What is coconut flour?
Coconut Flour is the fibre from pure coconut meat after most of the oil has been removed. This fibre is very finely ground down to make flour. Coconut flour is made from 100% coconut so it is natural and really good for us. The flour has a slight course grainy texture compared to traditional wheat flour & is creamy white in colour.
Coconut flour is gluten-free, high in fibre and low in carbohydrates, making it a fantastic ingredient for people who require a gluten-free alternitive.
Coconut flour is much fluffier than almond meal which tends to be quite dense and the other advantage is that it is ‘nut free’ so the perfect gluten-free ingredient for school lunch boxes.
Where to buy coconut flour?
The good news is that coconut flour is now becoming more available at general supermarkets with different brands popping up making the price more competitive. You can buy it from most supermarkets in the baking section and health food stores now. It has also become more affordable and can be purchased for as little at $3 for a small bag.
How to use coconut flour?
Smaller amounts of coconut flour are required due to it being very absorbent and often you will fine that more liquid is required. You will notice that a lot of recipes that use coconut flour use more eggs than standard wheat flour recipes. Coconut flour is perfect for baking gluten-free cakes, muffins, pancakes and loaves.
My top tips for working with coconut flour
- 1/2 cup coconut flour needs 2-3 eggs.
- 1 cup wheat flour is the equivalent of approx. 1/3 cup coconut flour.
- Cooking time and temperature will differ, generally you will need to bake at a lower temp for a longer cooking time.
- The coconut flour mixture will thicken over a few minutes as it absorbs the liquids so just wait a couple of minutes before adding more coconut flour if you think the mixture seems to runny.
- Other ingredient quantities will need to alter, particularly you will need more eggs and other liquids.
It takes some getting used to when baking with coconut flour but once you get used to it, it is a fantastic product to bake with. I am still learning and experimenting myself and I will keep you posted as I learn more about baking with coconut flour.
Here are some of my favourite coconut flour recipes for you to try out:
Coconut Flour Pikelets
Healthy Choc & Banana Loaf
Coconut Flour & Chive Blinis
Note: The Banana & Cinnamon Muffins pictured are in the Real Food Pledge book.
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