Canyon Bakehouse Sandwich Breads Cheat Sheet for a Delicious, Healthy 2022

If you’ve been with us for a while, you know we’re huge fans of Canyon Bakehouse. And honestly, who isn’t? They were the first to make totally delicious, fantastically moist, epic straight from the bag without toasting gluten-free sandwich bread widely available nationwide. And they keep introducing more great bread flavors to their lineup, so we can all revel in the joys of bread-related foods while following a gluten-free lifestyle. 

Plus, all Canyon Bakehouse breads are made with 100-percent whole grains instead of refined grains. This is awesome because whole grains (meaning the entire grain goes into the batter) have all kinds of nutrients that refined grains don’t, and studies show that a diet with ample whole grains helps prevent 2 diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. It’s recommended that we eat at least three to five servings of whole grains per day, and one slice of Canyon Bakehouse bread equals one serving. So enjoy one sandwich and you’re almost home!

To be sure you can take advantage of all the Canyon goodness for 2022 and beyond, we’ve put together a Canyon Bakehouse Cheat Sheet. It features everything you need to know, including the types of breads they offer, how to store them for best results, and recipes and tips for how to make the most of your Canyon Bakehouse bread, even the heels!

Canyon Bakehouse Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread Varieties

What flavors of gluten-free bread does Canyon Bakehouse make? As of January 2022, they offer nine incredibly delicious sandwich bread offerings. We’ve broken them down into their “Stay-Fresh” and their “Frozen Items” varieties, and we explain the difference between those next!

Stay Fresh Gluten-Free Sandwich Breads:

• Ancient Grain (the “Stay-Fresh” version of their 7-Grain)
• Country White (the “Stay-Fresh” version of Mountain White)
• Hawaiian Sweet 
• Multigrain

Fresh/Frozen Gluten-Free Sandwich Breads:

• 7-Grain (the frozen-food-section version of Ancient Grain)
• Mountain White (the frozen-food-section version of Country White)
• Cinnamon Raisin
• Heritage Style Whole Grain (larger slices for bigger sandwiches!)
• Heritage Style Honey White (larger slices for bigger sandwiches!)
  

3 Key Differences Between Canyon Bakehouse Stay-Fresh Gluten-Free Sandwich Breads and Fresh/Frozen Canyon Bakehouse Gluten-Free Sandwich Breads

The Stay-Fresh versus fresh/frozen is kind of confusing, right? Let’s help make it simple: There are three major differences between Canyon Bakehouse’s “Stay Fresh” breads and their breads found in the bread section or frozen food aisle. They’re as follows:

1. They’re found in different parts of the grocery store.
2. There’s a slight ingredient variation.
3. And most important for you, they’re stored at home differently. 

Which is right for you depends on your storage preferences.

Let us explain. 

Ingredients variations

As we alluded to above, some of the Stay-Fresh products are nearly identical to Canyon’s similar flavors found in the frozen foods aisle. If you look at the ingredients list on the 7-Grain and the Ancient Grain, you’ll notice the differences are slight. 

7 Grain
INGREDIENTS: WATER, BROWN RICE FLOUR, TAPIOCA FLOUR, WHOLE GRAIN SORGHUM FLOUR, ORGANIC AGAVE SYRUP, CANE SUGAR, WHOLE GRAIN MILLET, CULTURED BROWN RICE FLOUR, EGGS, XANTHAN GUM, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING: EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL, WHOLE GRAIN TEFF, YEAST, EGG WHITES, WHOLE GRAIN QUINOA, MOLASSES, WHOLE GRAIN AMARANTH, SEA SALT, ORGANIC CANE SUGAR VINEGAR, WHOLE GRAIN BUCKWHEAT FLOUR, ENZYMES. NOTE: BUCKWHEAT IS A NATURALLY GLUTEN-FREE GRAIN.

Ancient Grain (Stay-Fresh answer to 7-Grain)
INGREDIENTS: WATER, TAPIOCA FLOUR, BROWN RICE FLOUR, WHOLE GRAIN SORGHUM FLOUR, CANE SUGAR, POTATO STARCH, WHOLE GRAIN OAT FLOUR*, EXPELLER PRESSED CANOLA OIL, SUNFLOWER SEEDS, CULTURED BROWN RICE FLOUR, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF EACH OF THE FOLLOWING: XANTHAN GUM, EGG WHITES, MOLASSES, EGGS, WHOLE GRAIN MILLET, YEAST, SEA SALT, WHOLE GRAIN TEFF, WHOLE GRAIN QUINOA, WHOLE GRAIN AMARANTH, ORGANIC CANE SUGAR VINEGAR, WHOLE GRAIN BUCKWHEAT FLOUR, ENZYMES. *CERTIFIED GLUTEN-FREE. NOTE: BUCKWHEAT IS A NATURALLY GLUTEN-FREE GRAIN.

Taste the breads side-by-side and you may not detect a difference at all! So why not call them the same name? Labeling laws require different names for the breads since they don’t have the exact same ingredients. Incidentally, this also applies to Canyon’s Stay-Fresh and frozen versions of their English muffins, bagels, and burger buns. (If you didn’t know, yes, they make those too!)

Where they’re located in the store

Stay-Fresh breads (double bagged, with the inner bag sealed for freshness) are sold in the bread aisle or the gluten-free section. They’re always stored at room temperature. This means you can find gluten-free bread where everyone expects to find bread. 

Most grocery stores stock the regular (non-Stay-Fresh) Canyon Bakehouse breads in the gluten-free section of the frozen foods aisle. That’s because these breads are best stored in the freezer for longevity; and they thaw perfectly. 

So how can you tell the difference between the two by looks? Easy! 

Stay-Fresh breads have an inner, sealed bag, so the bread is essentially double-bagged for longer shelf life. They also have “Stay-Fresh” messaging right on the package. The classic, freezable bread has one bag; once opened, you’re face-to-face with tender, tasty slices! 

How to store them

Stay-Fresh breads are aptly named. Unopened, they stay fresh in the cupboard up to 90 days from production, as indicated by the freshness date on the bag’s clasp. Once opened, they should be kept at room temperature (refrigerating or freezing makes them shrink a bit) and enjoyed within 7-10 days. 

The classic, frozen breads are best kept in the freezer or refrigerator, depending on how quickly you go through a loaf. Thaw a whole bag at once and enjoy it in about a week. Or freeze it and reach for slices one at a time to enjoy your loaf for up to 3 months! 

So now that you know the wide variety of Canyon Bakehouse breads to choose from, let’s give you some inspiration on how to enjoy them:

5 of Our Favorite Things to Make with Canyon Bakehouse Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread

1. French Toast
So easy, you don’t even need a recipe; just combine an egg and some milk, sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt in a bowl, soak the bread in it, then pan-fry it in a bit of butter.)

2. Sandwiches!
Of course. We love all kinds of grilled cheese sandwiches! But we also grab slices straight from the freezer, dress them, and pack them for school lunches; they’re thawed long before lunchtime! Try it with our favorite chicken sandwich (with green goddess dressing!)

3. Egg in a Hole
The classic over-easy-egg cooked in a slice of bread with a hole in its center goes by many names—Egg on a Raft, Bullseye Eggs, Egg in a Nest, and One-Eyed Jack, for example. Whatever you call it, it’s a fantastic, easy breakfast.

4. Breadcrumbs
We use regular slices and even the heels to make gluten-free breadcrumbs. It’s too easy not to! To make them, put slices in a food processor and process until crumb-size. Then use them fresh or let them dry out if you prefer dry breadcrumbs! They’re great for gluten-free meatballs or you can toast them in a pan with a tiny bit of olive oil and salt then toss with a little minced fresh parsley and sprinkle them over fish dishes to add crunchy texture. (See our recipe for Pan-Roasted Salmon with Snap Peas.) Store the fresh breadcrumbs in the fridge for up to 1 week. Dried breadcrumbs will keep 2 weeks at room temperature in an airtight container or in the freezer for a few months.

5. Croutons
Another great use for bread heels or middle slices, homemade gluten-free croutons are easy to make. Simply cut your bread into cubes of your desired size, spread them evenly on a baking sheet, toss with a bit of salt and olive oil, and toast at 375°F until crunchy, about 10 minutes since heel croutons don’t have as much thickness as normal bread slices. You can fancy up the flavor with a sprinkle of garlic powder and pepper, or rub your bread with a slice of raw garlic before slicing and toasting it. Cooled first, croutons keep in an airtight container for about 1 week and are great on salads! Follow our recipe for French Onion Soup to learn how to make garlic-parmesan croutons plus an incredible soup.

Ready to get your GF bread on? We hope so. But in case you need help finding Canyon Bakehouse products near you, you can use their online store finder or order online from Gluten Free Palace, Amazon, Walmart.com, Fresh Direct, Shipt,  Thrive Market, and Instacart.

Bonus: go here before you go shopping to get coupons to get $1 off your next loaf or $1.50 off two Canyon Bakehouse products!

Got questions? Leave a comment.

Written in partnership with Canyon Bakehouse

Photos: Breadcrumbs Emma K. Morris / Croutons Christiann Koepke