There are a lot of gluten-free flours out there in the bright and beautiful world of food, but ten, or even maybe even five years ago, we probably wouldn’t be able to say that. If you’ve been living with a grain or gluten allergy all your life, you’ve probably gotten used to using your blender to make your own chickpea flour, rice flour, oat flour, and then some. Pre-packaged gluten-free and grain-free treats used to be something you could only get in a health food store for like, $10.99 a box. But today, you run into pre-packaged gluten-free flours and gluten-free sweets in just about any grocery store. It’s a victory, whether you prefer homemade or boxed cookies. If you do prefer the homemade kind of stuff (and we’re with you on that), then you might be unsure what you can use all those different gluten-free flours for. When’s the right time to use almond flour? What on earth is teff flour? Well, if you like to bake, you might want to start with coconut flour.
Coconut flour has a high fiber and protein content. It also has a naturally sweet flavor, so it’s no wonder that it’s becoming a baking staple for gluten-free kitchens. When it comes to gluten-free baking, though, it’s not as easy as taking a regular recipe and replacing the non-gluten-free flour with something like coconut flour — baking is a science and it’s all about finding the right formula that results in the (delicious) solution to the problem (your empty stomach). That’s where we come in. We take pride in our ability to sniff out all the best recipes, from the conventional to the downright unique, so we’ve gone and gathered 15 recipes to show you all the different ways you can use coconut flour. What else can you do with coconut flour besides bake sweets? Get ready to find out!
1. Raw Cherry Chocolate Coconut Cookies
We love cherries and chocolate. You can’t get much radder than these healthy, Raw Cherry Chocolate Coconut Cookiesthat are made from a base of oats, coconut flour, and coconut flakes. They’re a beautiful shade of magenta thanks to the addition of beet juice. They also just happen to be delicious without sugar or oil.
2. Healthy Onion Rings
Could it be that healthy onion rings are actually a thing? Heck yeah, they are! Using coconut flour, you can create these gluten-free, grain-free, low carbHealthy Onion Rings. They’re crispy, light, and you have to try them to believe them.
3. Swedish Princess Cake
Sweden’s beloved cake gets a raw makeover! A Princess Cake is a Swedish dessert consisting of a layer of sponge cake, a layer of pastry cream or custard, and a thick layer of whipped cream all surrounded by a layer of green marzipan. The light and fluffy sponge cake in this raw version is made from coconut flour and almond flour. Then, it’s covered with sweet strawberry chia jam, a layer of vanilla custard, whipped coconut cream, and raw marzipan. Sounds like a dessert that’s fit for royalty to us.
4. Chocolate Coconut Protein Cups
These homemade Chocolate Coconut Protein Cups are made with creamy cacao butter, cacao powder, coconut shreds, coconut flour, and protein for a tasty, healthy dessert! These are the equivalent of dark chocolate but loaded with tasty, crunchy cacao bits and with an extra element of tastiness courtesy of the nut butter. They’re a great source of protein and an awesome excuse to have chocolate for breakfast.
5. Crispy Falafel Patties
If you love falafel, why not eat it in burger form? These Crispy Falafel Patties are a must-try for just that. The herbed and spiced chickpeas are held together by almonds, or any nut that you have on hand — no flour necessary — and they’re coated in coconut flour, then fried until they’re crunchy and golden on the outside. These go great with guac, salsa, and pair beautifully with thick-cut sweet potato fries.
6. 6-Ingredient Twix Bars
A golden brown shortbread crust, caramel, and rich chocolate coating… Simply stated, these 6-Ingredient Twix Bars are going to bring joy and smiles and general good vibes to your life. These three flavors work in perfect harmony together to bring you one fantastic, paleo vegan candy bar experience.
7. Lemon Meringue Pie With Coconut Flour Crust
Variations of lemon meringue pie have been around for centuries and for a good reason. Lemon cream and fluffy meringue were just meant to be eaten together on a crumbly pie crust. The old-fashioned way of making meringue involves the use of egg whites, but this Lemon Meringue Pie With Coconut Flour Crust uses aquafaba, the liquid from canned chickpeas, instead. The results are amazing and the process of making this recipe is faster than your traditional lemon meringue pie — it’s done within 30 minutes.
8.White Coconut-Millet Cheesecake
There are a lot of ways you can make a vegan cheesecake; it can be made from cashews, coconut milk, vegan cream cheese, or a combination of any of those ingredients. But did you know that you can also use millet? This creamy, nut-free White Coconut-Millet Cheesecake is made from creamy coconut milk and millet with coconut flakes and flour added for texture. It has a subtle vanilla flavor that makes it the perfect base for topping with warm, gooey berries, chocolate, or cinnamon.
9. Paleo Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
The most exciting part of these Chocolate Chip Cookies is that they are grain-free, paleo, and vegan, all at the same time. The fruits do all the sweetening, making these a truly guilt-free indulgence. And they’re so easy to make! All you do is combine the ingredients in a mixing bowl and bake in the oven. As they bake, you’ll enjoy the aroma and feel an increase in appetite and craving.
10. Lemon Coconut Protein Bars
These tart Lemon and Coconut Protein Bars taste just like lemon pound cake, but they’re completely grain-free. Instead, they’re made from a combination of almond flour, coconut flour, and coconut flakes. They’re packed with healthy ingredients like flax, chia, and homemade protein powder to help you recover after the gym!
11. Sesame Cabbage With Coconut Crusted Tofu
This Sesame Cabbage With Coconut Crusted Tofu is fast food done right because you can throw it together in no time flat. It’s so toasty — no other word to describe it. With the sweetness of the mango, the coconut bacon just adds that bit of saltiness the dish needs. It truly is one of those quick go-to meals that you can whip up in a flash. You can make the salad ahead of time, too and just let it hang in the fridge for a bit.
12. Raspberry and Coconut Glazed Doughnuts
Doughnuts are the last treat you’d expect to find on a raw food roster, but these Raspberry and Coconut Glazed Doughnuts do the genre proud. Once you get the base down, you can run with it, creating variations from chocolate doughnuts with sprinkles to maple bars. This recipe calls for a doughnut pan; if you don’t have one, simply shape the dough into o’s with your hands.
13. Triple-Layer German Chocolate Cake
This Triple-Layer German Chocolate Cake is the only German chocolate cake you’ll ever need … And, psst! It’s also a raw vegan dessert! Its dense, chocolatey layers are made from coconut flour, almond flour, cacao powder, and almond butter to make everything taste decadent. The chocolate frosting is unreal and you’ll want to devour the pecan and coconut topping with a spoon.
14. Grandma’s Peanut Butter Cookies
This take on Grandma’s Peanut Butter Cookies doesn’t use sugar, butter, or wheat flour; in fact, it only uses five simple ingredients: peanut butter, coconut flour, maple syrup, vanilla, and a pinch of salt. Just throw everything into the food processor until it forms a smooth batter, roll it into balls and add the little fork flourish. Voila! Decadent little bites of peanut buttery goodness that seem baked (and totally time intensive), but they’re not at all.
15. 7-Ingredient Lemon Coconut Squares
Creamy, lemony, and sweet, these 7-Ingredient Lemon Coconut Squares are for those of us who prefer this classic dessert with more lemon than sweetness. The crust is made from coconut flour, almonds, and dates and the creamy lemon coconut topping is light-as-air. You can also easily omit the maple syrup or agave for a completely sugar-free lemon square. They only have 7 ingredients, are deliciously creamy and have a zesty lemon touch!
Which of these awesome these recipes has caught your eye (for us, the answer is: all of them)? Tell us in the comments!
Check out The Ultimate Guide to Gluten-Free Flour!for all your gluten-free baking needs!
Lead image source: Triple-Layer German Chocolate Cake
