Gluten free diets have become increasingly popular in recent years, with more and more people opting to avoid gluten for medical reasons or simply as a lifestyle choice. For those who love biscuits but need to avoid gluten, the good news is that there are a number of companies that produce tasty gluten free biscuit options.
What is gluten and why do some people need to avoid it?
Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, barley and rye. For most people, consuming gluten is not a problem, however for those with certain medical conditions like celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, gluten can cause serious health issues. Common symptoms of gluten intolerance include abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, fatigue, joint pain and skin rashes. The only treatment for gluten intolerance is adhering to a strict lifelong gluten free diet.
For those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, consuming gluten free alternatives ensures they can still enjoy their favorite foods without negative health consequences. Biscuits are a popular gluten containing food, so having access to gluten free options allows those with gluten restrictions to enjoy similar baked goods.
What makes a biscuit gluten free?
A biscuit is considered gluten free if it is made without any ingredients containing gluten. This means avoiding wheat flour, barley, rye, malt and other gluten containing grains. Instead, gluten free biscuits are typically made with alternative flours like:
– Rice flour
– Tapioca flour
– Sorghum flour
– Corn flour
– Potato starch
– Almond flour
– Coconut flour
As long as the ingredients are confirmed gluten free, biscuits made with these alternative flours can safely be consumed by those on a gluten free diet. It’s important to always check the label and ingredients list even on products labelled as “gluten free”, as cross contamination can sometimes occur.
Popular Brands of Gluten Free Biscuits
Fortunately for gluten free consumers, there are a number of trusted brands producing high quality gluten free biscuits in various styles and flavors. Here is an overview of some top brands making gluten free biscuits:
Kinnikinnick
Kinnikinnick is a Canadian company that specializes in baked goods for allergy diets. They offer a line of gluten free biscuits that are free from wheat, rye, barley and oats. Kinnikinnick’s gluten free biscuits come in flavors like Cinnamon Raisin, Vanilla Yogurt and Chocolate Chip. Their biscuits are made with a combination of rice flour, potato starch, tapioca flour and xanthan gum. Kinnikinnick products are made in a dedicated gluten free facility and tested to contain less than 5 ppm gluten. Their gluten free biscuits are available for purchase online in the United States and Canada.
Pillsbury
Pillsbury, the well known baking brand, has a line of gluten free products including gluten free biscuits. Pillsbury gluten free biscuits are made with a blend of potato starch, rice flour and tapioca starch specially formulated to mimic the taste and texture of traditional biscuits. They come in Homestyle Buttermilk and Cheddar Cheese varieties. Pillsbury gluten free biscuits are produced in a facility free from wheat, rye, barley and oats to avoid cross contamination. They are available at many major grocery retailers across the United States.
King Arthur
King Arthur Baking Company, a trusted brand for high quality baking ingredients and mixes, makes a gluten free biscuit mix. King Arthur’s gluten free biscuit mix contains rice flour, tapioca starch, potato starch, cellulose gum and a leavening agent. To make biscuits, consumers simply add butter, milk or buttermilk and eggs. The biscuits have a similar taste and texture to traditional wheat flour biscuits. King Arthur’s facilities are free from wheat, rye and barley for gluten free production. The gluten free biscuit mix can be purchased online or found in some grocery stores in the baking aisle.
Bisquick
Bisquick, the popular baking mix brand owned by General Mills, launched a gluten free biscuit mix in 2020. Bisquick gluten free biscuit mix contains rice flour, tapioca starch, potato starch, brown rice flour, cellulose gel, baking powder and xanthan gum. Milk and butter need to be added to the mix to make classic biscuits. Bisquick gluten free biscuit mix allows those who enjoy the convenience of biscuit mixes to bake gluten free biscuits at home. The biscuit mix can be found at many major retailers across the U.S.
Betty Crocker
Betty Crocker, another baking brand from General Mills, offers a gluten free biscuit and pastry mix. This convenient mix can be used to make biscuits, pie crust, rolls, crusts and more. The blend contains white rice flour, brown rice flour, potato starch, tapioca flour, baking powder and xanthan gum. Milk, butter and eggs get added to form the biscuit dough. Betty Crocker gluten free mixes are produced in dedicated gluten free facilities. The biscuit and pastry mix can be purchased on Amazon or found on store shelves alongside other gluten free baking items.
Bob’s Red Mill
Bob’s Red Mill is a leading company in gluten free flours and baking mixes. They offer a gluten free biscuit mix that is made with garbanzo bean flour, potato starch, tapioca flour, white sorghum flour, cellulose fiber and baking soda. Their garbanzo bean based biscuit mix creates fluffy biscuits with a slightly sweet, nutty taste. Bob’s Red Mill has gluten free manufacturing facilities to prevent cross contamination. Their gluten free biscuit mix can be ordered online or found in natural food stores across the U.S.
Namaste Foods
Namaste Foods focuses on allergy friendly baking mixes, including a gluten free biscuit mix. Their mix contains brown rice flour, tapioca starch, potato starch, cellulose gum and baking soda. Butter, milk and eggs get added to make classic gluten free biscuits. Namaste is based in Canada but their products are available to ship to the U.S. as well. Their facility and products are routinely tested for gluten contamination.
Jules Gluten Free
Jules Gluten Free is a dedicated gluten free food company that offers mixes for gluten free biscuits, scones, pie crusts and more. Their gluten free biscuit mix contains ingredients like brown rice flour, potato starch, tapioca flour, baking powder and xanthan gum. Jules Gluten Free products are routinely batch tested to confirm they are gluten free. Their biscuit and baking mixes are available for purchase online through their website.
Gluten Free Biscuits Sold in Stores
In addition to biscuit mixes, there are also ready-made gluten free biscuits sold in stores for convenience:
Kinnikinnick Gluten Free Biscuits
As mentioned previously, Kinnikinnick Foods produces gluten free biscuit mixes. But they also sell refrigerated gluten free biscuit dough that is pre-made and ready to bake. The dough comes in a tube or tray and can go straight into the oven to make hot gluten free biscuits in minutes. Flavors include Plain, Cheddar Garlic and Cinnamon Raisin. The refrigerated biscuit dough is stocked in the specialty diet frozen section in some grocery stores.
Schar Gluten Free Biscuits
Schar is an Italian company specializing in gluten free baked goods. They produce gluten free biscuits that come pre-baked and ready to eat or heat. Schar gluten free biscuits are made with corn starch, rice flour and potato starch. They have a crispier texture than traditional biscuits. Schar gluten free biscuits are sold in the freezer section in grocery stores across the U.S. and online.
Katz Gluten Free Table Talk Biscuits
Table Talk Biscuits are a classic American brand, and now Katz offers gluten free Table Talk biscuits. These contain rice flour, tapioca starch, potato starch and brown rice flour. They come individually wrapped and are sold in the freezer aisle. Frozen Katz gluten free biscuits can go straight from freezer to toaster for quick meals.
LiveGFree Gluten Free Biscuits
LiveGFree specializes in convenient gluten free baked goods like breads, bagels, donuts and biscuits. Their gluten free cheddar and herbs biscuits contain a blend of rice flour, tapioca starch, potato starch and sorghum flour. The biscuits are sold pre-baked and frozen in the specialty diet frozen section. After freezing, the biscuits are ready to warm and eat.
Tips for Baking Gluten Free Biscuits at Home
While there are ample store-bought options, many gluten free consumers enjoy baking their own biscuits at home. Here are some tips for successfully baking gluten free biscuits from scratch:
Use a blend of flours
For the best texture, use a blend of different gluten free flours like rice flour, sorghum flour, tapioca starch and potato starch. Using multiple alternative flours helps mimic the properties of wheat flour.
Don’t overmix the dough
Gluten free flours don’t form gluten strands like wheat, so overmixing can make biscuits dense and tough. Mix just until a shaggy dough forms to keep biscuits light.
Chill the dough
Chilling the biscuit dough helps ensure the shape holds when baking. Let dough chill for 30 minutes up to overnight after mixing.
Use dairy alternatives if needed
For dairy free biscuits, substitute milk and butter with dairy free products like almond milk and coconut oil.
Adjust oven temperature
Gluten free biscuits will spread more than wheat biscuits. Bake at a slightly lower oven temp (around 375°F) to account for spread.
Avoid overbaking
Gluten free biscuits firm up faster than wheat biscuits. Err on the side of underdone to prevent dry, crumbly biscuits.
Experiment with flavors
Get creative with biscuit flavors by adding herbs, cheeses, cinnamon, lemon zest and more!
Nutrition of Gluten Free Biscuits
For the most part, the nutrition profile of gluten free biscuits is fairly comparable to traditional wheat biscuits. Here is a nutrition overview:
Calories
Gluten free biscuits typically provide 100-150 calories per biscuit depending on size. This is quite similar to a classic wheat biscuit.
Fat
The primary source of fat in gluten free biscuits comes from the butter they are made with. Each biscuit usually delivers around 5-8g of (good) unsaturated fats.
Carbohydrates
A gluten free biscuit contains around 20-25g net carbohydrates, coming mostly from the gluten free flours used. This carb content is normal for a baked good of this size.
Fiber
Gluten free flours like rice flour have slightly less fiber than wheat flour. But other ingredients boost the fiber like almond flour or dried fruit. Most gluten free biscuits have 2-4g fiber.
Sodium
Any biscuits made from scratch are relatively low sodium. Gluten free biscuits fall in the 300-400mg sodium range per serving.
Sugar
Sugar content varies more widely, from 0g in plain biscuits up to 8g per biscuit for sweeter versions made with fruit, honey or chocolate.
Overall, those who follow a gluten free diet can enjoy biscuits as part of a healthy diet. Gluten free biscuits provide satisfaction when you crave a warm, buttery baked good!
Making Your Own Gluten Free Biscuit Mix
Many store-bought gluten free biscuit mixes contain processed starches and gums. For a cleaner ingredient list, you can easily make your own biscuit mix at home. Here is an easy recipe to try:
Gluten Free Homemade Biscuit Mix
Dry ingredients:
– 2 cups brown rice flour
– 2/3 cup tapioca starch
– 1/3 cup potato starch
– 2 tsp baking powder
– 1/2 tsp xanthan gum
– 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions:
1. Whisk together all dry ingredients until well combined.
2. Store in an airtight container up to 3 months.
3. To make biscuits: Combine 1 1/2 cups biscuit mix with 1/4 cup cold butter, 1/4 cup milk and 1 egg.
4. Mix lightly, just until a dough forms. Turn onto a floured surface and pat into a 1/2 inch thick round.
5. Cut out biscuits and arrange on a parchment lined baking sheet.
6. Bake at 375°F for 13-18 minutes until lightly browned.
7. Cool 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy!
This easy 4 ingredient gluten free biscuit mix lets you whip up fresh, homemade biscuits fast. The biscuits will be light and fluffy without any artificial stabilizers. Feel free to double or triple the recipe to keep plenty of mix on hand. Add herbs, cheese or dried fruit to customize your biscuits.
Common Questions
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about gluten free biscuits:
Are gluten free biscuits healthy?
Yes, gluten free biscuits can absolutely be part of a healthy diet, in moderation. They provide nutrients like protein, fiber and minerals from gluten free flours and minimal fat from the butter or oil. Those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance can enjoy gluten free biscuits without adverse health effects.
Do gluten free biscuits taste the same?
The taste of gluten free biscuits is quite close to regular wheat biscuits, though the texture is a little different. Gluten free biscuits are slightly more dense and crumbly in texture. But with the classic ingredients like buttermilk, butter and baking powder, the flavor is very similar to traditional biscuits.
Are gluten free biscuits more expensive?
There is often a small price premium on specialty gluten free products to account for unique ingredient sourcing and processing. However, many mainstream brands of gluten free biscuits are competitively priced with wheat biscuits. Large brands can offer more affordable pricing.
Where can I find gluten free biscuits?
Gluten free biscuits can be found in either the specialty diet freezer section or the baking aisle of most major grocery stores. Larger chains like Walmart, Target, Publix and Kroger carry various national gluten free biscuit brands. Gluten free biscuits can also be purchased online through sites like Amazon.
Do I need xanthan gum to make gluten free biscuits?
Xanthan gum helps mimic the binding and moisture retention qualities of gluten in baking. So it improves the texture in gluten free baked goods. However, xanthan gum is not an absolute necessity. You can successfully make gluten free biscuits without xanthan gum or other binders.
Conclusion
In conclusion, those following gluten free diets have many great options when it comes to enjoying delicious biscuits. Major brands like Pillsbury, Kinnikinnick and Betty Crocker offer store-bought gluten free biscuit mixes and refrigerated doughs that are widely available in stores and online. Biscuit mixes from King Arthur and Bob’s Red Mill provide options to bake from scratch. With some basic gluten free flours and baking tips, gluten free biscuits with a tender, fluffy texture can easily be made at home as well. Companies producing quality gluten alternatives have made it easier than ever for those avoiding gluten to still enjoy their favorite comfort foods. So if you love warm, flaky biscuits slathered with butter or jam, you can absolutely satisfy this craving on a gluten free diet.
