The BEST Coconut Flour Recipes (5 Star rated!) - The Big Man's World ® (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to baking with coconut flour? ›

A quick rule of thumb is to swap about 1/4 to 1/3 cup coconut flour for 1 cup of regular flour. Due to its high absorbency, you'll also want to increase the number of eggs. To help you try this unique ingredient, we've rounded up eight of our best coconut flour recipes.

While coconut flour does have a mild, sweet coconut flavor it doesn't taste exactly like taking a bite of fresh coconut. The flavor is more subdued and a bit drier. It pairs well with other strong flavors such as banana, chocolate and even savory spices.

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.

Desiccated coconut and coconut flour both come from coconut meat that has had its moisture content removed. The difference is that coconut flour no longer has the natural fat content of the desiccated variety, so they're not interchangeable.

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.

Just throw in more flavor when baking with coconut flour. If you're making sweet recipes, such as shortbread, chocolate chip coconut flour cookies, coconut flour muffins or pie crust, use extra chocolate, cocoa powder or vanilla extract.

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.

You have to do a little playing around with a recipe if you want to substitute coconut flour for regular all-purpose wheat flour. The rule of thumb is to substitute only 20 percent of coconut for wheat flour. Flour made from coconut becomes dense and soaks up a lot of moisture when it bakes.

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 ).

Can I eat coconut flour everyday? ›

To gain most of its benefits, consume one teaspoon of coconut flour daily. Six health benefits of coconut flour include: Lowers blood sugar levels: Coconut flour is highly associated with lowering the risk of diabetes when compared with other flours.

Coconut flour appears to have a low glycaemic index of 51 which means it should cause less of a spike in blood sugar levels than wheat flour, which has a glycaemic index of 69. This is because coconut flour is high in fat and fibre, which work to slow down the release of sugar in the bloodstream.

Nutrition Facts

As you can see, almond flour is far higher in fat than coconut flour, making it superior for those following a Ketogenic Diet, or a Low Carb High Fat (LCHF) diet. Coconut flour is far higher in carbohydrates than almond flour.

Beyond allergies and ingredient sensitivities, the differences between almond flour versus coconut flour become more apparent. Almond flour is much higher in calories and fat than coconut flour, and also is more nutrient-dense with higher amounts of minerals and vitamins.

Coconut flour is not the same as shredded coconut. Coconut flour is made from the pulp that remains after coconut milk is extracted, which is then dried and ground into flour.

You have to do a little playing around with a recipe if you want to substitute coconut flour for regular all-purpose wheat flour. The rule of thumb is to substitute only 20 percent of coconut for wheat flour. Flour made from coconut becomes dense and soaks up a lot of moisture when it bakes.

In fact, my favorite keto chocolate cupcakes are made entirely with coconut flour. But if you don't know how to work with it, coconut flour can be difficult and sometimes very frustrating. It simply doesn't behave like any other flour on the market, and many people make mistakes when working with it.

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.