Have you used Gluten Free Flour Blends? They all claim to be able to substitute 1 for 1 in any recipe. Now, this is technically true, but the outcomes are all a bit different. Since recently being diagnosed with Celiac disease, I decided I better figure out which flour is actually the best. I decided to start with the basic Nestle Toll House cookie recipe.
I Tested each gluten free flour for texture, taste, longevity and value
I used all the same ingredients, besides the flour and replaced it 1 for 1 in the recipe. I also made sure to have the butter and eggs at the same temperature and mixed all the same. Enough science-y stuff. Let’s get down to brass tacks.
Cup4Cup analysis
So Cup4Cup has always been my go-to for baking gluten free since I’ve had a lot of luck with it in the past. However, I did not realize it has powdered milk in it. So if you’re vegan or lactose intolerant, this is not a good option.
FLAVOR: Highest marks for flavor. Cup4Cup gluten free flour was closest in flavor to regular all-purpose flour.
TEXTURE: These cookies came out the thinnest, which means they need to be under-baked to keep from being too crispy.
LONGEVITY: The longevity was just ok. However, this is typical of gluten free flours. You typically want to eat anything made with gf flour on the same day. So it was as expected.
VALUE: This is rated the lowest. While the flavor is very good, the price tag is hefty compared to it’s gf counterparts. The price on Amazon is the best though. So if you decide to give it a try, use this link to purchase.
King Arthur Flour Measure for Measure (spoiler, this was my favorite)
The Measure for Measure gluten free flour was the healthiest blend. The first ingredient is brown rice flour and is full of natural vitamins and minerals. It also has no surprise ingredients, like milk.
FLAVOR: The flavor was just OK. There is a slight taste of brown rice. It isn’t bad, it’s just that it’s there. You know? Now, the added health benefits and the following reasons make this less important.
TEXTURE: Now this was the best part. The cookies had a great rise, were thick, chewy and felt most similar to regular all-purpose flour. Really, as close to perfect as I’ve had.
LONGEVITY: These also tasted the best 2 days after baking. Just barely dried out. And they kept their great texture even a day or two after that. Pretty impressive, eh?
VALUE: Now, at half the price of Cup4Cup, King Arthur Measure for Measure flour also gets highest marks for value. I order from Amazon since it’s not carried in all the stores around here.
Bob’s Red Mill 1 for 1 Flour
Bob’s Red Mill 1 for 1 gluten free flour blend gave the cookies a nice, even rise. Thinner than the King Arthur Flour, but thicker than the Cup4Cup. This flour came out the driest and had a grainy texture.
FLAVOR: The flavor was very good. No odd aftertaste, similar to AP flour. The ingredients are mostly rice flour. No milk like Cup4Cup, but not full of fiber and vitamins like King Arthur Flour.
TEXTURE: The texture again was the grainiest and driest. So it would need to be under baked to make it taste the best.
LONGEVITY: These were good for about a day, which is typical of GF flours. So I would recommend making a half batch at a time, unless you’re having a party.
VALUE: Bob’s Red Mill is about the same cost per ounce as King Arthur Flour, so it’s a fairly good deal.
Love gluten free recipe? Try these other amazing gluten free recipes!
Great Post Amy! I love your photos and all your commentary!
I have nieces who are gluten free – I’m going to pass this on to them too!
This is a really helpful post! Thank you! I haven’t ever seen this done or thought to do it myself when I was diagnosed with Celiac 7 years ago (I was just so overwhelmed at the thought of figuring out what was or wasn’t gluten free – I didn’t even know these things existed for awhile after my diagnosis). I really appreciate that you did everything the same in all of them, and even compared longevity and value, because those are so important, too!! Excellent post!
Thank you so much! I’m so glad I could help!
Thank you Amy, this was very interesting and helpful. I have been experimenting with King Arthur’s Measure for Measure. I have found when I use their recipes instead if substituting for my recipes the end result is better. Their Banana Muffin recipe on the package is delicious, sometimes I add mini chocolate chips.
So glad you enjoyed this Gluten Free Flour comparison!
Thank you for the info. I used Bob’s 1to 1 for the first time in cookies 🍪 last night. They were dry and grainy. I will be Returning to the store.
Bummer! I’m finding that Cup4Cup is the best for cookies, and I’m loving King Arthur for cake. I hope you find one you love!
Thanks for this helpful review! Do you know which GF flour performs best for making quick breads and muffins, and which for for yeast breads? Bb’s recently put out a video on their various products and said the 1-1 doesn’t have enough protein for yeast breads, explaining why my attempt came out gluey and doughy/uncooked on the inside. Would love another comparison,
Hi Marina! I’ve been wanting to do another review using a muffin recipe. I’ve found King Arthur to make the best muffins and cupcakes (like truly delicious). I haven’t tried a lot of yeast breads with GF flour, except for focaccia. I use King Arthur for that as well. It tastes great, but only lasts a day. I will get to work on this and post something as soon as I can!
Do you have any advice for flours to use in bread and particularly sourdough bread making? I’m interesed in comparisons to Nameste flour blend found at Costco which is so affordable. I just can’t get the results I’m looking for and don’t know if it’s the sourdough or the flour. Anyone?
Hello! I am not an expert (yet) on making gluten free yeasted breads. However, I recommend the book “Gluten-Free Baking at Home” by Jeffrey Larsen. Not only are there amazing recipes, but he gives a great explanation of different flours used for different recipes. He has a blend he makes on his own, which can be a pain, but is really the only way to get that great crumb and crust we crave! I hope that helps. Good luck!
Thank you for taking the time to make this!! Ive been using Bobs red mills for a while and I couldnt ever fix the grainy texture. Definitely will check out King Arthurs blend! Thank you :))
Hi Amy,
I have been gf for ten years and a baker for decades. I am always trying every gf cup for cup out there but I am very interested in healthier offerings. Your post here is helpful. I am curious now to try King Arthur again for cookies. I did not like the product when I tried it years ago. You might be very interested in GF Jules’ all purpose gf flour. It performs beautifully in most recipes, is very clean ingredients but it is very costly. Another excellent product available at a reasonable expense on Amazon is premium Gold gluten free flax blend flour. It performs beautifully cup for cup, is a very healthy alternative and yields lovely results. I often combine a white cup for cup gf flour with it in muffins if you want a healthier but not such a rustic result. It makes lovely muffins.
Thank you for the tip! I’ll check those out!