Baking in Spain: Gluten-Free Treats with FreeBakery
Laura Martín is the owner of FreeBakery, a new gluten-free bakery located in Málaga, Spain. Although she bakes a variety of delicious treats, cakes are her specialty. Here is her story:
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m from Málaga, in the south of Spain. I studied biology, and I’ve worked as a biologist for the local government. I’ve lived in Amiens, a town near Paris, and Madrid. I love traveling and would love to be a backpacker in Southeast Asia. I love tasting new food. I am also the owner of FreeBakery, a gluten-free bakery.
How did your passion for baking start?
I remember when I was a child, I used to bake with my mom. I mostly remember baking the Carrot Almond Cake (one of the cakes on the menu). I like to try new ingredients when it comes to baking. About 2-3 years ago, I started baking a lot for different occasions.
Why did you decide to open up a gluten-free bakery?
It is super difficult to find a gluten-free bakery around here (in Malaga). My mom is actually gluten-intolerant and allergic to wheat, so gluten-free baking has been with me for a long time. My friends and family loved my cakes, and my mom suggested that I start a bakery.
What are some gluten-free baking tips and tricks you can share with us?
Don’t just use one type of flour, such as corn flour or rice flour. I suggest using a mix - the one I use has a blend of corn flour, rice flour, tapioca flour and more. It’s a really good mix. You can buy it or you can make it at home.
Use xanthan gum and psyllium for baking gluten-free bread.
What are some of your most popular items?
The Lemon Cheesecake, Manchego Cheesecake and Banoffee Cake are the most popular items from my menu. Everybody loves those cakes.
What are some future goals you have for FreeBakery?
My goal is to sell to different restaurants and cafes, so more people can have gluten-free cakes in Málaga.