Blondies are a popular dessert bar that is considered the ‘light’ version of a brownie, but instead of cocoa powder, blondies use vanilla. Because of its popularity, many might wonder, are blondies gluten-free?
Typically, a traditional blondie recipe uses regular flour, which contains gluten, but you can make blondies gluten-free with just a few ingredient substitutions.
Now, you can take a bite of this delicious, moist dessert bar even if you are restricted to a gluten-free lifestyle. Check out this article for all things blondies, including the best gluten-free recipe, and baking tips that’ll yield the best batch.
What’s the Difference Between a Blondie and a Brownie?
The biggest difference between a blondie and a brownie is the most significant: cocoa powder. Whereas with brownies, you’d add a heaping serving of cocoa powder to give them that rich, brown color, blondies don’t require cocoa.
Instead, you’ll most likely add white chocolate chips to a blondie recipe (depending on your desired outcome), and the white chocolate along with extra vanilla is what will give the blondies that famous golden yellow color.
The typical ingredients in a blondie are: flour, butter, eggs, vanilla, brown sugar, white chocolate chips (or butterscotch), and they’re topped with walnuts and/or pecans.
The typical ingredients in a brownie are: flour, eggs, butter, chocolate chips, cocoa powder, and sugar. A common topping for brownies is walnuts but the possibilities are endless.
The Best Gluten-Free Blondie Recipe
Thanks to this recipe, you can basically have it all! Moist blondie, and all gluten-free ingredients too.
This recipe uses all of the basic ingredients that a blondie requires, but it substitutes regular wheat flour with gluten-free flour, specifically, the King Arthur Gluten-Free flour.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Gluten-Free Flour of your choosing (1 cup)
- Light brown sugar, packed (1 cup)
- Softened butter (½ cup)
- Room temperature egg (1 egg)
- Vanilla extract (1 tsp)
- Baking soda (½ tsp)
- Salt (½ tsp)
- Dark chocolate morsels or dark chocolate chips (1 cup)
If you’re more of a visual baker and like to watch step-by-step videos, then check out this Blondie recipe, where the steps are broken down and easy to follow.
How to Choose the Best Gluten-Free Flour
Thanks to the abundance of brands that are shifting to gluten-free selections, finding gluten-free flours has never been easier!
There was a time when you’d have to find all sorts of flours, like tapioca and rice flour, try to balance it with your liquid ingredients, and hope that it all would turn out alright. But today, there are options, and we’ll tell you how to choose the best gluten-free flour for baking.
There are a lot of options, but some flours are suited for certain recipes more than others, so it isn’t a one-flour-fits-all type of situation.
Flours made from grains (like buckwheat, millet, rice, sorghum, teff, and amaranth), it’s best to buy these flours with a clear ‘gluten-free’ label. Why? Because many of these types of flours are processed in environments that could lead to them being cross-contaminated with gluten.
Unless you’re using a pre-blended mix, you’ll have to combine 2 or more flours to achieve a good structure, and of course, a well-flavored baked good. These homemade flours can be stored in an air-tight container between 1-3 months at room temperature.
Best Gluten-Free Flour Brands in 2022
King Arthur Gluten-Free Measure for Measure Flour
The best brand to achieve overall consistency of baked goods that resembles normal flour is King Arthur Gluten-Free Measure for Measure flour. King Arthur is not only a household name because of its quality products and reliability, but its gluten-free flour is also the easiest to work with.
The flour is also packaged in a resealable bag which is helpful for bakers who don’t use all the flour in one shot, and the best part is that it’s also packed with good additives like vitamin B, calcium, and iron. Plus, it’s kosher too!
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Krusteaz Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour
If you’re not looking to spend too much, then perhaps you can check out the Krusteaz Gluten-Free All Purpose Flour.
This brand of flour is no different than its counterparts. It’s formulated to make the baking process as easy as possible for bakers who need to quickly substitute regular flour with gluten-free flour.
The best part is that this flour is basically offered in bulk, and you can get 8 bags of 32oz of flour, which works out to be less money per ounce. This is great for households that require gluten-free flour regularly, and saves you time running to the grocery store!
Cup4Cup Multipurpose Flour: Gluten-Free
Cup4Cups gluten-free formula is kind of a big deal, as it’s often cited as the first gluten-free flour to ever hit the shelves. Developed originally by American chef Thomas Keller so that he could create dishes for gluten-free restaurant goers as well, it is now a popular go-to flour.
This brand’s gluten-free flour has received gluten-free certification as well as kosher certification by the Orthodox Union. Pretty cool, right?
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How to Store Blondies
Ok, so now you’ve bought your favorite gluten-free flour brand and you’ve baked the absolute best batch of blondies ever! But how do you store them? Of course, the obvious thing to do is not to store them and eat them all fresh, but let’s be realistic here.
The best way to store blondies is in an airtight container for up to five days. If you want to extend them for up to a week, then you can keep them in the fridge.
However, blondies are best enjoyed in the first 1-2 days especially if you leave them outside. An extra tip is to tightly wrap each square in plastic wrap before putting them in the airtight container as an extra step so they don’t get hard and maintain their chewiness.
Conclusion
If you’re not already running to the store to get your hands on some blondie ingredients, then let this be your reminder to go!
Blondies are a sweet, chewy dessert bar favorite and if you’ve wondered if they can be delicious without regular flour, then the answer is yes
Blondies can be gluten-free, so make sure that when you purchase gluten-free flour always check the gluten-free certification and whether it meets all of your dietary needs. Bon appetit!