How to Bake with Coconut Flour

Whether you're following a paleo, gluten-free, or low-carb diet, you've probably seen recipes that use coconut flour. Since coconut flour is also high in fiber and protein, it's a great choice for anyone who's trying to limit carbohydrates in baking. It's important to adjust your recipe slightly, so the baked goods hold together and don't crumble. Once you've tried a few recipes, you'll feel confident in adjusting your favorite recipes.

[Edit]Steps

[Edit]Replacing All-Purpose Flour with Coconut Flour

1. Buy high-quality coconut flour that doesn't contain fillers. Check the ingredient label on the bag of coconut flour to see if it only lists coconut. Don't buy coconut flour that also includes sugar, flavorings, or fillers.^[1]
   
   • If you're baking with coconut flour to avoid gluten, check that the package also says "gluten-free."
2. Fluff the coconut flour with a fork before you measure it for your recipe. Pour some of the coconut flour into a bowl and break it up with a fork until you don't see clumps. This helps you accurately measure the coconut flour for your recipe.^[2]
   
   
   • Breaking up the clumps also helps the coconut flour absorb the liquids in your recipe evenly.
3. Replace just 20% of the all-purpose flour with coconut flour. You might be surprised to see that most coconut flour recipes only use a small percentage of coconut flour while still relying on wheat flour. This is because coconut flour is very absorbent and if you use all coconut flour, the texture of the food will be grainy.^[3]
   
   • For example, if a recipe calls for 3 cups (360 g) of all-purpose flour, use 2/3 cup (74 g) of coconut flour with 2 1/3 cups (280 g) of all-purpose flour.
   • Use a measuring scale instead of measuring cups for accuracy.
4. Add 1 extra egg to the recipe for every 1/4 cup (28 g) of coconut flour you use. Recipes that use coconut flour need extra eggs to bind the batter or dough together so your baked goods don't fall apart. Add the extra eggs to the wet ingredients of your recipe.^[4]
   
   • If you replaced 1/2 cup (56 g) of coconut flour, add an extra 2 eggs to the recipe. If the recipe already called for 2 eggs, you'd use a total of 4 eggs.
   • If you're only adding 1/8 cup (14 g) of coconut flour, beat an egg and add only half of it to the recipe.
5. Increase the liquids by for every 2 tbsp (14 g) of coconut flour. Because coconut flour is so high in fiber, it quickly soaks up liquid, which can make your standard wheat recipes too dry. Plan on adding an extra of liquid for every 2 tablespoons (14 g) of coconut flour that you use in the recipe.^[5]
   
   
   • For example, if you're replacing 1/4 cup (30 g) of all-purpose flour with coconut flour, add an extra of liquid, such as oil or milk.

[Edit]Trying Coconut Flour in Common Recipes

1. Whip up coconut flour quick bread or muffins for breakfast. It's easy to add coconut flour to your breakfast baked goods since the mellow coconut flavor works well in spiced quick breads and muffins. Make coconut flour quick bread or muffins in any of these flavors:^[6]
   
   • Banana
   • Zucchini
   • Pumpkin
   • Blueberry
   • Apple spice
2. Use coconut flour for rich brownies that have a hint of coconut flavor. To make cake-like brownies, choose a recipe that also contains all-purpose flour. If you'd like fudgy or gluten-free brownies, bake from a recipe that only uses a little coconut flour. These brownies will be similar to flourless chocolate cake.^[7]
   
   • To make the coconut flavor more noticeable, use coconut oil instead of vegetable oil or butter.
3. Make a batch of your favorite cookies using coconut flour. Since cookies are so flavorful, they're a great choice for experimenting with coconut flour, especially if you don't care for the taste of coconut. If you do like the tropical flavor of coconut, you could make macadamia nut cookies with flaked coconut. Any of these cookies are also great with coconut flour:^[8]
   
   • Oatmeal raisin
   • Gingersnaps
   • Chocolate chip
   • Shortbread
4. Bake a tender cake with coconut flour. In order to make a cake that holds together without crumbling, remember to replace just 20% of the all-purpose flour with coconut flour. The coconut flour is great in delicate cakes, such as white or yellow cake, and it also works well in chocolate cake or cupcakes.^[9]
   
   • Of course, coconut flour is fantastic in coconut cake. Choose a recipe that contains flaked coconut or coconut milk for the boldest coconut flavor.
5. Add coconut flour to breakfast batters, such as pancakes or waffles. Most pancakes and waffles don't contain much protein, so you usually find yourself hungry pretty soon after breakfast. For pancakes or waffles that stick to your ribs, use a coconut-flour recipe.^[10]
   
   
6. Try baking savory muffins or bread with coconut flour. Experiment with savory baked goods by adding shredded cheese, herbs, ham, or bacon to the batter. You can also spice the batter with various seasonings, such as paprika, cayenne, or curry powder.^[11]
   
   • You could also add olives, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, or jalapenos, for instance.

[Edit]Tips

• If you're vegan and want a vegan egg replacement, whisk 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with of cold water. Use this mixture in place of 1 egg.^[12]
• Coconut flour has a mild flavor, which isn't very noticeable in baked goods.

[Edit]Things You'll Need

• Measuring scale or cups
• Fork

[Edit]References

1. ↑ https://www.allrecipes.com/article/all-about-coconut-flour/
2. ↑ https://www.allrecipes.com/article/all-about-coconut-flour/
3. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-use-healthy-flour-substitutes/
4. ↑ https://www.extension.iastate.edu/4hfiles/judges/training/2015AprFNCoconutFlour.pdf
5. ↑ https://www.allrecipes.com/article/all-about-coconut-flour/
6. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/packages/baking-guide/quick-breads-muffins-and-more/50-quick-breads
7. ↑ https://www.foodrepublic.com/recipes/coconut-flour-brownies/
8. ↑ https://www.food.com/recipe/coconut-flour-chocolate-chip-cookies-477897
9. ↑ https://www.type2diabetesguide.com/recipe-coconut-flour-cake.shtml#.XnKOZYhKjIU
10. ↑ https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/coconut-flour-pancakes
11. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/packages/baking-guide/quick-breads-muffins-and-more/50-quick-breads
12. ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/egg-substitutes-in-baking-try-95072