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I made no less than about 12 batches of these gluten-free yeast dinner rolls until I got them just right! Not kidding. I tried different flours, adding eggs, and varying amounts of yeast. Pretty sure I was having a dance party in my kitchen when I finally got it!
I think it’s important that I share this recipe with everyone!
The Flour is Key
One little secret I have is the kind of flour that we like to use for breads/pizza crusts. This very special flour is called Caputo Fiore Glut. Caputo is an Italian company based in Naples, AKA the birthplace of pizza. We use this gluten-free flour for our pizzas we make.
In the past we have special-ordered the flour from one of our local Italian restaurants. But, we typically order it off of Amazon. One of the reasons it’s great for these types of recipes is that it is very fine. It doesn’t have a gritty texture. Another factor that helps in the consistency of these rolls and our pizza dough is that this flour contains wheat starch. Let me explain about why I’ve decided it’s safe for myself to consume.
What Exactly Is Gluten-Free Wheat Starch
I completely understand why it’s frightening to see the word “wheat” in a gluten-free product. Yes, that’s VERY true that we shouldn’t be eating products with regular old wheat in it. But the starch of the wheat grain is a completely different part from the protein portion, otherwise known as gluten. This gluten protein is what causes the auto-immune reaction in those with Celiac Disease.
Please note that if you have a wheat allergy, you absolutely cannot consume this product! Wheat starch is still wheat (it’s just not gluten).
I found a helpful explanation on the Gluten-Free Living website describing the process is for separating out the wheat starch:
“The main components of wheat are fiber, starch and gluten protein. Extraction involves milling the wheat into flour, making dough and washing out the starch. Starch dissolves in water but gluten does not, so the gluten-protein sediment sinks to the bottom. Then the starch solution can be drained off and dried.“
The FDA does also allow wheat starch in gluten-free foods if they are labeled gluten-free and can confirm that the proper testing has been done.
Italians Just Know What They’re Doing
You will also notice this green label on the bag of gluten-free Caputo flour. This green label denotes that the product is registered with the Italian Ministry of Health Gluten-Free Foods.
I did quite a bit of research regarding this symbol. This proved to be quite difficult because everything I found was written in Italian – a language which I do NOT speak or read. This symbol means that it is on a national registry for foods that are safe for people with Celiac Disease to consume.
In order to get this green symbol, the products need to meet certain regulations by the Italian Celiac Association (AIC). AIC might sound familiar to you because they are more well-known for how they certify restaurants. If you haven’t heard yet, Italy is amazing for gluten-free and celiac-safe restaurants. Here is another resource with a list of requirements by the AIC: https://www.italianfoodexcellence.com/gluten-free-certification/.
Here are a few more links to resources regarding gluten-free product testing, the AIC, and the Italian Ministry of Health’s Gluten-Free Foods:
Italian Ministry of Health Registry of Gluten-Free Foods
Did you know that Italians with Celiac Disease can also get a monthly stipend from the government to help pay for their gluten-free foods? That’s amazing!!! This green symbol also indicates the products meet certain requirements and are eligible to be purchased with the stipend from that program.
Celiac Disease Foundation has a nice explanation on their website about the steps Italy takes to help their residents with Celiac Disease. You can read about it HERE.
Another reason that I feel comfortable eating this product with wheat starch in it is because I have been to Italy. They know what they are doing when it comes to gluten-free foods. Italians take it seriously. I am sure that during my travels there in 2018 that I consumed products with wheat starch when I dined out. My time there was some of the most glorious couple of weeks since my diagnosis. Gluten-free foods are available everywhere. And the taste and texture was just like all the other regular foods there. I have a full blog post about my trip to Italy with lots of photos of all the yummy food I was lucky enough to indulge in!
I Really Want To Make This Easy For You, But…
Even though this Caputo flour is what we typically use for breads/pizza dough in our house that doesn’t mean you have to as well. I understand that it’s not as readily available as the flour blends you can purchase on your next run to the grocery store. And I also know that some people might be hesitant to use products with wheat starch.
For those reasons, I did also test this recipe using the Cup4Cup flour which I have been using recently. I like the finer texture of this flour compared to Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten-Free Flour Blend. I have been a loyal Bob’s Red Mill user since the beginning of my diagnosis, but I have noticed it can be dry and kind of gritty so I am expanding my horizons and trying some other options recently.
I’ll be completely honest with you. The Caputo flour just works better. Because it is so fine and because it is made with certain ingredients it absorbs the liquid better and it gives a nice stretch in the bread. This stretch and chewiness is what we love about regular breads. You can still use the Cup4Cup with this recipe, but they will be denser, drier, and flatter. The flavor is there, but the texture is just not perfect yet. I can keep working on that for you!
Gluten-Free Bread Dough vs. Regular Bread Dough
Not all gluten-free yeast dinner rolls are the same. And this dough is not like regular dough. There is no kneading, no bread hook on the mixer, and no double-proofing. The consistency of this gluten-free yeast dinner roll dough is kind of like a thick batter, not a dough.
You’ll want to use a regular paddle attachment on your mixer. And then I scoop this wet mixture out of the bowl with my medium cookie scoop which I love and use for lots of things! Then I cover it tightly and put it in my somewhat warm oven to proof, which is when the yeast has time to release the carbon dioxide to make the dough expand and rise.
Yeast
Yeast is a beast of it’s own. The quality of your yeast can make a big difference. Expired yeast may not bloom and then you’ll waste all this time and energy on rolls that don’t rise. I like to use the Fleischmann’s Active Dry Yeast (not the Instant). Just follow the directions on the back of the package to activate the yeast.
Proofing a yeast dough requires a certain temperature for the yeast to be happy and to grow. You can do a room temperature proof on the counter if the temperature is at 75° Fahrenheit. My house is never that warm. So I do a warmer proof in my oven. I preheat it to the lowest temperature (which is 170° on my oven), turn it off, and let the temperature come down to about 100° before I put the dough in to proof. I do have an oven thermometer I can hang in to make sure it’s warm, but you don’t want it too warm because anything above 115° Fahrenheit can either kill the yeast or you’ll over-proof the dough and then you’ll have rolls with big air pockets.
Dough before proofing. 
Dough after proofing.
You can also put it in the cold oven and then put a glass dish on the shelf with about an inch of boiling water. This will keep it nice and warm and moist in the oven.
These rolls can be finicky so I will give very detailed instructions in the recipe. I will walk you through it step-by-step and provide some photos of what you are looking for every inch of the way!
Gluten-Free Yeast Dinner Rolls
Ingredients
For the Rolls
- 3 ½ Cups Gluten-Free Flour Blend – Like Caputo Fiore Glut (a fine flour blend from Italy that can be purchased on Amazon)
- 6 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar
- 1 Teaspoon Salt
- 2 Cups Milk – 2% or Whole Milk
- 5 Tablespoons Butter
- 4 Tablespoons Extra melted butter for brushing on rolls before and after baking
For the Yeast
- 1 Packet Active Dry Yeast – I prefer to use active dry yeast and not instant
- 1/4 Cup Lukewarm water – Temperature between 110° and 115°
- 1/2 Teaspoon Granulated Sugar
Instructions
To activate the yeast
- Add the yeast packet and 1/2 teaspoon of sugar to 1/4 cup of the lukewarm water. Use a food thermomenter to make sure that the temperature is between 110° and 115° so that the yeast can activate it. You can kill the yeast if the water is too hot and then your rolls won't rise.
- Let this sit for about 15 minutes, until it "blooms" which means that the yeast comes alive. It will look sort of foamy/fuzzy and it you won't be able to see any yeast granules in the water anymore.
- If the yeast doesn't bloom during this time then your yeast is "dead" and won't work. You'll need to start over.
To create the rest of the dough
- In a mixing bowl, add in the flour, sugar, and salt. Make sure the paddle attachment is on the mixer. To measure the flour correctly for this recipe, I like to scoop it gently into the measuring cup and then level it off. You don't want to dig the measuring cup into the bag of flour because it gets too compacted. Then there will be too much flour in the dough.
- Warm the milk and butter together and check the temperature to get it between 110° and 115° just like you did for the yeast. Use the microwave for this step and check it in 15 second increments until you get to the desired temperature.Pour this into the flour mixture.
- When the yeast is bloomed add that into the mixing bowl. Mix everything together on slow for about a minute so that it starts to combine. Scrape down the sides. Then mix on medium for 3-4 more minutes. You want it smooth with no clumps. It will be a very sticky consistency, but it still needs to hold it's shape (somewhat).
- Warm up your proofing area to get it to about 100° Fahreneheit.
- If you are using a non-stick pan, spray with cooking spray. Scoop the dough into a 9×13 inch baking pan (metal works best – non-stick is even better). You'll want to have 4 rows going across the top and 6 rows going down.
- Wet your fingers and pat down and smooth the tops very gently.
- Cover with plastic wrap and make sure it's tight on the top. Then cover with a towel and place into your proofing area.
- Let these sit for one hour until they have proofed enough to be doubled their original size.
- After they are done proofing, remove them from the oven and then preheat it to 350° Fahrenheit.
- Remove the plastic wrap from the top of the pan and very gently brush the tops of the dough with melted butter. Put the pan into the preheated oven and bake for 20 minutes. The tops will be golden brown.
- Brush the warm rolls with more melted butter and sprinkle with sea salt. These are best served warm, but they can be stored in an airtight container for a few days and then warmed up in the microwave.
Notes
- This recipe can be cut in half. If you are doing that you’ll want to get a food scale to measure out the yeast just right – you are looking to get 3.5 grams. If you don’t have a food scale, you’ll need to measure out 1 ⅛ teaspoons. Also, these work great in a round cake pan if making only 12 rolls.
As you’ve noticed, there is also a lot of dairy in this recipe. I cannot guarantee that these would turn out if using a dairy-free alternative. But if you do it and it works, please comment below to share your success!
If you’re looking for another recipe using this Caputo Fiore Glut flour then check out my Gluten-Free New York Style Bagels recipe!
Bread
I received a question from a reader if this recipe will work for making a loaf of bread. And YES it does, with just a few modifications.
- Reduce the amount of sugar in the original recipe to 3 Tablespoons. The sweetness in the original recipe is great for the dinner rolls, but it’s too much for regular sandwich bread.
- This recipe makes a decent amount of dough so I used my 10 x5 inch bread pan. If you don’t have a pan that size, then you can just separate the batter in half and use two smaller loaf pans.
- Pour the batter in the bread pan and spread it evenly with a spatula. You don’t need to brush it with melted butter or anything before/after baking. Proof in the oven for one hour just like the rolls.
- Bake at 350° for about 30-35 minutes or until the crust on top is a solid brown color and it sounds hollow if you lightly tap on it.
- Let it cool completely before slicing. You can store it in an airtight container on the counter for a few days or freeze it for later.
Remember to PIN this recipe for gluten-free yeast dinner rolls for future!
**As an added bonus, if anyone is interested to know if I tested this flour with my Nima Gluten Sensor. Yes! I have tested at least 3 of the orders we’ve gotten, both dry flour and the final product, and it has been gluten-free every time!
Thank you for this fantastic recipe. I have made it 3 times and it is great every time. I am looking forward to more recipes using the GF Caputo flour.
Hi Nancy!! Thank you so much for sharing that with me – I’m thrilled to hear that you like this recipe. 😉 I am working on more Caputo GF flour recipes for you!
These are SO GOOD! i am so excited to try the bagels! I have made both the rolls and the loaf of bread. A donut repine with this flour would be AWESOME!! Thanks for your recipes!!
Allison, I am so so happy you enjoyed these rolls!! I agree that donuts would be perfect with this flour. I’m going to attempt a cream puff this weekend so I’ll be sure to let you know how that goes!!
Yum!! How were they? So, when I make my tolls, the dough kind of flattens when I scoop it out, and they still rise and get fluffy and are delicious, but they kind of meld together, and you can’t see the lines of where each roll is super well. Does that make sense? I would add a picture, but don’t see how to. Do you know why it might be doing this? It’s happened more than once. Does my dough need more flour? Should I bear the dough longer?
Hi Allison, I have a couple thoughts on why the rolls might be getting too big and you can’t see where each one starts and ends. First, you can try to separate them farther apart before proofing. Also, they. might be over-proofing. You could maybe try to proof them for a little less time. Or at a lower temperature. Sometimes when they proof too warm or too fast they kind of blow up really big and fast with big air pockets. Those are just my initial thoughts. Sorry I don’t have the ability to add photos in the comments here, but if you want to send me an email at kari@thesavoryceliac.com we can talk through it there, too!
The cream puffs turned out absolutely amazing!!! I’ll post them soon!
My dough. Was just liquid, I poured in a bread pan.
I tried adding more flour and ran out of it before it got thicker.
Not a favourite.
Hi, Eve! I’m sorry to hear these didn’t work out for you – it sounds like your measurements were off.
Hi Kari,
Your recipe doesn’t need xanthan gum? Because all gluten free recipes call for xanthan gum if I remember correctly!
Can I also bake the dinner roll in 6 cup muffin pan? I don’t have a big bake pan like yours. Thank you!
Hi Shirley!! Actually if you are using a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend (like Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1 or Cup4Cup or this Caputo Fiore Glut that I used in this recipe) they already include xanthan gum so then you don’t need to add extra. Now, if you’re mixing your own flour blend from scratch then you’d definitely need to add it. But don’t add extra if you’re using a packaged flour blend that already has it!! I definitely think you can try to make it in the 6 cup muffin pan – that would make a great shape. Let me know how they turn out!
I just tried this recipe and they turned out AWESOME! Thank you for the recipe and your detailed instructions. I only had rapid rise yeast, so looked up how to substitute that for the active dry yeast (1 3/4 tsp instead of the normal full package). These were beautiful, springy, and unbelievably tasty. Thank you again!
Hi Steve! I’m thrilled you tried them and they turned out so well for you. I am going to start working on some more recipes using the Caputo flour because these seem to be a hit with people! Thanks again for your comment!
Awesome recipe! Thank you so much for sharing the recipe, which is amazing!!!! I have also experimented in adapting recipes for at least 10 years since the household is Celiac, or gluten free. I love the Caputo flour, it also makes nice cream puffs. You are an angel for sharing this recipe. The rolls toast nicely and make great breakfast egg “McMuffins” which I make using the microwave, and then add cheese and ham.
Hi Robyn! Thank you so much for sharing this note with me. I am so glad you like the recipe. McMuffins is a GREAT idea with these! Yum!
Can this recipe be used for bread?
Hi Michael!! Thanks for the question. Yes, it can be used to make bread with just a few slight modifications. I updated the blog post with the information toward the bottom of the article. Here are the instructions I included to make bread:
1. Reduce the amount of sugar in the original recipe to 3 Tablespoons. The sweetness in the original recipe is great for the dinner rolls, but it’s too much for regular sandwich bread.
2. This recipe makes a decent amount of dough so I used my 10 x5 inch bread pan. If you don’t have a pan that size, then you can just separate the batter in half and use two smaller loaf pans.
3. Pour the batter in the bread pan and spread it evenly with a spatula. You don’t need to brush it with melted butter or anything before/after baking. Proof in the oven for one hour just like the rolls.
4. Bake at 350° for about 30-35 minutes or until the crust on top is a solid brown color and it sounds hollow if you lightly tap on it.
5. Let it cool completely before slicing. You can store it in an airtight container on the counter for a few days or freeze it for later.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
Thanks!
Do you have any other recipes using Caputo flour? I just bought some & am eager to start using it, but I’m having a very hard time finding recipes in English!!
Hi Diane!! I don’t have any other recipes yet, but I am working on GF Pizza Hut breadsticks using it so I’ll let you know when that one is all done! I also tried cinnamon rolls one time, but the dough wasn’t quite right so I need to keep working on it. My husband uses the recipe on the bag for pizza dough and it turns out perfect. We do have an Ooni portable pizza oven that we use so I can’t say if it that dough works as well in the oven. I totally get what you’re saying about not being able to find many recipes online that we can understand!
I follow the Caputo pizza dough makings, cook each of the 4 small pizzas separately on a stone in a basic kitchen gas oven, they are always amazing! Today, my husband I are going to make your rolls for the first time. Thanks for making this possible!
Thank you for sharing that with me, Joelle! We also do the Caputo pizzas and we have an Ooni portable pizza oven. It turns out so tasty! I don’t think any other flour would even be a close second for GF pizzas! I hope you like the dinner rolls!!