It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you’re new to a gluten free or plant based diet, or having to cater for a loved one with these special dietary needs - especially on holidays or special occasions that call for cake or other baked goods! Fortunately, there are now loads of options available for making treats for these diets, and it doesn’t have to be expensive, complicated or involve ingredients you’ve never heard of and are never going to use again!
Here are our favourite gluten free and vegan must-haves:
Rice Flour
For under $2 a box, rice flour is not just affordable, but extremely versatile! We use rice flour for GF cookies, cheesecake bases, slices and over Christmas - for mince pies! Just make sure to add enough liquid, and some sweetener or sources of flavour, as it is a little bland by itself!
Almond Meal
Similar to rice flour, almond meal can be used as the base for a lot of sweet treats. It has a nutty taste, and pairs well with natural sweeteners like maple syrup! We definitely prefer almond meal over coconut flour, which is often more expensive and also prone to forming dry, crumbly baked goods (which is not what we want!)
Gluten Free Weet-bix
While they’re not as affordable as standard Weetbix, the GF version still comes packed with flavour and that classic texture we all love. A crushed Weetbix can be used for so many different recipes - you can check out their recipes on their website and just use the GF Weetbix instead! Think porridge, slices, overnight brekky bowls etc!
Pea / Plant-Based Protein
While we agree not everything needs to be high protein, pea protein is actually really functional in certain recipes! If you pick an already sweetened and flavoured protein, you’re also getting an easy source of flavour and sweetness, without having to add much more. Unlike whey protein - which can denature under heat - pea protein is heat-stable, and won’t go tough or dry when you bake with it.
Greek Style Soy Yoghurt
A creamy, firm yoghurt is a must-have in both gluten free and vegan baking. Not only does it add much-needed moisture to your GF flours/grains or proteins, but it’s acidity helps activate baking soda, which can make baked goods fluffy and light. Again, using a naturally sweetened or flavoured yoghurt can also help effortlessly add more flavour to your recipes! Yoghurt can be used in place of more expensive dairy-free butter, sour cream and in some recipes, even eggs!
Maple Syrup
You can’t go wrong with using maple syrup as a natural sweetener and for binding ingredients together, especially in no-bake treats like slices or bliss balls (in fact, maple syrup is the ONLY other ingredient you need when using our Protein Ball Mixes! Just make sure to double check ingredients (as some maple syrups contain wheat!). Maple syrup can be used in place of honey for plant-based treats, and it can also be used substitute sugar - just substitute each cup of white sugar with 3/4 cup of maple syrup and reduce other liquids in the recipe by 1/4 cup!
Baking gluten-free and vegan treats doesn't have to be intimidating. With these must-have ingredients in your pantry, you'll be ready to bake delicious treats for any occasion—without stress! Whether you’re making cookies, cakes, or no-bake desserts, these ingredients provide the foundation for creating delightful, allergy-friendly treats everyone can enjoy.
Need some inspiration? Check out our journal for some of our recent vegan and gluten-free recipes!
