Coconut Flour Bread (Vegan + Gluten-Free) - Rhian's Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Can I use coconut flour instead of gluten-free flour? ›

Coconut flour can be used in a variety of recipes as a substitute for wheat flour and is a popular gluten-free and grain-free flour alternative used in baking. Keep in mind, however, that it cannot be used as a 1-to-1 replacement for wheat flour in a recipe.

Use a 1:4 ratio when substituting coconut flour with all-purpose flour. This means that for every 1 cup of regular flour, you only use ¼ cup of coconut flour.

Coconut flour is extremely high in fiber, which means it absorbs a lot of liquid during baking. This makes it critical to follow the recipe exactly without making additional substitutions. Dough will often be much thicker than expected when baking with coconut flour.

Potential Health Benefits of Coconut Flour

Coconut flour has a lower glycemic index rating than wheat flour, meaning it takes longer to digest and absorb the carbohydrates in it. It also contains more fiber and protein than wheat flour. Coconut flour can also help you: Control blood sugar.

If storing for a short period, say a couple of weeks, an airtight container in a cool and dry will work just fine. When stored at room temperature or below, coconut flour can last up to two months. Refrigeration is recommended if you plan on storing your coconut flour for longer than two months.

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.

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.

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.

What is the binding agent for coconut flour? ›

Coconut flour does not bind in the way that wheat flour does, so sometimes a binding agent like xanthan gum is added to coconut flour recipes.

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.

Almond flour (or almond meal) offers a better nutrient profile for protein, fiber and vitamins, according to Cushman. It also adds heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, protein, vitamin E and fiber and contains minimal carbohydrates.

What's the best gluten-free flour for baking? Bob's Red Mill gluten-free 1-to-1 baking mix is my favorite gluten-free all-purpose flour blend for baking. It has a mild texture and plenty of "stick" thanks to a blend of sweet rice flour, brown rice flour, and sorghum flour, plus some starches and xanthan gum.

Gluten-free flours often contain fine starches, so they absorb more liquid than conventional flour. To address this, gluten-free recipes usually call for more liquid and produce looser batters. They may also call for a larger quantity of leavening, like baking powder, to help add volume and lighten the texture.

Yes, coconut flour is gluten-free. Coconut flour is typically made by grinding the dried meat of a coconut—which is naturally gluten-free—into a fine powder. It is also grain-free, low in carbs, and high in fiber, potassium and iron.

Coconut flour makes wonderful low carb, gluten-free bread, but it doesn't work the same way regular wheat flour does. You won't be able to make yeast bread with it, but you can use it for easy quick bread recipes.

Coconut flour is very absorbent compared to regular all purpose flour and you will have to increase your liquid ingredient to avoid having a dry product. Start small by replacing ¼ cup of coconut flour for ½ cup all purpose flour. Increase your liquid ingredients by ¼ cup as well to prevent products from drying out.