Category Archives: Breads

Breads, Recipes, Sandwiches

Can you make a good low carb yeast bread?

Image: Honey Wheat Bread

Nothing tastes as wonderful as homemade yeast bread directly out of the oven. It’s one of the things that isn’t found easily on a low carb lifestyle. So, I was excited to find a few recipes to make a loaf. While it requires some ingredients that aren’t available at your local grocery store and probably not even at a health food store, it’s worth the effort to order the special baking options to make a wonderful low carb yeast bread.

This recipe is actually a combination of two low carb ones I found – one for Carb Counters Low Carb Honey Wheat Bran Bread and one for  Keto bread. I played around with the ingredients to get the best -tasting balance and made a few rolls until I arrived at a bread I really like. Then I changed it a little to get a low-sodium version so my friend could have bread that works with her restrictions.

I’m including both recipes to make a loaf and halved it to make four sandwich rolls. I used vital wheat gluten, Carb Counters All Purpose Low Carb Flour, flax meal, and oat fiber to make the bread loaf, but I made the rolls without the all purpose flour. For the low sodium, I didn’t use any of the Carb Counters flour, but more of the wheat gluten and other flour.

If you are not eating gluten, you could substitute LC Foods Gluten-free Baking Flour or soy flour for the Vital Wheat Gluten,  but the net carbs will go up about two per slice on the latter.  I have not tried this with either almond flour or coconut flour, but I don’t think they will hold together sufficiently to work. Also, the dough might not rise as much with the substitutions.

Most all of the ingredients are available through Amazon, although better deals might be found at other online sources, such as Netrition.com, LC Foods, and other places that sell health food products.

Honey Wheat Bread and Rolls

Bread Ingredients

2 tablespoon Active Dry Yeast
1 cup warm water
2 teaspoons Sugar-Free Honey
2 Eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons melted Butter
1/4 cup Oat Flour
1/4 cup Wheat Bran
3/4 cup Vital Wheat Gluten Flour
1 cup DCC All Purpose Flour
1/4 cup Flax Meal
1/2 teaspoon Xanthum Gum
1/8 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Sugar Substitute

Prepare a small bread loaf pan by putting parchment paper on the bottom, then spray the bottom and sides with cooking spray.

In a small bowl, add warm water, yeast, and honey and stir. Let sit about five minutes for the yeast to bloom. If it doesn’t look frothy, then your yeast is dead. Get more yeast and start over.

In a large bowl, add all the dry ingredients and whisk together. If you want to add garlic powder, or other seasoning to the bread, add it with the dry ingredients. If you want a sweet bread, add more sugar substitute and cinnamon.

Add the yeast mixture, eggs, and oil to the flour and stir to mix it in. If the dough is too dry to absorb all the flour, add a little more warm water. Once you mix in all the flour, knead the dough for two to three minutes until it is smooth and elastic. Shape the dough into a loaf and place in the bread pan. Cover with a piece of plastic wrap sprayed on one side with baking spray and put the spray side facing the dough. Put in a warm place to rise. Let rise from 40 minutes to an hour until the dough has doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F.)

Bake bread for 30 to 35 minutes until golden brown and the bread is firm when you press on the middle. Let cool a few minutes before removing from the pan.

Makes 10 slices.

For the Sandwich Rolls:

1/4 cup Carb Counters™ All Purpose Low Carb Flour
1 cup Gluten Flour
2 tablespoons Flax Meal
1/4 cup Oat Fiber
1 tablespoon Xanthum Gum
1 tablespoons melted butter
2 teaspoons Sugar-Free Honey
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
3/4 cup warm water
1 teaspoon Mrs. Dash Garlic and Herb seasoning (optional)

Follow the instructions above for the bread, except omit the eggs.

Prepare four wells of a muffin-top pan by covering each round with parchment paper, then spray the bottom and edges. Or you can also use pot pie tins to make the rolls or free shape them on a parchment-paper-covered baking sheet.

Mix the bread and knead the dough until smooth and elastic. Separate the dough into four equal-sized pieces. Shape the first piece into a round for the roll and put in the middle of one of the pan wells or on the baking sheet. Repeat with the other four pieces. Set in a warm place to rise, cover the dough with plastic film that has been sprayed with baking spray.

Let dough rise about one hour until doubled. Preheat oven to 325 degrees (F.) Bake rolls for 12 to 15 minutes until they are browned and firm in the middle. Let cool about five minutes, then remove the rolls from the pan.

Picture: Wheat bun for sandwich

If you want to make hot dog buns, then shape the rolls into 1-1/2 inch wide logs about 5 inches long. Let rise as above, then bake.

Makes 4 rolls or buns.

Nutrition Info: Honey Wheat Bread & Buns

Photo: Low-sodium yeast buns

Low-Sodium Honey Wheat Bread

This is the same basic bread recipe without the salt and the eggs. Add more water to make up for the egg.

2 teaspoons Sugar-Free Honey
2 tablespoon Active Dry Yeast
1 cup warm water
1/4 cup Oat Flour
1/4 cup Wheat Bran
1 1/2 cup Vital Wheat Gluten Flour
1/4 cup Flax Meal
1/2 teaspoon Xanthum Gum
1 teaspoon Sugar Substitute
2 tablespoons melted Butter
1 Egg

Prepare a small bread loaf pan by putting parchment paper on the bottom, then spray the bottom and sides with cooking spray.

In a small bowl, add warm water, yeast, and honey and stir. Let sit about five minutes for the yeast to bloom. If it doesn’t look frothy, then your yeast is dead. Get more yeast and start over.

In a large bowl, add all the dry ingredients and whisk together. If you want to add garlic powder, or other seasoning to the bread, add it with the dry ingredients. If you want a sweet bread, add more sugar substitute and cinnamon.

Add the yeast mixture, egg, and oil to the flour and stir to mix it in. If the dough is too dry to absorb all the flour, add a little more warm water. Once you mix in all the flour, knead the dough for two to three minutes until it is smooth and elastic. Shape the dough into a loaf and place in the bread pan. Cover with a piece of plastic wrap sprayed on one side with baking spray and put the spray side facing the dough. Put in a warm place to rise. Let rise from 40 minutes to an hour until the dough has doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F.) Bake bread for 30 to 35 minutes until golden brown and the bread is firm when you press on the middle. Let cool a few minutes before removing from the pan.

Makes 10 slices.

Low Sodium Wheat Rolls

3/4 cup Warm Water
1 tablespoon Active Dry Yeast
1 teaspoon Sugar-Free Honey
3/4 cup Vital Wheat Gluten Flour
2 tablespoons Ground Flax Meal
1/4 cup Oat Fiber
2 teaspoons Olive Oil or Coconut Oil
2 teaspoons sugar substitute
1/2 teaspoon Xanthum Gum
1 teaspoon Mrs. Dash Garlic and Herb Seasoning (optional)

Prepare four wells of a muffin-top pan by covering each round with parchment paper, then spray the bottom and edges. Or you can also use pot pie tins to make the rolls or free shape them on a parchment-paper-covered baking sheet.

Mix the bread and knead the dough until smooth and elastic. Separate the dough into four equal-sized pieces. Shape the first piece into a round for the roll and put in the middle of one of the pan wells or on the baking sheet. Repeat with the other four pieces. Set in a warm place to rise, cover the dough with plastic film that has been sprayed with baking spray.

Let dough rise about one hour until doubled. Preheat oven to 325 degrees (F.) Bake rolls for 12 to 15 minutes until they are browned and firm in the middle. Let cool about five minutes, then remove the rolls from the pan.

If you want to make hot dog buns, then shape the rolls into 1-1/2 inch logs about 5 inches long. Let rise as above, then bake.

Makes 4 rolls or buns.

Information: Low Sodium Bread and Rolls

Breads, Recipes

If it’s Halloween, it must be Pumpkin Bread

Image: Pumpkin Loaf

I can’t believe I haven’t published a pumpkin bread recipe since pumpkin is one of my all-time-favorite flavors. This recipe is so delicious and really easy. The cream cheese adds flavor and texture to the loaf. I seldom specify a low carb flour, but in this case, I do recommend using Dixie Carb Counters All Purpose Flour to make a wonderful bread loaf. It will still turn out well using other flour replacements, such as almond flour, soy flour, or coconut flour, but not textured as beautifully.

Note if you use coconut flour, halve the amount it is replacing (1 cup of flour = 1/2 cup of coconut flour) and add two eggs or two egg whites since the rise will come from the eggs. Of course, other flour choices might change the net carb count.

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Loaf

4 ounces Cream Cheese, softened
1/4 cup Butter
1 Sugar Substitute
1/4 cup LC Foods Sweet Brown or more sugar substitute
2 tablespoons Swerve Brown sugar blend
2 Eggs
1 cup canned Pumpkin
1 1/4 cup DCC All-Purpose Flour or other low-carb flour
1/2 cups Almond Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/4 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 tablespoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
1/2 cup chopped Pecans or Walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F). Prepare a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan. I prefer using a layer of parchment paper on the bottom to prevent sticking, then spray with cooking spray over the bottom and up the sides.

In a large bowl, add the cream cheese, butter, sugar, brown sugar, and Sweet Brown (if you are using) in mixing bowl. Beat until creamed together. Beat in eggs, adding one at a time, then add the pumpkin.

In another bowl, mix the flour, soda, baking powder, salt, and spices. Whisk until mixed. Pour the dry ingredients into the egg and cream cheese mixture and stir together until the flour is mixed in and evenly moistened, but don’t over mix. Stir in the nuts. Spoon into the loaf pan and spread it evenly.

Bake for 60 to 70 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Remove and cool for 10 minutes, then remove from the pan. If the sides are stuck, use a plastic knife or thin blade to go around the edges of the pan, then invert over a plate. Let cool on a rack.

Makes 12 slices.

Image: Nutrition Info for Pumpkin Loaf

Breads, Recipes

Beer Bread with Stout

Image: Guinness Bread

Hey, folks, I missed posting this last week. Very busy few days for me and this week isn’t much better. But I wanted to share this recipe with you for Guinness Beer Bread. When I made this, I used CarbQuick for all the flour needed in it. You can use other low carb flour types or baking mixes. Almond flour and coconut flour may not hold together as well, but will probably require another egg to bind it.

This bread has a biscuit quality to it and is heavier which makes it great for soaking up sauces and gravies. Even though Guinness is a strong stout, the flavor is fairly mild in the bread. Beer acts as a rising agent when making bread, replacing yeast. Even at that, I would like to see a taller loaf that comes closer to one made with wheat flour.

I will be trying another version of beer bread in a few months as we get to soup season (aka late fall and winter), so look for that in October or November.

Low Carb Guinness Beer Bread

4 cups CarbQuick
2 tablespoons Gluten Flour (optional)
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons  sugar substitute
12 ounces Guinness stout
2 eggs, slightly beaten

Preheat oven to 375 degrees (F.)

Prepare a standard (9x5x3-inch) loaf pan by lining the bottom with parchment paper or greasing. I used a copper pan that has a lift plate in it and put parchment over the top to ensure easy removal.

In a large bowl, add the flour, baking powder, sugar substitute, and salt. Stir together to mix before adding the Guinness and eggs. Use a wooden spoon to stir the liquid into the flour until it is just blended. The dough will be lumpy.

Pour the dough into the loaf pan and smooth it to make it even. Bake for 65 to 70 minutes until the top is golden brown and the top is firm.

Let cool a few minutes, then turn on a wire rack to cool. Serve while still warm. You can keep this in the ‘fridge for about a week.

Makes 16 to 18 slices.

Breads, Recipes

Need a Substitute for Garlic Bread?

Photo: Garlic Cheese Waffle

Here’s a nice twist on a waffle to make a delicious toast to go with your savory dinner. It’s especially nice if you have anything with a sauce so you can soak up the goodness. It’s also great with chicken, pork, steak, or soups and stews. You can use buttermilk and a bit of cornmeal for extra flavor if you wish, but they do add a few carbs to each serving. The flax meal helps to bring some of the cornmeal texture and a nutty flavor, so the waffle is quite tasty without the added ingredients.

For a low carb flour, you can use almond flour, soy flour, coconut flour, or any low carb flour mix such as Bakesquick or Carbquick. If you use coconut flour, use 3 tablespoons instead of 1/3 cup low carb flour and add 1/4 cup egg whites.

Garlic Cheese Waffle

1/3 cup Low Carb Flour
2 tablespoons Golden Flax meal, ground
1 tablespoon Yellow Cornmeal (optional)
1 Egg, fresh
1/4 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/4 teaspoon Garlic powder
1 tablespoon Olive Oil
1 tablespoon Grated Parmesan & Romano Cheese
1 tablespoon Buttermilk(optional)
1 tablespoon Butter
1/4 cup shredded Mozzarella or Cheddar Cheese

Preheat your waffle iron while preparing the mix.

In a medium bowl, add low carb flour, Flax meal, egg, oil, Parmesan cheese, baking powder, and garlic powder and mix together until blended. Add buttermilk and stir it in. If the batter is too thick, thin with a little water. This should spread easily but not too quickly over the waffle iron grids.

Pour batter over the bottom plate of the waffle iron, close lid and cook the recommended time for your waffle maker. Mine takes about two minutes to cook. Watch the waffle iron for the steam coming out and when it is almost gone, try to lift the lid. If it resists, cook the waffle a little longer. Once it is done, the top will open easily.

Photo: Waffles under the broiler

Spread butter over the top and sprinkle mozzarella or cheddar cheese on top, then put under the broiler for about a minute to melt the cheese.

Delicious with any savory meal but especially good with Italian-style meals.

Makes 2 servings.

Photo: Nutrition Info

Breads, Italian Inspired Recipes, Recipes

A quick bread recipe to end the month

Photo: {an of focaccia bread

Want a quick and easy bread to make? This is a focaccia-style flat bread that can be made into sandwiches, a soup or stew bread, or just toast and butter to serve with jam and tea. Unlike focaccia, this is a flat bread made without yeast. All the rise in it comes from the eggs and a little bit of baking powder.

I used CarbQuick, a low carb flour that behaves a little like Bisquick, but with lots fewer carbohydrates. You can also make it with almond flour or any other low carb flour. I also used a little coconut flour in it, but I wouldn’t recommend making the whole thing with coconut flour.

Focaccia-style Flat Bread

2 large Eggs
1/4 cup Egg whites
1/4 cup Canola Oil
1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasonings, crushed
1 tablespoon Parmesan Cheese, grated
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 cup Carbquick
2 tablespoons Coconut Flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F.) Prepare a small baking pan (about 10×6-inches) by cutting a piece of parchment paper to fit. I used a toaster oven-sized pan.

In a medium bowl, mix the flour, salt, baking powder, and seasonings together. In another bowl, whisk the eggs, egg whites, and oil together. Pour into the dry ingredients and stir until they are combined. Use your hands if needed. Add the Parmesan cheese and mix it into the dough.

Turn the dough into the baking pan and spread it evenly across the pan.

Bake for about 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Makes 6 slices of bread.

Image: Nutrition Facts