Elegantly Free with Barbara Brennen

Gluten-free living, beautifully done.

I know how frustrating gluten-free living can feel when everything seems to begin with what you cannot have.

I created Elegantly Free to help you enjoy good food with more confidence, less complication and far less compromise.

Without compromise

Gluten-free should not mean settling for less.

Less flavour. Less choice. Separate meals. Disappointing substitutes.

I have lived gluten-free for more than 20 years, and I know how easily food can start to feel like a list of restrictions rather than something to enjoy.

My approach is different. I want to help you eat well, cook with confidence and put food on the table that everyone genuinely wants to eat.

Meet Barbara

Good food has always come first.

I built my reputation creating cakes and food for people who wanted something special without compromising on flavour, quality or experience.

Through Bad Ass Cakes, I saw first-hand how often people living with dietary restrictions were expected to accept less.

Elegantly Free brings together my professional food experience and more than two decades of living gluten-free to help make everyday life feel easier, more generous and much more enjoyable.

Food should still be something you look forward to.

Meet Barbara

Lived experience 20+ years gluten-free

Practical understanding shaped by more than two decades of living gluten-free every day.

Food expertise Professional chef & baker

Real food knowledge grounded in flavour, technique and the way people actually eat.

Published experience Author & recipe creator

Recipes and practical food ideas created to make gluten-free eating more enjoyable.

Built on reputation Founder of Bad Ass Cakes

A reputation built on food that never asks people to compromise on flavour, quality or experience.

Start here

Start with what you need now.

Whether you are looking for practical gluten-free guidance, a more direct way to work with Barbara or simply need to get in touch, choose the route that best fits what you need today.

Recipes and practical guidance

Explore the resources

Find recipes, food ideas and practical gluten-free guidance designed to make everyday life easier and more enjoyable.

Browse resources Consultations, workshops & collaborations

Work with Barbara

Explore selected ways to work with Barbara more directly, from personal consultations and workshops to relevant collaborations and food-led opportunities.

Explore ways to work together General enquiries

Get in touch

Have a general question about Elegantly Free, the website or something else you would like to ask Barbara? Send a message directly.

Contact Barbara

One Meal. One Table.

Food should bring people together.

I do not believe gluten-free food should automatically mean cooking one meal for you and another for everyone else.

Wherever possible, I want to help you create food that welcomes everyone to the same table and is genuinely worth eating.

One meal. Real flavour. Everyone included.

Because gluten-free should not be about serving something separate or second best. It should still feel generous, sociable and worth sharing.

Free from Barbara

Five days. Fewer decisions. A simpler place to start.

I created my free 5-Day Gluten-Free Meal Plan to take some of the daily guesswork out of what to eat. You will get practical meal ideas, a grocery list, simple swaps and a few habits that can make the week feel easier.

Get the free meal plan

You will also join the Elegantly Free email list for recipes, practical gluten-free guidance and occasional offers. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Barbara Brennen's 5-Day Gluten-Free Meal Plan