What Is Gluten-Free Cheesecake?

Gluten-free cheesecake is made from products that do not contain any gluten proteins, which include items such as wheat, barley, and rye. In a cheesecake, gluten is usually found within the crust, as the filling rarely contains any of these products. Individuals often look for gluten-free cheesecake as part of an overall gluten-free diet, in order to avoid products that cause irritation and problems from a gluten intolerance. This type of cheesecake can be made by substituting other ingredients that do not include gluten, and can be purchased at the store or made at home.

People who choose not to eat gluten often suffer from an intolerance of the protein. When eaten, it can cause problems such as irritation of the stomach, depression, or bloating. Celiac disease is an extreme form of gluten intolerance that can cause important nutrients not to be absorbed into the body. It is extremely important for individuals diagnosed with a gluten problem to avoid it by substituting other ingredients in its place.

Cheesecake filling generally contains such ingredients as cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and cream. Other versions add fruit or other types of cheeses, such as ricotta, but for the most part, the filling does not contain anything that contains gluten protein. The main source of gluten in cheesecake is in the crust, which can be made out of wheat products in traditional cheesecake.

A gluten-free flour mix needs to be substituted for regular flour when making a gluten-free cheesecake. Gluten-free flours include amaranth, buckwheat, and brown rice flour, but there are many others available. These flours cook slightly differently than wheat flour, so it is important for people to test recipes and flour proportions when cooking at home. In addition, nuts can be added to the flour mixture to provide different flavors and more of a crunch, which some people enjoy.

There are many recipes available for gluten-free cheesecake, in cookbooks and online, but it can also be purchased at a store. It is important to make sure that none of the ingredients listed were made in a facility where they could have been contaminated with gluten. Ingredient labels will generally list this information to ensure that people with food allergies are safe. When eating gluten-free cheesecake that does not have a label, it is important for an individual to ask the person who made it if it has any gluten in it.