11 Best Coconut Flour Substitutes That You Should Try

Have you run out of coconut flour and are now looking for the best coconut flour substitutes? You are at the precise place. I had a similar query when I wanted to bake some coconut flour brownies, and I didn’t have coconut flour left in the pantry. 

So, what can you do if you are out of coconut flour? We go to its best substitutes, of course. Any ideas? Some of the best coconut flour substitutes are almond flour, cassava flour, soy flour, chicken flour, hazelnut flour, and rice flour. 

Coconut flour is the flour obtained from grinding dried coconut. It is a gluten-free flour often used as a substitute for wheat flour. It is also a thickening agent and is used to prepare brownies, muffins, wraps, cakes, and pancakes. 

Coconut flour renders a natural sweetness and thus is used in cooking and baking recipes. Thus, it is important to find some good substitutes for coconut flour that can save your recipes. Before we get into the substitutes, let us explore coconut flour.

Quick Peek: Coconut Flour

The following scribbles tell you coconut flour’s flavor, texture, culinary uses, and health benefits.

What Is Coconut Flour?

Coconut flour is dried coconut in powdered form. Coconut solids are left over after the meat is used to produce coconut milk. These solids are then ground to a fine powder with a flour-like texture. It replaces around 20% of the flour in a recipe.

Describing Coconut Flour: Flavor and Texture

Coconut flour has a mild, sweet taste and a distinctive coconut flavor. When added to recipes, it renders the tasty coconut flavor and is a major treat if you are a fan of coconut. It has a soft, rich texture, making it fit all baking recipes. 

Uses of Coconut Flour

Coconut flour imparts a natural, sweet coconut flavor to recipes. It has an absorbent nature which gives a drying effect on baked goods. You can use eggs to counter this drying effect. It can be used to thicken sauces and stews and as a binding agent when making burgers and loaves.

Since it is low in carbohydrates and high in protein and fiber, it is often used as an alternative to regular flour. It is also a major ingredient in paleo baking and grain-free and gluten-free baking. It is used to prepare cakes, muffins, pancakes, pie crusts, cookies, biscuits, and bread. 

Coconut Flour On The Health Radar | Looking Through The Wellness Telescope

Coconut flour is primarily gluten-free, which makes it super healthy. It is high in fiber and is a rich source of protein. It is also a good source of iron and is a healthy option for those on vegan or vegetarian diets concerned about not getting enough iron. Coconut flour is low in glycemic index, which helps control blood sugar. It boosts digestive health and reduces the risk of heart diseases. It also helps in maintaining ideal body weight.

Why Should We Substitute Coconut Flour?

Coconut flour is a versatile ingredient with many applications in the culinary world. But it is quite expensive, and hence we might have to seek some substitutes for it. That is why it is important to know the best coconut flour substitutes.

Also, if you are allergic to coconut or its associated products, use the best coconut flour substitutes. These coconut flour substitutes will help you get its close flavor. So, shall we talk about the best substitutes for coconut flour?

Other Food Substitutes You Can Try

• Best Spelt Flour Substitutes You Can Try
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• Best Potato Flour Substitutes You Can Try
• Best Millet Substitutes | Grains and Flour
• Best Sweet Rice Flour Substitutes You Can Try
• Best Corn Flour Substitutes That Are Easily Available
• Best Cake Flour Substitutes That Are Easily Available
• Best Pastry Flour Substitutes That Work
• Best Buckwheat Flour Substitutes You Can Try
• Best Rice Flour Substitutes That Are Easily Available

11 Best Coconut Flour Substitutes 

Now that you know everything you need to know about coconut flour, let us discuss the eleven best substitutes for coconut flour.

1. Almond Flour

Almond flour is obtained by grinding peeled almonds. Blanched and unblanched almond flour are the two types of almond flour. The former is the flour of blanched or peeled ground almonds, while the latter is that of raw almonds with skins. 

Almond flour has a mild, sweet, nutty flavor making it one of the best coconut flour substitutes. It is also low in carbohydrates and glycemic index and is also gluten-free. Almond flour is comparable to coconut flour in many aspects and can be used to replace coconut flour in many recipes. You will have to use three cups of almond flour for a cup of coconut flour. 

2. Cassava Flour

Cassava flour is made by grinding the root of the cassava tuber. This flour is a popular substitute for wheat flour and is also used in gluten-free cooking. Cassava is grated into small pieces, dried, and ground to a fine powder. It is not the same as tapioca flour. 

Cassava flour has a mild, nutty flavor and is another best coconut flour substitute. It has a fine, dry, soft, powdery texture and can be used in sweet and savory dishes. You may have to use 3-4 cups of cassava flour for a cup of coconut flour. 

3. Soy Flour

Soy flour is obtained from grinding roasted soybeans into a fine powder. It is used in baked goods since soy has a high nutritional value. It also upgrades the overall texture of your baked goods. It is a good source of protein, B vitamins, and calcium.

Soy flour has a tasty, nutty flavor and a powdery texture and can be a good coconut flour substitute. It has low carbohydrate content and is gluten-free as well. The only downside is that it obviously will render a bean flavor; therefore, it may not work if you are allergic to soy or don’t like its flavor. Use 2 cups of soy flour instead of a cup of coconut flour. 

4. Chickpea Flour

Chickpea flour is made by finely grinding chickpeas and is also referred to as gram flour, garbanzo bean flour, or besan. It is a staple ingredient used in Indian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Caribbean, and other cuisines. It has a mild, nutty flavor, powdery texture, and looks yellow in color.

Chickpea flour is a worthy substitute for coconut sugar since it is a natural thickener and binding agent. Consumption of chickpea flour meets your daily intake of protein and fiber. As with soy flour, chickpea flour will give you a slight flavor like that of beans. For a cup of coconut flour, use ¾ cup of coconut flour. 

5. Hazelnut Flour

Hazelnut flour, as flours are usually made, is made from finely ground hazelnuts. It is low in carbohydrates and a good source of dietary fiber. It is also paleo-friendly and suitable for those who are under dietary restrictions. It has a sweet, nutty flavor and a dense texture. It imparts a subtle buttery flavor to recipes. 

So, how does hazelnut flour work as a substitute for coconut flour? Hazelnut flour can be cited as a considerable coconut flour substitute for its sweet, nutty flavor. But the major disadvantages are that it is expensive and has a gritty texture, which has to be further ground to replace coconut flour. 

Hazelnut flour is absorbent, which means it holds liquids but not in the same way as coconut flour. For a cup of coconut flour, use ¾ the cup of hazelnut flour and add more depending on the recipe. 

6. Rice Flour

Rice flour is what you get by grinding finely milled rice. It is a common thickening agent used in soups, sauces, and for frying veggies and meat. It is an often-used substitute for wheat flour in baking recipes. Brown and white rice flour are the two types of rice flour. The former has a mild, nutty flavor, while the latter has a bland flavor.

Rice flour can work as a coconut flour substitute due to its bland flavor and soft consistency. Using rice flour will ensure that your recipes have a smooth texture. You might have to use 3 cups of coconut flour for a cup of rice flour. Also, go for white rice flour rather than brown rice flour, and be careful not to use sweet rice flour (which is way out of our league with respect to texture!)

7. Flaxseed Meal

Flaxseed meal refers to flax seeds that are fit for consumption. They are different from flax seeds in case of processing. Flaxseed meal is ground and processed immediately for consumption. It has a mild yet nutty flavor and a crispy, chewy texture. 

Flaxseed meal is an option to be considered as a coconut flour substitute due to its favorable impact on texture. If there isn’t any dominating flavor in your recipes, there is a chance that flaxseed flavor can be a bit overpowering. For best results, you can mix half a cup of flaxseed meal and half a cup of almond flour to replace a cup of coconut flour. 

8. Wheat Flour

Wheat flour is the powder of ground wheat. Different varieties of wheat flour are based on the wheat grains used for grinding – they are either soft or hard, depending on their gluten content. It has a mild nutty flavor and a firm texture. It is high in nutrients and antioxidants.

Wheat flour can be used to substitute for coconut sugar due to its flavor, texture, and effect it renders on recipes. It is used to make baked goods, and as a thickening agent, it thickens sauces and soups. A cup of wheat flour can substitute for ¼ cup of coconut flour. 

9. Oat Flour

Oat flour is the highly nutritious flour obtained from grinding oats, mostly rolled oats. It is an extremely good source of dietary fiber, minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins. It has a mild nutty flavor and a silky texture. 

Oat flour is a worthy substitute for coconut flour due to its mild neutral flavor and subtle sweetness. It is an easily available and healthy substitute for coconut flour. If you are out of oat flour, you can simply grab a pack of rolled oats and ground them using a food processor. For a cup of coconut flour, use 4 cups of oat flour in recipes.  

10. Tapioca Flour

Tapioca flour is also known as tapioca starch. It is a gluten-free alternative to coconut flour obtained as the starch of the cassava plant. It doesn’t have a particular flavor of its own to contribute to recipes and has a powdery texture.

Tapioca flour can be considered a coconut flour substitute due to its neutral or no flavor and fine texture. It can be used to substitute coconut flour in an equal ratio. It can be used to give a chewy texture to recipes, thicken sauces, puddings, pies, and gravies, and give a crispness to pizzas or pie crusts. 

11. Cornstarch

Cornstarch is made from the starchy portion of corn kernels. It is another common thickening agent to thicken sauces, soups, gravies, and marinades. It is also used as a substitute for eggs in baking recipes. Cornstarch has no particular flavor, a powdery texture, and is the least considerable substitute for coconut flour. You have to use two cups of cornstarch for a cup of coconut flour. 

12. Arrowroot Powder

Arrowroot powder is the powder of grinding arrowroot, a tuber. The plant’s roots are dried and ground to form a fine powder. It is also known as arrowroot flour or arrowroot starch. It is flavorless and thus is used as a thickening agent without altering the flavor of your recipes.

Arrowroot powder has no flavor and a powdery texture and can be considered a substitute for coconut flour in recipes. It can be added to recipes in place of coconut flour to make a slurry. You can substitute coconut flour with arrowroot powder in an equal ratio. 

Short Recap Of Best Coconut Flour Substitutes

That must have been an exhaustive read on the best coconut flour substitutes, right? Let me make it easy for you to remember the details with the help of some points.

Best Coconut Flour Substitutes In Terms of Flavor And Texture-

1. Almond Flour
2. Cassava Flour
3. Soy Flour
4. Chickpea Flour

Best Coconut Flour Substitutes That Are Gluten-Free-

1. Almond Flour
2. Cassava Flour
3. Chickpea Flour
4. Hazelnut Flour
5. Rice Flour
6. Flaxseed Meal
7. Oat Flour
8. Tapioca Flour
9. Cornstarch
10.  Arrowroot Powder

Best Coconut Flour Substitutes That Are Keto-Friendly-

1. Almond flour
2. Hazelnut flour 
3. Flaxseed meal 
4. Oat flour
5. Tapioca flour 

Final Musings

That was all about coconut flour and its best substitutes. I am sure you are now well aware of coconut flour and its uses and benefits, apart from knowing about its substitutes. These substitutes have to be used in varying amounts, and you must choose the one that fits your recipe and requirements. Try these out, and let me know what you deem the best. See you soon with another list of substitutes!

How To Use Coconut Flour Substitutes In A Recipe

Coconut Flour Substitutes

You wish to relish coconut flour brownies and find yourself out of coconut flour? Take the help of coconut flour substitutes. Some of the best coconut flour substitutes are almond flour, cassava flour, soy flour, chicken flour, hazelnut flour, and rice flour.

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Ingredients

  

• Almond Flour
• Cassava Flour
• Soy Flour
• Chickpea Flour
• Hazelnut Flour
• Rice Flour
• Flaxseed Meal
• Wheat Flour
• Oat Flour
• Tapioca Flour
• Cornstarch
• Arrowroot Powder

Instructions

 

• Go through the substitutes and see which one seems fit for the recipe.
• Collect your ingredients and use your preferred substitute.
• Use the substitute in the required amount and proceed to make the dish according to the recipe.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)