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Xanthan gum and gluten free baking

Xanthan gum and gluten free baking are generally always interlinked. Essentially all gluten free flour blends at the supermarket contain xanthan gum. Practically every gluten free recipe online specifies the use of xanthan gum. It is fairly ubiquitous in the world of gluten free baking.

A close up macro photo of a gluten free strawberry pie finished with a lattice pastry stopping. The lattice pastry is topped with finishing sugar and has a golden brown appearance. Between the lattices, oozy strawberry peaks through.

Xanthan gum and gluten free baking

Firstly, I’d like to make it clear that I’m a not a doctor or a nutritionist. I am approaching this topic from the perspective of baking science. This article is not a substitute for dietary advice and I am not here to demonise any food groups.

I have been gluten free for over a decade now. I have gastroparesis, ongoing SIBO issues and have constant digestive issues. Because my digestive system is compromised and generally very finicky, I try to include the minimum number of ingredients necessary to achieve a great result. This includes xanthan gum.

An aerial view of a gluten free pumpkin pie topped with ornamental pastry leaves on a white marble table. The table is sprinkled with icing sugar and a white marble rolling pin sits in the top left of the image.

What is xanthan gum?

Xanthan gum is made by a certain bacteria that, when fed a sugary solution, ferments said solution to form a sticky protective coat. The product is then dried and powdered and sold in a white, odourless powder form.

The sugary solution fed to the bacteria is often derived from corn, soy, wheat or dairy, so people with allergies need to read the labels and call the manufacturer if in doubt.

An aerial close up image of gluten free, vegan cinnamon scrolls in a baking dish. The scrolls are topped with a sugary glaze.

Is xanthan gum bad for you?

There is no evidence to say that xanthan gum is inherently bad for you. It has been classified as food safe. Interestingly, a new study has identified that large amounts of xanthan gum (over 15g per day) can alter your microbiome. They are yet to establish whether that is a positive or negative change.

There is evidence that xanthan gum worsens digestive symptoms in some people. It can cause gas and bloating and is considered a laxative, so it can worsen diarrhoea. As discussed, it is often derived from corn, soy, wheat or dairy, so this needs to be factored into the decision making process for people with allergies.

Baking ingredients on a brightly sunlit white marble table. Two glasses of water sit in the top of the image and cast a pattern down across the baking ingredients

Why does gluten free baking use xanthan gum?

Gluten free flours, inherently, have no structure. Gluten is the protein in wheat flour (among other things) that gives dough elasticity and structure. Alternative flours do not have that. Without some sort of binder, gluten free baked goods can:

  • Be super crumbly or dry
  • Be excessively wet and gummy even after baking
  • ‘Melt’ as they bake in the oven, resulting in a single sheet of dough (when you wanted bread rolls)
  • Fall apart once they are removed from the oven or a cake tin
  • Stale very quickly
An aerial view of a baking tray of gluten free bagels topped with FODMAP friendly everything bagel seasoning

What are the downsides and upsides to using xanthan gum?

Downsides

Aside from the potential for adverse digestive issues, xanthan gum has quite a specific mouthfeel. Personally, I find that it leaves baked goods with a slightly slimy texture. This is particularly evident when a recipe calls for too much of it. The baked good will have a slimy texture.

My other pet hate when using xanthan gum is just how hard it is too wash off utensils and bowls. It leaves a slimy, annoying residue that takes ages to scrub off and sticks to your washcloth, too.

Upsides

There are, of course, upsides to using xanthan gum. The binding and structure that it provides are unparalleled to my knowledge, and sometimes (like in gluten free croissants) it’s industrial strength is the only thing that helps.

Xanthan gum also seems to slow down the staling of gluten free baked goods. This means that they will last a little bit longer than those without (sourdough is an exception to this rule, though).

In my experience of testing recipes side by side, dough with xanthan gum is often ‘wetter’ than dough without, even if they use the same amount of liquid. This can be helpful when making things like gluten free scones, where the dough needs to be moistened but firm.

Finally, xanthan gum is really helpful in things like homemade pasta and noodles. It really aids the noodles in holding firm during the cooking process. I find noodles made with psyllium husk are far more fragile and tend to break more easily when stirred.

A slightly elevated close up view of a gluten free croissant in the style of a pain au chocolat. The pastry sits atop a white marble table and it's swirled laminated edges face the camera. It is topped with pistachio frangipane, chopped pistachios and a dusting of icing sugar

Why I choose to minimise my xanthan gum intake

My ongoing digestive issues dictate what I eat and what makes me feel good. I don’t eat wheat because it makes me unwell, which is what spurred on my interest in gluten free baking.

Unfortunately, I find xanthan gum gives me gas, bloating and another really weird but very unpleasant digestive issue. As such, I try to develop most of my gluten free recipes without xanthan gum. I find that I tolerate these baked goods much better than those with xanthan gum.

I also find that a lot of gluten free baked goods don’t actually need xanthan gum. Things like brownies, sourdough bread and flatbread work perfectly well without it. Hell, even chocolate cake doesn’t need it!

An aerial close up photo of a sliced slab of halva and pistachio chocolate brownies. The top of the brownies is shiny and dotted with halva pieces, pistachios and extra pistachio dust.

Can I bake gluten free foods without xanthan gum?

Yes! Although xanthan gum is everywhere, it’s entirely possible to bake gluten free foods without it. Firstly, I highly recommend buying individual flours as opposed to flour blends. This gives you absolute control over the texture and taste of a baked good, but also the xanthan gum content. A lot of gluten free flour blends have a high starch content as well as a high xanthan gum content, which might not be appropriate for a sensitive digestive system.

Secondly: choose what you are making wisely, and make sure to incorporate an alternative binder where necessary. Some things, like gluten free scones, are best made with xanthan gum to achieve flaky layers and structure. Other things, like cream puffs, are best made without xanthan gum to ensure the dough is workable.

A side on macro view of a gluten free cream puff that has been sliced in half, exposing the whipped cream innards

Gluten free binding ingredients that are an alternative to xanthan gum

Binders sounds like a technical and fancy term, but it is very simple. Binders act to hold your baked good together and include ingredients such as:

  • Eggs
  • Mashed pumpkin or banana
  • Psyllium husk or psyllium husk powder
  • Chia seeds, flaxseeds or chia/flax meal
  • Chocolate
  • Yoghurt, cream or thick dairy products
  • Starches like tapioca flour, potato starch and glutinous rice flour
  • Wholegrain flours like buckwheat or cassava flour
  • Konjac powder, guar gum and other gums
  • Sourdough starter (I don’t know how, but it works)

To put this idea into practice: if you are making a gluten free banana bread that includes some starch, xanthan gum is likely overkill. You have banana, tapioca and potentially eggs that are working to bind the bread together.

Another example: if you wanted to make a gluten free cake, you could combine the use of tapioca flour, eggs and a dairy based product (like yoghurt or sour cream) to help bind the cake ingredients together without xanthan gum.

A side on image of a gluten free lemon drizzle cake being sprinkled with icing sugar. The cake sits atop a white marble table against a black backdrop and is topped with drizzled icing and dried lemon slices. Icing sugar sprinkles down from the top of the image

When do I need to use xanthan gum?

There are times when I think xanthan gum is definitely necessary. These include:

  • Laminated baked goods (although there are exceptions). Good lamination (layers of butter carefully folded into dough) requires a dough that doesn’t snap or crack when rolled. Xanthan gum helps keep gluten free pastry dough together and pliable so that butter can be rolled into the dough.
  • Lattice work in pastry. Xanthan gum will provide enough elasticity so that the pastry can be fiddled with in the process of cutting and assembling the lattice.
  • Gluten free scones. Because scones are a laminated baked good, of sorts, they benefit from the structure that xanthan gum provides. They also need to hold their shape without a tin to hold them up.
  • Noodles or egg pasta. While you can sometimes get away with a gum free version, I find xanthan gum is a game changer for noodle making. Not only does it make the dough easier to roll and shape, it helps the noodles hold firm while they boil. Noodles made with xanthan gum tend to hold up better after stirring a sauce in, too.
A side on view of gluten free egg noodles in the making. Set against a white marble table and white backdrop, noodles are draped over a spoon handle to dry as others are strewn across the table

When do I not need to use xanthan gum?

The majority of gluten free baked goods can be made without xanthan gum.

  • Any baked good where structure is not important. This includes brownies and things that already have multiple binders.
  • Most baked goods that already have a good variety of binders in them
  • Sourdough baked goods (including sourdough croissants!)
  • In most recipes that already contain psyllium husk

Gluten free baking recipes without xanthan gum

1. Bagels

These gluten free bagels are vegan with an alternative egg wash. They use a combination of tapioca flour, psyllium husk and a flour scald to bind the dough together.

An aerial image of a topped bagel half bathed in bright sunlight on a grey stone background. The bagel is topped with whipped lactose free mascarpone, easy carrot lox, FODMAP friendly pickled onions and capers.
Gluten free bagels without xanthan gum
Easy and delicious gluten free bagels that are made without xanthan gum and without eggs if you use a milk based egg wash. Nut free, FODMAP friendly and delicious.
Check out this recipe
An aerial view of a gluten free bagel half topped with whipped mascarpone cream, carrot lox, capers, dill and FODMAP friendly everything bagel seasoning. The bagel sits atop a grey stone backdrop in harsh sunlight, and the shadow extends to the bottom right hand side of the image

2. Bread rolls

The (very close) cousin to the gluten free bagels, these bread rolls use a scald to ensure they keep their shape and have lovely shiny tops.

An aerial view of golden brown gluten free bread rolls atop a baking tray. The rolls are bathed in natural sunlight which produces shadows across the image
Gluten free bread rolls made without xanthan gum
An easy and fluffy gluten free bread roll made without xanthan gum and vegan with an alternate egg wash.
Check out this recipe
A side on image of a gluten free bread roll filled with salad. It sits atop a white speckled plate against a white backdrop

3. Sourdough

Gluten free sourdough has a magic ability to bind itself together without the need for xanthan gum.

Gluten free sourdough bread recipe (vegan, FODMAP friendly) from www.georgeats.com | @georgeats
Gluten free vegan sourdough bread
Gluten free, vegan, nut free, xanthan gum free and FODMAP friendly bread that's soft, delicious and made from natural yeast.
Check out this recipe
A sliced boule of gluten free sourdough sits on a white wooden backdrop. A person stands behind the loaf wearing a grey woollen jumper, and two hands extends out to hold the loaf on either side.

4. Cheesy naan

These cheesy naan (cousin to my Aloo Paratha) are gluten free and made without xanthan gum or eggs. They are an easy and delicious side dish to a FODMAP friendly curry, too.

An aerial, close up view of a gluten free cheesy naan topped with garlic infused ghee, chopped coriander and sea salt flakes. A second naan sits in the top right of the image, which is set on a blue steel backdrop
Gluten free cheesy naan
A heavenly gluten free side dish that is FODMAP friendly and made without xanthan gum.
Check out this recipe
An aerial, close up view of a gluten free cheesy naan topped with garlic infused ghee, chopped coriander and sea salt flakes. A second naan sits in the top right of the image, which is set on a blue steel backdrop

5. White bread sourdough

The white bread take on my original gluten free sourdough, this loaf is a fluffy treat that works brilliantly as a toastie. Made without xanthan gum, egg free and vegan.

A side on moody photo of a person in a dark grey fluffy jumper holding three slices of a green pesto cheese toastie in a stack. The melty cheese oozes out of the stack and mingles with the pesto
Gluten free white bread sourdough
A white bread style gluten free sourdough that is made without xanthan gum and also vegan.
Check out this recipe
A side on view of a loaf of gluten free white bread on a wooden table. A person in a dark grey jumper stands behind the loaf and sprinkles flour down onto the bread.

6. Vegan, gluten free cinnamon rolls without yeast

This cinnamon scented sugary and delicious gluten free vegan cinnamon rolls are yeast free and xanthan gum free. Quick, easy and every bit as good as the original.

An aerial close up image of gluten free, vegan cinnamon scrolls in a baking dish. The scrolls are topped with a sugary glaze.
Vegan, gluten free cinnamon rolls without yeast
Fluffy, easy, quick and delicious gluten free vegan cinnamon rolls that are made without xanthan gum or yeast.
Check out this recipe
An aerial close up image of gluten free, vegan cinnamon scrolls in a baking dish. The scrolls are topped with a sugary glaze.

7. Lemon drizzle cake

A delightfully fluffy and buttery gluten free cake made without xanthan gum or nuts. This gluten free lemon drizzle uses only rice flour to achieve a buttery yet light crumb. This cake can also be used in any pound cake applications.

A side on image of a gluten free lemon drizzle cake being sprinkled with icing sugar. The cake sits atop a white marble table against a black backdrop and is topped with drizzled icing and dried lemon slices. Icing sugar sprinkles down from the top of the image
Gluten free lemon drizzle cake
A gluten free lemon drizzle cake that is made without xanthan gum or nuts.
Check out this recipe
A side on image of a gluten free lemon drizzle cake being sprinkled with icing sugar. The cake sits atop a white marble table against a black backdrop and is topped with drizzled icing and dried lemon slices. Icing sugar sprinkles down from the top of the image

8. Sourdough croissants

The gluten free sourdough croissants in my cookbook, Intolerance Friendly Kitchen, contain no xanthan gum at all. They use sourdough and psyllium husk magic to bind the lamination together.

A stack of four gluten free croissants sits atop a white marble table against a white backdrop

9. Chocolate cake

An easy gluten free chocolate cake that is made without xanthan gum or nuts. This cake uses only white rice flour to achieve a light and fluffy crumb.

An aerial view of a gluten free olive oil chocolate cake topped with chocolate ganache and sea salt flakes. The cake sits atop a rusting dark grey backdrop.
Easy gluten free chocolate cake
Easy gluten free chocolate cake that is made without xanthan gum or nuts
Check out this recipe
A side on image of a gluten free chocolate cake on a silver cake stand atop a white linen tablecloth. The cake has a slice taken out revealing the soft crumb and waves of chocolate buttercream. It stands against a rusty deep red backdrop

10. Brownie cookies

Easy gluten free brownie cookies that have many options: the original (linked below) a vegan version, a flourless version and a sourdough discard version.

An aerial, moody photo of a stack of vegan brownie cookies that are egg free, gluten free and made without xanthan gum. The cookies have shiny, crackled tops and the cookie on the top of the stack at the centre is sprinkled with sea salt flakes
Gluten free brownie cookies
Rich and complex gluten free brookies that are made without xanthan gum or nuts
Check out this recipe
A close up aerial shot of a plate of gluten free chocolate crinkle cookies. The cookies sit in a pile atop a white speckled ceramic plate. They are a deep chocolate colour which contrasts with the icing sugar dusted across their surface.

More gluten free baking recipes:

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