Gluten Free Cooking Without Compromise: Learn to Cook with Confidence at Ground Up Cookery School

Gluten free cooking has come a long way — but for many people, it’s still associated with compromise. Dry textures, over-processed substitutes, and recipes that feel like a poor imitation of the “real thing”.

At Ground Up Cookery School, we believe gluten free food should be every bit as generous, satisfying and flavour-led as any other style of cooking. Whether you avoid gluten by necessity or choice, learning how to cook well — rather than relying on replacements — makes all the difference.

This guide explains how we approach gluten free cooking, which of our courses are suitable, and how you can build confidence in the kitchen without sacrificing flavour.

Why Gluten Free Cooking Can Be So Challenging

Cooking without gluten isn’t just about swapping ingredients. Gluten plays a structural role in many foods — especially baking — and removing it without understanding technique often leads to disappointing results.

Common challenges include:

Dense or crumbly textures
Reliance on ultra-processed gluten free products
Overly complex ingredient lists
Recipes that don’t translate well to real home kitchens

The solution isn’t more substitutes — it’s better cooking fundamentals.

Our Approach to Gluten Free Cooking

At Ground Up Cookery School, everything we teach is cooked from scratch. That means we focus on:

Ingredients that are naturally gluten free
Techniques that build flavour and structure
Understanding why a recipe works, not just following it

This approach makes gluten free cooking far more intuitive — and far more enjoyable.

New for 2026: Savoury Gluten Free Cooking Workshop

For 2026, we’re introducing a Savoury Gluten Free Workshop, designed specifically for people who want to cook confidently without gluten.

This hands-on course focuses on:

Savoury dishes that are naturally gluten free or easily adapted
Trusted gluten free ingredients that perform well
Techniques that avoid reliance on processed substitutes
Recipes that are practical, flexible and genuinely delicious

It’s an ideal course if you’re newly gluten free, cooking for someone else, or simply frustrated with “free-from” food that doesn’t deliver.

Gluten Free Friendly Cooking Courses

In addition to our dedicated workshop, many of our other cookery courses can be adapted to be gluten free, provided we’re notified in advance.

Because we teach technique rather than rigid recipes, gluten free guests can usually eat most, and often all, of the dishes, preparing gluten free versions alongside the main class.

Courses that can typically be adapted include:

Advance notice allows us to plan ingredients and methods properly, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience.

Ground Up Cookery School is not a dedicated gluten free site.

We operate a shared kitchen environment. While we take care and adapt recipes where possible, there is always a risk of cross-contamination.

If you have coeliac disease or severe gluten intolerance, we recommend getting in touch before booking so we can discuss whether a particular course is suitable for you.

Why Learning Gluten

Free Cooking Properly Matters

Many people rely heavily on shop-bought gluten free products because cooking feels intimidating. But with the right techniques:

Meals become simpler, not harder
Food tastes better
Confidence grows quickly
Cooking becomes enjoyable again

Learning to cook gluten free properly isn’t about restriction — it’s about expanding what’s possible.

Looking Ahead: Gluten Free Christmas Baking

If there’s enough interest, we’ll also be introducing a Gluten Free Christmas Baking Workshop, designed to make festive baking indulgent, achievable and stress-free.

Thinking About a Gluten Free Cookery Course?