Nigella’s courgette cake every Mother’s Day and for every birthday. Personally, I refuse to miss out on that much cake, so I developed a gluten free version. This one uses rice flour, tapioca and optional quinoa flour to create a perfectly fluffy crumb without xanthan gum.
36. Gluten free carrot cake
Olive branches optional but lactose free cream cheese icing, compulsory! This gluten free carrot cake is made with white rice flour, tapioca flour and almond meal for a light yet moist crumb without xanthan gum.
37. Rice flour waffles
Crispy yet ethereally light waffles made with rice flour and tapioca flour. These waffles are the perfect weekend breakfast made without xanthan gum. Recipe is in my cookbook, Intolerance Friendly Kitchen.
38. Christmas pudding without fruit
This fruitless Christmas pudding is on my Christmas table every year without fail. It tastes as good as the original (better, if you ask my fruit mince adverse self) and is also gluten free.
39. Fruit free mince pies with gluten free pastry
Rice flour pastry encases a totally fruitless FODMAP friendly fruit mince for these low FODMAP mince pies. An allergy friendly take on the original that multiple sources have told me they prefer compared to the fruit mince.
40. Gluten free ANZAC style biscuits
These ANZAC style biscuits use quinoa flakes and white rice flour to create a texture and taste akin to the original.
41. Gluten free pumpkin pie
Gluten free rice flour pastry is used to encase this pumpkin and maple pie. It’s the perfect allergy friendly Thanksgiving dessert that can be completely refined sugar free if you use an alternative sugar in the pastry.
42. Gluten free sourdough banana bread (with a vegan option)
Sometimes maintaining a gluten free sourdough starter can be a wasteful enterprise. Enter: this gluten free sourdough banana bread. It uses sourdough discard and some white rice flour for a delicious, waste free banana bread that can also be made vegan. No added nuts or xanthan gum, either.
43. Gluten free ‘apple’ crumble
This nifty ‘apple’ crumble uses zucchini cleverly disguised as apple for a slightly lower FODMAP take on the dessert. This crumble is made with white rice flour for a simple yet delicious end result. It is nut free and xanthan gum free and can easily be made vegan.
44. Gluten free olive oil cake
A light, fluffy and deliciously fragrant gluten free olive oil and lemon cake made entirely without xanthan gum.
45. Gluten free banana cake
An easy and delicious gluten free banana cake with lactose free cream cheese icing. Egg free and vegan with the lemon icing option.
No Comments