Bakerita: 100+ No-Fuss Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, and Refined Sugar-Free Recipes for the Modern Baker

by Rachel Conners

Amazingly delicious and beautiful gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar–free desserts from the popular Bakerita blog

Rachel Conners began her blog as a hobby to share baking recipes with friends, but when she started to focus more on gluten-free, paleo, and vegan recipes to make things she could share with her sister, who was following a strict diet due to health concerns, Rachel quickly realized she was onto something. Bakerita surged in popularity as fans flocked to it for delicious and beautifully photographed recipes. Interest in gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar–free foods continues to grow in popularity, yet there are remarkably few books available focused just on desserts, and even fewer with recipes that even beginner bakers can make at home. That's where Bakerita comes in, offering recipes for everything from breakfast treats like Lavender-Lemon Raspberry Scones, pies and tarts such as Chocolate Mousse Pie, cakes including Mocha Chip Cheesecake, and updated all-time favorites like chocolate chip cookies, all made without any hard-to-find ingredients.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food, Reference, Vegan

288 pages, Hardcover

Published March 24, 2020

Reviews

[Nomnivor · Rating 1 out of 5]

Every single recipe contains sugar of some kind, like coconut sugar or maple syrup. I'm not impressed. Nobody here did their job.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found a lot of great recipes in this!

[Jeanette Durkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of good recipes that I look forward to trying. I'm gluten-free and starting to cut out dairy, so this book should provide solutions for sweets!

[Kristina]

Terribly indexed. I also have an issue with labeling recipes as vegan and then listing non-vegan ingredients (without noting a replacement). Sure, she states in the introduction what replacements to make, but someone who isn't vegan and is making this for a vegan might not know to make the switch. There are also loads of other non-vegan recipes that are not marked as vegan, so, maybe it's an editing issue? Either way, it's a problem.


Made the Brookies. They turned out great.

[Punk · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the recipes in this book are gluten free, dairy free (or, when using ghee, lactose free), soy free, and refined sugar free. Many are vegan, and most are paleo. Each recipe indicates up top what it's free of and what diet(s) it meets. Headnotes are chatty, but describe the item's taste and texture in addition to its personal significance.

This covers breakfast and dessert, so no savory bakes like breads or crackers, just an everything bagel scone that looks like a lot of fun. This is mostly sweet stuff: muffins, scones, granolas, quick breads, baked donuts, cakes, cupcakes, pies, tarts, no-bake no-cheese cheesecakes, crumbles, cookies, brownies and bars, and a final chapter with candies, chocolates, sweet sauces, and nut butters. There's a lovely picture for almost every recipe. Measurements are in US volume and metric (grams), and there's storage advice for nearly everything.

Main ingredients are almond flour, coconut flour, tapioca starch, and arrowroot starch, but there are a few recipes with oats. Coconut sugar, honey, and maple syrup are used as sweeteners, nothing you'd have to go out of your way to find. Other ingredients include: coconut oil, coconut butter, nut butters, ghee, olive oil, coconut milk and cream, dairy-free milk, cacao (or cocoa) powder, chocolate, cocoa butter, eggs, and flax eggs. There's coconut or almond in nearly everything, but no gums, and most recipes use flax eggs instead of eggs.

If you're not interested in Conners's personal journey skip the "My Story" part of the introduction where she talks about "healthy" eating and her and her family's health issues, but the second part where she discusses the ingredients she uses is more neutral in tone.

In the back, a thorough index includes entries for major ingredients, always a nice touch.

You can check out Conners's food blog at Bakerita, which includes savory dishes, though be aware the oldest recipes aren't gluten free.

[Friederike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aufmachung
Das Buch „Bakerita“ von Rachel Conners ist mit einem Hardcover eingebunden. Es hat sogar ein Lesebändchen. Zu den meisten Rezepten gibt es im Buch Fotos. Die Zutaten zu den Rezepten gibt es bei unimedica oder in gut sortierenden Reformhäusern zu kaufen.
Umsetzung
Wie kam Rachel Conners auf die Idee glutenfrei, zuckerfrei und milcheiweißfrei zu backen? Rachel Conners buk immer schon gerne. Ihre Schwester bekam trotz dem sie gewissenhaft auf ihre Gesundheit achtete Lyme Bakterien. Sie bat ihre Schwester ihr einen Kuchen zu backen und so hat ich Rachel Conners mit dem Backen nach Paleo Diät beschäftigt.
Die Autorin hat schon mehrere Jahre Erfahrung mit den speziellen Backanforderungen. Sie möchte gerne, dass die Leser jedes Rezept mit einem Seufzer der Verzückung essen können und danach noch ein langer Spaziergang möglich ist.
Ihr Mehltipp ist Kokosmehl, welches 3 mal soviel Flüssigkeit aufsaugt wie anderes Mehl.
Eier können einfach durch gemahlenen Leinsamen im Verhältnis von 1 Eßl Leinsamen und 2 ½ Eßl Wasser ersetzt werden. Noch 5-10 Minuten quellen lassen und schon ist ein Ei ersetzt.
Die Rezepte sind farblich in Gruppen zusammengefasst.
Damit die Rezepte auf eine Buchseite passen, ist die Schrift sehr schmal. Für mich ist die Schrift nicht so gut lesbar, auch weil die Schriftfarbe sehr hell ist.
Fazit
Alltagstaugliches Backbuch zum glutenfreien, zuckerfreien und milchfreien Backen

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really happy to see that this book uses natural sweeteners in lieu of cane sugar (unlike baking books that rely on xylitol and other chemical-y or more processed products, like Keto Fat Bombs, Sweets & Treats: Over 100 Recipes and Ideas for Low-Carb Breads, Cakes, Cookies and More emphasizes). Almost all of the recipes use a combination of fine almond flour and arrowroot. If these work for you, you are in luck with these recipes, which look simple enough for beginning home bakers. I have reacted negatively to almond flour and to coconut products, so there's not much in this book I can start with, with my reactions and allergies as they are.

Recommended for most public libraries, and if I could eat almond flour and arrowroot I would absolutely buy this for myself!

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful and lovely book! I enjoy sweets but prefer to eat a gluten-free diet and use nutritious ingredients. This book had the loveliest recipes and most decadent photographs. I look forward to trying many recipes, including Baked Chocolate Donuts, One Hour Cinnamon Rolls, Vanilla Bundt Cake with Blood Orange Glaze, Paleo Chocolate Melting Cakes, Apple Crumb Pie, Nut-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Brookies. This book would be a wonderful gift for anyone who enjoys baking, especially those who follow a gluten-free or vegan diet.

Thank you, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley, for a digital ARC!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many delicious-sounding recipes! They’re all pretty complex, though, since these are meant to be vegan, gluten-free, refined-sugar-free, etc. etc., but oh man, if you have the time and the ingredients on-hand, the recipes on offer here sound sweet without being sickly sweet. I mean, you don’t have to be vegan to be tempted by a chocolate cake with rich chocolate ganache. Or an apple-spice layer cake. Or a chocolate-hazelnut tart with strawberries??? Oh man my taste buds are going insane just thinking about it. And if it’s even vaguely good for me, that’s an excuse for me to eat it.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Vegan Baking book! It is a great option to use if you want to make easy, vegan recipes. For the most part, it aims to be a healthier cookbook. I've used monk fruit instead of coconut sugar and the recipes came out delicious. For those who are allergic to almonds, almost all recipes in this book require almond flour. If not all recipes, at least a good amount of them. I've made 4 or 5 recipes. To make it healthier, choose healthier chocolate with a higher cacao ratio and look at the grams of sugar per serving

[Rebecca Peplinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bakerita is an inspiring gluten-free cookbook that gives me hope as someone who isn’t a natural baker. I haven’t tried a recipe yet, but the stunning photos and wholesome ingredients make me want to jump in—especially the pistachio thumbprint cookies with raspberry jam! I love that it offers sweet treats I can feel good about baking for my twins, who have celiac. This book feels like a welcoming guide for anyone wanting to bake with love and confidence.

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! This book is a must-buy for anyone who enjoys a treat! My friends can never tell I made her recipes with healthy ingredients. I have been following her blog for years and love everything she makes. Now that I have the book I cannot wait to continue to make all her delicious treats. Bakerita is the best!

[Molly]

This is a good one to remember when I need to make something for the title diets. Of course, by its nature, it may require getting some flours or sweeteners that I don't normally have on hand, but the ingredients and recipes are really pretty simple and not very exotic. (I'd rather go find coconut flour than xylitol). No stars to give, since I haven't made any of the recipes yet!

[Valerie R · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a baking gem! I like to bake grain free and my family doesn’t miss the grains. My dad requests the chocolate chip cookies (minus the sea salt - haha). Every recipe that I’ve made is excellent. My son, husband, and I love the Bundt cakes, the nectarine & blueberry crumble, and all cupcakes the best! I am working my way through it with joy!

[Chocolate & Croissants · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good collection of recipes that allows you to bake in a healthier fashion without using hard to find ingredients. The recipes are also interchangeable. I didn’t have the right flour and still came out with a great recipe. There is a good sellection of recipe ideas

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tried a few recipes and liked them. Esp. the pumpkin pie and pistachio cookies. Didn't love the fact the a lot of the recipes relied on almond flour, but that is just because my sis-in-law can't have almonds.

[Sarah Uren · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's VERY rare that I come across a cookbook, in which ALL of the recipes are calling my name! Not only is this GF and vegan, everything looks delicious!
SO beautifully photographed and so many sweets to try! Love it! Worth having on the shelves for quick reference!

[Onceinabluemoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hands down THE most gorgeous photography! We all know one pic is worth a thousand words, and calories! Sweets galore, of course I am happy!

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the cookie & brownies and bars chapters most, but also a fan of candy & confections and sauces!

[Sarah]

Really enjoyed the vegan recipes in this, but can't rate it as they aren't all vegan.

[Aasinathena · Rating 5 out of 5]

too good to be TRUE book !! So fascinating !!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for delicious dairy free and refined sugar free desserts, this is your cookbook! You wouldn't even know that they don't have dairy or sugar.

[Dray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Im not gluten free and so the book would be rated higher if I were. That being said, the book has some great recipes for anyone. I was pleased to find so many chocolate centered recipes.

[Rose Regan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mmmm, yummy!

[Div Manickam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book with inspiring baking ideas 😊

[Sarah Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are GF & DF (gluten free and dairy free), then you need this book *and* you need to be following Bakerita on instagram. She is amazing. She's Vegan, so that might appeal, too.

[Joline Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buying this! Made 3 things so far and all were awesome. Before returning it to the library, I'm ordering it from Amazon! Very simple ingredients, easy to work with!

[Cherop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great recipes to try for all the specialized diets.

[KathleenB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent baking book but not a lot of good clear info on vegan etc swaps, and a lot of really similar flavor profiles.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll be buying this one -- so many things I want to make!