Is there any good gluten free bread? What is the best gluten free bread? The Ultimate Guide to Gluten Free Bread will help you find the best gluten free bread!
Over the past several weeks, I have had the opportunity to sample a whole host of gluten free bread. From sourdough to whole grain, store bought to fresh from the bakery, I’ve tasted quite an array of bread. Today I want to provide an honest review for you, and I hope that this Ultimate Guide to Gluten Free Bread is a helpful tool to help you navigate the sea of good and not-so-good gluten free bread.
For complete disclosure, many of the companies (not all) featured today gifted me free samples of their products for the purpose of a review. This was my idea, and I made the initial contact with each company. It would have been exceedingly expensive for me to buy all of the bread that I reviewed. Having said that, my opinions are my own and have not been paid for. I provide an honest assessment of each product. I have one affiliate link at the very end of the post.
Is there any good gluten free bread out there?
I am happy to report, that yes, there is good gluten free bread to be had! You can actually enjoy bread that is not dry, gummy, tasteless, or full of garbage. Is it like ‘regular’ bread? A bit, depending on what kind of bread that you want. While there are many good options available, there are many less than stellar options out there as well.
I hope that you will read through my entire post. There is a lot of great information here. While I couldn’t review every bread that is available on the market, I tried my best to include popular brands, supermarket brands, and bakery fresh breads (mail order). The good news is that you have choices! You’ll notice that I made some distinctions for the Best Store Bought Bread, Best Sourdough, Best Specialty Bread, and Best Everyday Bread.
How Did I Judge Each Bread?
- Ingredients: I looked at the ingredient list as provided on the brand’s website. I prefer organic ingredients as well as real, whole ingredients. While many gluten free bread contains an array of starches, I prefer bread that is lighter on starch. I also considered if a product accommodated multiple food allergies. Lastly, I detest junk, preservatives, and the addition of anything that is of cheap quality. You’ll notice that I copied and pasted a screenshot of the ingredient list for each bread. These screenshots come directly from each brand’s website (with the exception of the Aldi bread as there are no ingredient lists on their site). Keep in mind that depending on when you are reading this, ingredient lists can change and recipes can be updated. Always consult the ingredient lists on current products. Contact the company directly with any questions.
- Taste: This is very subjective. My preferences may very well be different than yours. When possible, I tried to compare bread to other familiar food items that many people know for a point of reference.
- Size: There is no doubt, no matter what companies say, that the size of slices of gluten free bread continues to get smaller and smaller. For most of the bread that I sampled, I tried to take a picture of each slice in the palm of my hand for reference. Many companies now offer their bread in both standard size and larger sizes.
Store Bought Gluten Free Bread
Canyon Bakehouse
$7.29 per loaf (prices vary) / Buy Again: Yes
Canyon Bakehouse is perhaps one of the most popular and recognizable brands of gluten free bread. You would be hard pressed to go into any major supermarket and not see some of their products on the shelf or in the freezer. They are easily accessible, and they offer a variety of different breads including buns, rolls, bagels, and English muffins. Canyon was a staple in my home for years. Today, we have to steer clear of their products due to egg allergies in my home.
Canyon offers variety, good taste and texture, and an ingredient list that I can pronounce. One big bonus is that their bread is delicious straight from the bag and does not need to be toasted (unless you want to). The biggest downside for me is the size of the bread. The slices are so small. Their Heritage line of bread does provide larger slices of bread, but the cost per loaf averages around $10.00.
Schar
$5.69 per loaf (prices vary) / Buy Again: No
Schar offers a wide variety of items including breads, rolls, crusts, croissants, bagels, baguettes, crackers, and breadsticks. There is no denying that they offer a lot. If you are close to a Walmart, you’ll find a good assortment of items from Schar. I am not a fan of the ingredients used in a lot of the Schar products. They use a lot of corn (it’s usually the first or second ingredient. Most products have sunflower oil; many have soy. They use a lot of starch: corn, potato, rice.
The loaf that I used for this post just did not have a good taste. The bread slices had an odd shape, and I just didn’t care for the texture.
Rudi’s Gluten Free
$5.69 per loaf (prices vary) / Buy Again: No
Rudi’s Rocky Mountain Bakery offers many different gluten free bread, bun, and tortilla options. Be very careful to read the label on the bread. Rudi’s makes a several wheat based breads as well. Case in point. The packaging is really similar for these two.
The sourdough bread that I tested here was beautifully uniform, had a nice crumb, very good crust, and was soft. It really felt like and had the texture of white bread. The slices were a good size as well. The taste was just okay. Maybe it was the sourdough element that just tasted a bit off (and I do like sourdough). My concern is the ingredient list on this bread and others in the line. Lots of starches mingled with some flours. There’s hydroxypropyl methylcellulose which is a synthetic cellulose according to published materials. Other breads from Rudi’s have ingredient lists with more concerns than this one.
Three Bakers
$7.99 per loaf (prices vary) / Buy Again: Yes
Three Bakers offers a nice assortment of bread. Their bread can be found in the freezer section, or you can order directly from them online. They also offer stuffing mix and rolls.
I tested their standard size white bread. I found the bread to be firm but not hard. It can hold up to spreading nut butters. It is a bit crumbly when you bite it but not necessarily in a bad way. The bread has an airiness to it. There’s a good crust on the bread. The loaves are uniform. Overall, I really like the taste. I do wish there was less starch; tapioca and corn starch are ingredients three and four. Despite the starches, there is a good amount of fiber. The standard sized loaves have slices that are a bit on the smaller size, but the company does offer loaves of bread with larger slices. While you do not have to toast the bread, it seems to be better when lightly toasted, but that may just be my personal preference. This bread reminded me a bit of the Pepperidge Farm White Bread that I used to enjoy in my childhood.
Aldi – Live GFree
$6.49 per loaf / Buy Again: Yes
Aldi’s line of Live GFree bread has the largest slices of any other gluten free bread out there and is priced at their regular price. Other brands offer large sliced options, but each one costs a few dollars more than the standard sized loaves. Not at Aldi.
Straight out of the bag, the bread is dry. It’s significantly better toasted. It was one of the few gluten free breads that is egg free. In my house, that’s a big deal because my son and I are allergic to eggs. Having said that I am not crazy about some of the other ingredients like sunflower oil (which is inflammatory) and a starch flour blend that is the second listed ingredient. There are a lot of other good flours in the mix though such as quinoa, teff, and millet. The taste is OK. It’s very light and airy. Comes in either white or whole grain. We use it to make avocado toast, and it’s really good because of the surface area.
Simple Truth (Kroger)
$5.99 per loaf / Buy Again: No
Simple Truth is the home brand for Kroger. I used their frozen loaf for this test. The bread is affordably priced and has very large slices of bread that compete with Aldi’s. The appearance is great too. It looks like a ‘normal’ slice of bread.
The texture really reminded me of Wonder bread. It had a spongy, somewhat dense feel to it. The taste was just OK for me. If you are a fan of Wonder style bread, you may like it. It’s priced well and offers full sized slices. Contains a flour blend of starches and flours such as rice and buckwheat. No egg – it’s vegan. Unfortunately it contains sunflower and/or safflower oil – both of which are inflammatory. From a price point and size perspective this is a good option, but as noted, I have some ingredient concerns.
Sam’s Choice (Walmart)
$6.74 per loaf / Buy Again: No, No, No
After doing some research I found a lot of people singing the praises of the gluten free bread from Walmart, so I knew I needed to give it a try. Before I even opened the package I looked over the ingredient list; I then knew this would be a one and done purchase. In a time where there are so many other healthier ingredient options, Sam’s Choice bread still contains things like fully hydrogenated palm oil, monoglycerides, safflower oil, and preservatives. I am sure it makes for a shelf stable, long lasting product, but all that usually comes with a price – to your health.
For the sake of science, I tried half a piece. The bread slices are small. They are soft, pliable, and a bit sticky. I also felt that the flavor was subpar. Of all the breads that I tried in my little experiment, I would rank this bread as the lowest.
Other Store Bought Brands Not Tested:
Gluten Free Bakery Bread
Here is where gluten free bread shines! Wholesome, crafted, purposely composed bread – that’s what you get when you order gluten free bread from a bakery. I am sure that there are some exceptions to this, but regarding each of the breads I reviewed below, I would whole-heartedly purchase them all again. In their own right, they are all a bit different and cater to different people who have different tastes and preferences.
What you can expect from bread from a bakery:
- better, more wholesome ingredients
- shorter shelf life
- better taste
- better nutrition
- higher prices
I am unashamedly a supporter of small business. I have completely changed my approach to food, specifically bread, in the last few years. I used to want to spend the fewest amount of dollars possible, but I soon began to realize that I was robbing myself of quality food if the only thing that I was concerned about was the cost. So now I buy better bread, and yes, I spend more. In this process, I have also realized that I don’t need to eat a lot of bread. So now, when I do have bread, it’s great bread that doesn’t just fill my stomach but actually nourishes me at the same time. I also realized that every dollar that I spent buying bread from a smaller company, was supporting efforts to bring better quality gluten free food to people and to support the people doing it. It’s a win for me, a win for small business, and a win for you. And frankly, with the skyrocketing cost of food, you are not going to spend much more for the bread I am going to introduce you to now!
Bread SRSLY
$39.00 for a 3-pack / Buy Again: YES!
If you love sourdough, you really need to try the bread from Bread SRSLY. It has such great flavor and that highly sought after sourdough tang. I love the ingredient list – it’s small and filled with good-for-you ingredients. No sugar, no oils, no preservatives. Nothing bad here – all good. If you are like me and navigating life dealing with multiple food allergies and intolerances, you will be so thankful for how meticulously their website is laid out. If you look at the FAQ, you will have all of your allergy questions answered in a very honest and transparent manner. That is a breath of fresh air.
The only drawback is the size of the loaf. It yields small slices. I wouldn’t use this bread to make a sandwich, but I thoroughly love this bread lightly toasted with some butter and jam. Its simplicity is so refreshing and amazing! Having said that, they do offer a larger XL sized loaf.
Bread SRSLY offers rolls, gum free breads, seeded bread, and my favorite – cinnamon raisin bread. After tasting one slice of the cinnamon raisin bread, my son literally came into the living room with a slice of bread in each hand and said, “We need to get this every week. I could eat this everyday. It’s the best.” That’s pretty much a 5-star review for you from my 19 year old son!
You can order online. If you live on the West coast there’s a good chance you’ll be able to score a loaf at a store.
AWG Bakery
$16.50 – 24.50 / Buy Again: Yes
AWG was a new find for me. Each homemade item is grain free and also free of corn, potatoes, and oats. They do contain almond flour, so if you have a tree nut allergy or intolerance please be aware. You can shop online or find them at a handful of stores around the country.
My initial reaction to the bread was, “Wow, this loaf is heavy.” It’s literally 2 pounds. The bread is much, much better when toasted. There’s something so delicious about the toasted almond flour. My son really liked this bread. Straight out of the bag, it was not my favorite. The loaves come unsliced. I love the ingredient list – simple ingredients with no junk. They use organic ingredients, too! Bonus – all their packaging (bags and labels) are compostable.
The bakery offers several different types of bread, rolls, bagels (they are small), and bundle packages.
Eban’s Bakehouse
$8.99 / Buy Again: Yes
I have always wanted to try the gluten free bread from Eban’s Bakehouse. I had heard great things about it and read so many positive reviews. I was not disappointed. I tried the Oat Bread for this review.
I love the simplicity of the ingredient list. It’s just real. This is a nice sandwich bread. The inclusion of eggs makes for a lighter bread with more chew. The bread has great flavor and texture. You can sink your teeth into a sandwich made with this bread and enjoy it!Everyone in my home liked this bread!
Eban’s also offers other bread varieties including a delicious multigrain sandwich bread, artisan buns, and dinner rolls (which I must try). They also make oat bars and cookies (the cookies are amazing).
The only drawback is that this line of products is not as allergy friendly as others. While everything is gluten free, many products contain eggs, nuts, and dairy products. You’ll need to be careful of cross contamination if these allergens pose a problem. Contact the company directly for clarification on this.
Happy Camper
$8.39 / Buy Again: Yes*
Happy Camper was another new brand for me. Everything they make is gluten free, vegan, free from the top 9 allergens, and organic. Not every brand can boast all of that. They also offer a variety of bread, in different sizes, buns, flour mix, and even a loaf of ‘bread butt ends.’ As a family who clamors to get the butt end of the bread, I think I’ve got to order this!
The Classy Slice is your traditional sandwich type bread. It has very good taste and texture. As you can see in the pictures, there is an airiness about it. This can be both good and not so good. I like airy bread so much better than dense bread, but with airy bread you run the risk of holes. Two of the loaves that I tested did have some larger than desired holes. I don’t think it is a pervasive problem, but it’s a possibility. That is why I added a Yes* to the “Buy Again” statement. I would buy this bread again, but if I received a loaf with large holes again, that may be the last time for me.
New Cascadia Traditional
$7.00 – 7.25 / Buy Again: YES! Oh my, Yes!
One of the things that I truly miss about traditional wheat bread is having artisanal breads. Not many brands truly offer special breads. Many brands try, but they most often fall flat. Well, let me introduce you to New Cascadia Traditional. I stumbled upon this bakery as I was searching for new gluten free breads. I was looking around their website and basically salivating as I saw pictures of Italian bread, Challah bread, and baguettes. They looked amazing – almost too good. There was no way that the actual bread could taste as good as the pictures.
But it did.
Their Rustic Italian Loaf is just that. It’s the closest thing that I have had to a traditional Italian loaf since my wheat days. It’s got a great outer crust and a wonderful crumb inside. It’s great straight out of the bag and also toasted. It’s amazing.
As if it could not get any better, I tried their Holla-Day Bread. It is a round egg bread much like Challah bread. This bread was tear-a-hunk-off-and-eat-it-straight-up good. Hands down this was the best gluten free bread I have ever had. If I would have had any left, I would have made french toast, but alas my family devoured it in one sitting.
Outside the Bread Box (affiliate link)
$7.99 / Buy Again: yes!
Outside the Breadbox features a wide variety of breads and other gluten free products including crackers, bread crumbs, pizza crust, cookies, bagels, and rolls. All products are reasonably priced. The slices of bread were a good size, and of all the breads that I tested, I thought that this bread was the best sandwich bread by far. It was soft, but not gummy. It had great texture. It was not dry. It was springy and movable without crumbling or breaking. It tasted great right out of the bag and didn’t require toasting (although it was great toasted).
I do wish that this particular bread did not used inflammatory oils such as sunflower and safflower, but the ingredient list does mention olive oil OR the others. It also does have two types of sugar. But for my family and the various allergies that we deal with (gluten, dairy, egg), this is our favorite option for daily use.
If you want to try any of the breads or products from Outside the Breadbox, use this link and the coupon code TheGlutenFreeGathering at checkout to receive 15% off your order. Also, shipping is free for orders over $60.
Why is Gluten Free Bread So Small?
I would speculate that the price of ingredients is high. Testing is expensive. Everything in the allergy friendly world seems pricy, so it should not be surprising that one way that companies remain profitable is by reducing the size of the product. We see it everywhere, not just with gluten free bread. With that being said, it’s incredibly frustrating trying to make a sandwich on bread that fits in the palm of my hand and is smaller than the sponge sitting in my sink.
While these are not the best photos, they do offer you a side by side comparison of of the size of each different kind of bread that was sampled.
What is your favorite gluten free bread?
Leave a comment!
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