50+ Awesome Coconut Flour Recipes (gluten and grain free) - Savory Lotus (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to baking with coconut flour? ›

A good rule of thumb is 1/4 to 1/3 cup of coconut flour for 1 cup of regular flour. When flour absorbs water, the starches gelatinize, but when coconut flour absorbs liquid it becomes soggy, resulting in a heavier, denser baked good.

Potential Health Benefits of Coconut Flour

It also contains more fiber and protein than wheat flour. Coconut flour can also help you: Control blood sugar. Because of its lower glycemic index rating, using coconut flour in baked goods instead of wheat flour could help control blood sugar spikes.

Because of its high fiber and potassium content, consuming coconut flour may support heart health by reducing heart disease risk factors. Specifically, research suggests that eating coconut flour may help reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels (13, 15 ).

While you don't have to keep it refrigerated, it is recommended. Its shelf life can be anywhere between 12 to 18 months post-production. Good coconut flour gives off a pleasantly sweet and somewhat nutty aroma (so lovely!). You'll know it's gone bad if it smells sour, musty, or rubbery.

Dough will often be much thicker than expected when baking with coconut flour. Don't worry too much, just keep going. A quick rule of thumb is to swap about 1/4 to 1/3 cup coconut flour for 1 cup of regular flour.

In 2 tablespoons of almond flour, you'll get 80 calories, only 2 grams of carbs, 3 grams of protein, and 1 gram of dietary fiber. While coconut flour is a better source of dietary fiber, iron, and potassium, almond flour does contain iron (2% Daily Value) and calcium (2% Daily Value).

Coconut flour can cause bloating in some people.

Digestive imbalances ultimately have a negative impact on the immune system (the gut is the basis of your immune system). Plus, because it's mostly fiber, some people find coconut flour can irritate the gut if eaten too frequently, or in larger amounts.

Coconut flour

Unlike grain flours, coconut flour contains a substantial amount of fat. This fat is primarily saturated and largely comprised of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which may reduce inflammation and support healthy metabolism ( 1 , 2 ).

Myth: Coconut oil is a heart-healthy cooking alternative.

The reality: Coconut oil has been shown to raise cholesterol levels — the good and the bad kinds — more than other plant-based oils like olive or canola. And in truth, medium-chain triglycerides make up only a small amount of the fatty acids in coconut oil.

Is it OK to eat coconut flour everyday? ›

Coconut flour is derived from natural sources and contains a high amount of antioxidants. To gain most of its benefits, consume one teaspoon of coconut flour daily.

Fiber from coconut flour acts as a prebiotic that helps probiotic bacteria thrive and encourages optimal digestion helping to prevent constipation.

How to Tell If Coconut Flour Has Gone Bad. Coconut flour generally has a sweet, nutty aroma and is ivory or light cream in color. However, if the texture, taste, aroma, or color of the coconut flour changes, it is a sign that the flour has gone bad. If the flour is very clumpy, it is best to throw it out.

Visual Signs of Spoilage. Visually inspecting coconut flour is the first step in determining its freshness. Good coconut flour should have a light, creamy color, without any dark spots or signs of mold growth.

Coconut flour is made from coconut meat that's dried then ground into flour. It's a very light and “airy” flour, perfect for cakes, muffins, and breads.

Replacing wheat flour with coconut flour

Cakes and muffins, which need to be light and fluffy, will be very different than something more dense, like cookies. But when working with coconut flour, you always need to decrease the flour and increase the eggs and baking powder.

To give baked goods more rise and structure when using coconut flour, try adding whey protein powder or psyllium husk powder; vinegar and baking soda can also help add more rise. When storing coconut flour, it's best to keep it airtight and freeze it since coconut flour absorbs moisture.

Coconut flour develops no gluten and so provides essentially no structure to support the rising of the dough due to fermentation by the yeast. You can get a little rise that is will be more consistent than a yeast rise by adding baking powder, but coconut flour bread will still be rather more like a cake.

Coconut flour is made from coconut meat that's dried then ground into flour. It's a very light and “airy” flour, perfect for cakes, muffins, and breads.