Buckwheat flour recipes can add a new and tasty ingredient into your gluten-free regimen. "Buckwheat" is a misnomer, since buckwheat is not a grain at all but an herb. Like other other alternative flours such as amaranth grain or sorghum flour, buckwheat flour is the product of the plant's ground seeds. It is a delicious and gluten-free alternative to wheat flour. Like other flour substitutes, buckwheat has its own characteristic properties and recommended uses.
Buckwheat Pizza Crust
Buckwheat makes a delicious, chewy pizza crust with a slightly nutty flavor that is enhanced by traditional pizza toppings such as tomato sauce and cheese.
- Makes one 18-inch pizza crust
- Prep time: 35 minutes
- Bake time: 30 minutes
- Oven temp: 350 degrees
Ingredients
- 1 cup buckwheat flour
- 1 cup tapioca flour
- 2 teaspoons xanthan gum
- 2 teaspoons yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup warm milk
- 4 tablespoons pizza sauce
Instructions
- Combine the buckwheat flour, tapioca flour, xanthan gum, yeast and salt in a mixing bowl.
- Add the egg, vinegar, oil, milk and pizza sauce and mix on high for four minutes.
- Spread the batter onto a pizza pan, cover with a clean towel and let rise for 20 minutes. The end result will be similar in texture to cake batter.
- Bake the crust at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
- Remove the crust from the oven, top with your favorite pizza toppings and bake for an additional 20 minutes.
Buckwheat Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake
This is a fast, single-layer cake with a rich, chocolate taste. The peanut butter combines well with the nutty taste of the buckwheat.
- Makes one 9 x 11-inch cake
- Prep time: 5 minutes
- Bake time: 40 minutes
- Oven temp: 300 degrees
Ingredients
- 1 cup smooth, natural peanut butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup applesauce
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup buckwheat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/3 cup cocoa
Instructions
- Mix together the peanut butter, sugar, applesauce, eggs and vanilla until smooth.
- Add the remaining ingredients and beat on high for two minutes.
- Pour into a greased 9 x 11-inch cake pan.
- Bake at 300 degrees for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Buckwheat Oatmeal Cookies
These chewy, crispy cookies are light, lacy and delicious with a mixture of buckwheat flour and gluten-free oats.
- Makes 36 cookies
- Prep time: 10 minutes
- Bake time: 10 minutes
- Oven temp: 300 degrees
Ingredients
- 1-3/4 cups GF rolled oats
- 1 cup buckwheat flour
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 tablespoons boiling water
- Chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the oats, buckwheat and sugar in a bowl and set aside.
- Melt the butter in a saucepan on the stove and stir in the syrup until smooth.
- Combine the butter mixture with the oat mixture. Stir well.
- Dissolve the baking soda in the boiling water and mix into the cookie dough.
- Add chocolate chips if desired.
- Use a melon baller to transfer the dough onto a greased cookie sheet. The cookies expand to approximately three inches wide, so leave room between balls.
- Bake for 10 minutes at 300 degrees until the cookies flatten and turn crisp.
- Let the cookies cool completely before transferring; they are very delicate until cool.
Cooking with Buckwheat Flour
Buckwheat flour works best when combined with other flours such as tapioca, rice or arrowroot, but it can also be used on its own. When used alone, your recipes will be extremely dense and may need additional egg whites or baking soda to help them rise. To help this, try beating the egg whites to the soft peak stage before combining with the buckwheat flour.
Buckwheat flour may also give your baked goods a golden color that may have a slight green or chartreuse tinge. This is normal and does not affect the taste of the finished product.
Give Buckwheat Flour a Try
Buckwheat can add a rich, nutty taste, along with lots of iron, potassium and B vitamins to your baked goods. Try adding some to your gluten-free cooking and taste this ancient and popular herb.
