Some posts on this blog contain affiliate links. If you click them, I earn a small commission. It does not cost you anything extra, but this commission helps support the work of running this site. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely my own.
Baking with coconut flour has been a staple in my kitchen for many years now. I love that it is a flour that is grain free, low carb, and packed with nutrients! Learn more about tips and tricks for baking with coconut flour and some delicious coconut flour recipes.
Baking with Coconut Flour
Baking with coconut flour can be a great way to eat low carb, grain free and keep all your favorite breads and cakes in your diet.
We’ve already talked about how great coconut oil is:
increasing metabolism, supporting immune system, promoting the absorption of vitamins, detoxing the body, promoting healthy cholesterol and heart health. Now we are going to talk about all those great benefits in a flour: Coconut flour.
What is coconut flour?
Coconut flour is a type of flour made from dried and ground coconut meat. It is a gluten-free and grain-free alternative to traditional wheat flour, making it suitable for those with gluten sensitivities or following a gluten-free diet.
Coconut flour is high in fiber and low in carbohydrates, making it a popular choice for those following a low carb or ketogenic diet. Coconut flour has a unique texture and absorbency compared to other flours. It is highly absorbent and requires more liquid in recipes compared to wheat flour.
Due to its high fiber content, coconut flour can help promote feelings of fullness and aid in digestion. In baking, coconut flour is often used in combination with other flours or ingredients to achieve the desired texture and structure. It adds a subtle coconut flavor to recipes, which can enhance the taste of baked goods.
It’s important to note that coconut flour does not behave the same way as wheat flour in recipes. It is not a direct 1:1 substitute for wheat flour, and adjustments may need to be made to achieve the desired results.
It is recommended to follow recipes specifically developed for coconut flour or to experiment with small amounts when substituting it in recipes. Overall, coconut flour is a versatile and nutritious alternative to traditional flours, offering a gluten-free and low carb option for baking and cooking.
Coconut Flour is Low carb and Grain Free
Our bodies don’t tolerate grains very well (wheat, barley, oats…). They are filled with phytates that bind to minerals in our bodies like magnesium. This overtime can leave us deficient in vitamins and minerals. You can soak your grains to help reduce the phytates, but it may be easier to incorporate more grain free foods into your diet. I shared more about why to go grain free here.
Does that mean you can never eat a piece of bread again? What about cake?
Popular Grain Free Flours
There are two main flours that people who are eating grain free are using: almond flour and coconut flour. Those certainly aren’t the only ones, but they are definitely the popular ones.
You can read here about some benefits of coconut flour to other flours – we just bought Bob’s Red Mill brand on Amazon.com.
There are a ton of recipes using coconut flour that you can make and not even realize you are missing the wheat. I found several grain free recipes by searching on Pinterest.
Tips for Baking with Coconut Flour
When baking with coconut flour, there are a few tips to keep in mind to achieve the best results:
1. Use recipes specifically developed for coconut flour: Coconut flour behaves differently than other flours, so it’s best to use recipes that are specifically designed for coconut flour. These recipes will have the right ratios of ingredients to ensure proper texture and moisture.
2. Combine with other flours or ingredients: Coconut flour is highly absorbent, so it’s often used in combination with other flours or ingredients to balance out the texture. Common combinations include using almond flour, tapioca flour, or eggs to provide structure and moisture.
3. Increase liquid and eggs: Coconut flour requires more liquid than other flours. When using coconut flour in a recipe, you may need to increase the amount of liquid, such as water, milk, or eggs, to achieve the desired consistency. This helps prevent the final product from being too dry or crumbly.
4. Let the batter rest: Coconut flour absorbs liquid over time, so it’s beneficial to let the batter rest for a few minutes before baking. This allows the flour to fully hydrate and results in a better texture.
5. Be mindful of the texture: Coconut flour can create a denser and drier texture compared to other flours. To counteract this, you can add ingredients like applesauce, mashed bananas, or yogurt to add moisture and improve the texture of the baked goods.
6. Don’t overmix: When working with coconut flour, avoid overmixing the batter. Overmixing can lead to a dense and heavy final product. Mix until the ingredients are just combined to prevent overworking the batter.
7. Adjust baking time and temperature: Coconut flour may require adjustments to baking time and temperature. It tends to brown quickly, so you may need to reduce the baking time or lower the oven temperature slightly to prevent over-browning.
Remember that baking with coconut flour may require some experimentation and adjustments to achieve the desired results. It’s always a good idea to start with tried and tested recipes and make small adjustments as needed.
Coconut Flour Recipes
Check out my King Cake in a Mug that Uses Coconut flour
Gluten Free Carrot-Poppy Seed Loaf made with Coconut Flour
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 1/4 cup applesauce
- 3 tbsp honey
- 3 tbsp melted coconut oil
- 1 cup grated carrots
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup sifted coconut flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
- 1.5 tbps poppy seeds
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease your 9x5x3 loaf pan.
- In a large mixing bowl combine the wet ingredients: eggs, applesauce, honey (or stevia extract) and coconut oil or butter. Whisk to combine everything well. Add the vanilla and grated carrot and mix to combine.
- Next, combine the dry ingredients In a separate small bowl: cinnamon, salt, coconut flour, baking powder and baking soda. Whisk to combine. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix until incorporated.
- Pour the batter into your greased pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a knife inserted in the loaf comes out clean. Let cool completely before turning the loaf out of the pan.
- Slice and Enjoy!
Gluten Free Carrot-Poppy Seed Loaf made with Coconut Flour
3 eggs
1/4 cup applesauce (add more if you need more wet ingredients after you have mixed dry and wet together)
3 Tbsp honey or one teaspoon of liquid stevia extract
3 Tbsp melted coconut oil or butter
1 cup grated carrot
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup sifted coconut flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped (optional) 1.5 tablespoons of poppy seeds
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease your 9x5x3 loaf pan.
Directions for Carrot-Poppy Seed Loaf made with Coconut Flour
In a large mixing bowl combine the wet ingredients: eggs, applesauce, honey (or stevia extract) and coconut oil or butter. Whisk to combine everything well. Add the vanilla and grated carrot and mix to combine.
Next, combine the dry ingredients In a separate small bowl: cinnamon, salt, coconut flour, baking powder and baking soda. Whisk to combine. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix until incorporated.
Pour the batter into your greased pan. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a knife inserted in the loaf comes out clean. Let cool completely before turning the loaf out of the pan.
Slice and Enjoy!
What other flours do you like using that are grain free?
Angela thanks again for this blog! My family has slowly been making changes to get healthier, but it really is a whole new way of thinking!
That is awesome Neva! Have you noticed any changes in your health?
Its hard to say, the changes have been small. But I do feel much better, have more energy, and it motivates me to change more and make better choices!
I was recently advised by a doctor to go G-free & lactose free… And I’ll be able to get off of ALL my medications. I’ve been living this for a few weeks and am feeling SO much better already! This blog is so timely in my life! Thank you for writing it!
That is amazing!!! Such great news
[…] It took months before I convinced myself that I needed to go grain-free. Aidalyn was probably around 10 months, when I just started reducing grains. Then Adam and I committed for the whole month of January we would be 100% grain-free, after that we would be 80-20. I did a lot of “pinning” on Pintrest to get ready. We started using more coconut and almond flour for baking and cooking. […]
[…] enjoy baking with coconut flour and almond flour mostly to stay gluten and grain free. I buy my flours on Amazon primarily, because […]
I noticed the recipe states adding baking soda and powder but does not have the measurements for the baking powder. Please advise.
Thank you.
Did you get off your meds? My chiropractor put me on the Paleo diet and I was able to get off most of my cardiac meds in 6-9 months. It got rid of the chronic inflammation around my heart and then I naturally didn’t need all the meds I had been told I would need for the rest of my life! My cardiologist was amazed! Your diet can have such an impact on your health!
Thankfully I never had to take medications, but changing my diet to eat more real foods and limiting sugar was the best decision I could make for my health.