This post features one of my favorite gluten-free baking mixes of all time: Hand + Heart Gluten Free Sweet Dough Mix. Some of the following recipes were created as sponsored posts in partnership with Hand + Heart Gluten Free (formerly Lorraine’s Gluten-Free). This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosures.
If you’ve followed me here at Good For You Gluten Free for a few years now, you know I’m a little obsessed with Hand + Heart Gluten-Free Sweet Dough Mix.
This mix has been a game-changer in my gluten-free baking journey because it enabled me to make yeasted and gluten-free sweet bread recipes with little fuss.
Did You Know? Hand + Heart Gluten-Free Sweet Dough Mix was included in my May 2024 Love Me Gluten-Free subscription box. This post will help find the perfect recipe to put the mix to good use.
Most people in the gluten-free world know that making gluten-free bread and anything with yeast is nearly impossible. The dough is always sticky, and the result is dry and crumbly. I’ve tried making dozens of gluten-free cinnamon rolls over the years, and all were lackluster.
So when I discovered Hand + Heart Gluten Free, I decided, why not, let’s give it a try. And I’m so glad I did.
Hand + Heart is made from the perfect blend of dry ingredients—including flour and sugar—and is a canvas for making many doughy and delicious baked goods. There are so many possibilities and so little time.
And one package of Hand + Heart Gluten-Free Sweet Dough Mix can be used to make two different baked goods. Once you prepare the dough as instructed on the bag, you’ll divide it in half. You can use half of the dough for one recipe, like cinnamon rolls, and the other half for a different recipe, like babka.
Below are nine dough gluten-free recipes you can make using this Sweet Dough Mix. These recipes are perfect for Easter, Mother’s Day, Christmas morning, or any day of the year. For even more recipes, visit handandheartglutenfree.com.
(1) Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls
I’ve tried and tried to make gluten-free cinnamon rolls that taste good, but every time, my cinnamon rolls have been dry and crumbly.
A few years ago, I watched Lorraine Fagela, the owner of Hand + Heart, demonstrate how easy it is to make cinnamon rolls using her Sweet Dough Mix. I immediately purchased a bag and then made the most amazing gluten-free cinnamon rolls. I was hooked!
What I love about this mix is that Lorraine has measured out the ingredients for you. You don’t have to buy multiple flours; everything is included inside the pouch.
You prepare the dough as instructed on the bag by adding a few wet ingredients to the mix. Then allow the dough to chill and rise before proceeding with this amazing gluten-free cinnamon roll recipe.
While my cinnamon roll recipe is for traditional cinnamon and brown sugar rolls, you an also try these wonderful cinnamon roll variations created by Lorraine and her team:
(2) Gluten-Free Cinnamon Roll Bites
If you love cinnamon rolls, you might like this shortcut cinnamon roll bites recipe instead. There’s no rolling out the dough. Instead, you’ll just grab a chunk of dough, roll it into a ball, and then proceed with your recipe.
You’ll notice that I coated my cinnamon roll bites with a decadent cream cheese icing.
Get my Gluten-Free Cinnamon Roll Bites recipe. (I include the icing recipe too.)
(3) Gluten-Free Monkey Bread
A variation of the cinnamon roll bites is to make monkey bread with the Sweet Dough Mix. Monkey Bread is a popular pull-apart sweet bread typically baked in a bundt pan.
Once again, you make the Hand + Heart Sweet Dough Mix as instructed on the bag, divide the dough to form small dough balls, place the balls in a bundt pan, and “season” with brown sugar and butter—or whatever flavors you like. Some people add variations like apples and honey or cinnamon and raisins.
Get my Gluten-Free Monkey Bread recipe. It’s sweet and channels a sweet caramel flavor.
(4) Gluten-Free Soft Pretzels
One surprising treat I like to make with the Hand + Heart Sweet Dough Mix is soft pretzels. This mix is perfect for any yeasted sweet bread recipe, including doughy soft pretzels.
Again, you’ll make the dough as instructed. You’ll then shape the pretzels into their signature twist, boil them in baking soda, and bake them in the oven.
The soft pretzels turn out doughy and delicious. I top mine with everything bagel seasoning, but you could also sprinkle them with cinnamon and brown sugar, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or flaky salt.
Get my Gluten-Free Soft Pretzel recipe.
(5) Gluten-Free Babka
Babka is a sweet twisted bread popular in Jewish cuisine, although anyone can appreciate and enjoy a good babka. I always make chocolate babka, but a lot of people like cinnamon-flavored babka or other variations.
My chocolate babka starts with Hand + Heart’s Sweet Dough Mix, which I prepare according to the directions on the bag. I then spread Nutella on top of the rolled-out dough and twist it into the signature babka shape before baking.
Once it bakes, I brush it with sweet syrup to make it shimmer and shine.
Get my Gluten-Free Chocolate Babka recipe.
(6) Copycat Krispy Kreme Donuts
Since I went gluten-free 12 years ago after being diagnosed with celiac disease, I had to give up America’s favorite yeasted donut from Krispy Kreme, well, of course, until I found Hand + Heart Sweet Dough Mix.
I’m still working on perfecting my donut-making skills (it’s been the most challenging for me personally), but you can absolutely use Hand & Heart Sweet Dough Mix to make dough for fried yeast donuts. And let me tell you, these donuts are the real deal!
Get my Gluten-Free Yeasted Donuts recipe.
(7) Gluten-Free Jelly Donuts
I’ve had a gluten-free jelly donut recipe on my website for a long time before I found Hand + Heart Gluten-Free Sweet Dough Mix, so I’m leaving the recipe intact. But honestly, you could make jelly donuts with the Sweet Dough Mix, and they would turn out just as good—or dare I say—better than my recipe.
All you need to do is make the Sweet Dough Mix, shape the donuts, fry them in oil, roll them in sugar, and fill them with jelly. It’s a lot of work but much less work than starting from scratch. And you’re guaranteed good results every time.
(8) Gluten-Free Pineapple Buns
I haven’t made this recipe, but I found it on the Hand + Heart website, and it looks amazing. Did you know that Pineapple Buns are native to Hong Kong and don’t actually contain pineapple?!? The pineapple name refers to the crisscross pattern on the crust.
For a soft, tender, and gluten-free pineapple bun, you’ll need to start with a bag of Hand + Heart Sweet Dough Mix. And the rest of the recipe can be found at Hand + Heart.
(9) Gluten-Free Brioche
I must admit, I don’t think I’ve ever had brioche, but thanks to Lorraine and her recipe for gluten-free brioche, I might get to try brioche one day.
Brioche is a bread made from a dough that uses eggs, sugar, and butter. Bingo! Hand + Heart Sweet Dough Mix is made with all of those ingredients, which helps to give this brioche just the right amount of sweetness along with the perfect texture.
What Will You Make First?
As you can see, there are a lot of doughy and delicious recipes you can make with Hand + Heart Sweet Dough Mix, from gooey cinnamon rolls to savory soft pretzels.
If you’re ready to get started, visit handandheartglutenfree.com, where you’ll find the Hand + Heart Sweet Dough Mix along with other great mixes and the company’s signature all-purpose gluten-free flour. Use the code GOODFORYOU for 10% off your first order at handandheartglutenfree.com.
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