Can you use coconut flour instead of all purpose flour

Almond Flour vs All Purpose Flour vs Coconut Flour, how do you know which to choose when cooking or baking? We break down all the differences and similarities between these 3 types of flour so you can make the best choice! For the fluffiest and most delicious baked goods, keep reading to learn all about the different kinds of flour!

The Difference Between Almond Flour, All Purpose Flour, & Coconut Flour

Growing up most of us were only familiar with one kind of flour. Whether you called it white flour, all-purpose flour, or simply – flour, everyone knew what you were referring to. However, over the last two decades, all-purpose flour has gotten a lot of competitors.

Two of the newer types of flour that are giving your childhood classic some competition are almond flour and coconut flour. The main reason for the rise in these two types of flour is that they are gluten-free. However, that is not the only reason.

• The Difference Between Almond Flour, All Purpose Flour, & Coconut Flour
• What is All Purpose Flour?
• The Purpose of Protein in Flour
• What is Almond Flour?
• What is Coconut Flour?
• Differences Between All Purpose Flour, Almond Flour, and Coconut Flour
• Can You Substitute These Flours for One Another?
• 📚 More Informative Articles

Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about almond flour vs all-purpose flour vs coconut flour. Then, decide which one is best for you!

What is All Purpose Flour?

All-purpose flour is made from wheat that has been ground into a fine powder form. In addition, most all-purpose flour has also been bleached to get a bright white color. This creates the white flour that most of us grew up using.

As the name suggests, all-purpose flour can be used in a variety of ways. It is the standard flour for baking and is also effective as a thickener. Therefore, making it one of the easiest flours to use. In addition, it is one of the easiest flours to find in any grocery store.  

The key to all-purpose flour being so versatile is its protein content. Compared to other wheat flours its protein content falls in the middle range.

The Purpose of Protein in Flour

Wheat contains two unique proteins: glutenin and gliadin. When wheat is mixed with water (or another liquid) these proteins are activated. Once they are activated, they bind to create gluten.

This process is why the protein ratio is important in different types of flour.  Flours with a high protein ratio (like bread flour and whole wheat flour) have more gluten, this creates a denser texture. On the other hand, flours with a low protein content (like cake flour and pastry flour) result in super light and airy baked goods.

The protein content of all-purpose flour is right in the middle. It provides a perfect texture that is not too dense but not too airy. Think about the wonderful texture of your favorite cookies, quick bread (like banana bread), and cakes.

This protein ratio is also ideal to use as a thickening agent. It adds just enough gluten to create a desired thickness in gravies, sauces, and soups.

What is Almond Flour?

Almond flour is made from almonds that have been ground into a fine powder. It is not to be confused with almond meal. While the almond meal is also made from ground almonds it has a courser texture.

When considering using almond flour in a recipe it is important to make sure you have finely milled almond flour rather than almond meal.

Since almond flour is made from almonds it has all the same nutritional qualities. It is gluten-free and low in carbohydrates. It is also higher in fat.

With the rise of low carb high-fat diets (like Keto) many baked goods that are typically made with all-purpose flour have been converted into new recipes that use almond flour. However, while there are many new recipes there are also some oldies that have always relied on this unique flour.

The colorful French Macaroons that have tasty fillings are made with almond flour. The fine texture and lack of gluten are the perfect base for making these airy cookies.

As one of the most popular gluten-free flours on the market, almond flour is easy to find. Most mainstream grocery stores carry it on the baking aisle.

What is Coconut Flour?

Coconut flour is made from the meat of a coconut. The white fleshy coconut meat (that is often used shredded for baking) is dehydrated. Once it is dehydrated it is milled into a fine powder to create flour.

Like almond flour, coconut flour is also gluten-free, high-fat, and low-carb. Therefore, it has become another popular replacement for all-purpose flour in baking. While it can also be used as a thickening agent, it is not as popularly used for that due to its distinct flavor.

While almond flour was always used for certain baking recipes like macaroons, coconut flour is primarily known as an alternative to all-purpose flour (or almond flour). Therefore, recipes are adapted from their original ingredients to be created around the use of coconut flour.

Coconut flour is gaining popularity quickly. Therefore, most grocery stores carry it on the same aisle as almond flour and all-purpose flour.

Differences Between All Purpose Flour, Almond Flour, and Coconut Flour

As you can see from above there are some major differences between these three flours. Since all of them can be used in similar ways, you may wonder how their differences impact different recipes. Take a look at these differences more closely to find out.

Gluten vs Gluten Free

The biggest difference between these three flours is the gluten content. All-purpose flour is made from wheat and therefore includes gluten. As mentioned above, it is the gluten that creates the desired texture in baked goods. Moreover, it is what helps thicken liquids.

While almond flour and coconut flour have protein in them it is not the same type of protein found in wheat. Therefore, gluten cannot be formed. Since gluten cannot be formed with these two flours, they do not provide an identical texture to traditional baked goods made with all-purpose flour.

Texture

Since almond flour and coconut flour are both gluten-free the texture of foods made with them will be different than if it was made with all-purpose flour. All-purpose flour is ideal for a soft and chewy, balanced texture.

Almond flour typically leads to a lighter and airier consistency (compared to all-purpose flour). Due to the higher fat content though this flour allows for a lovely moist consistency.

On the other hand, coconut flour usually leads to a denser consistency. This is because coconut flour is extremely absorbent. Therefore, not only is it denser but requires more liquid to keep baked goods from being too dry.

Taste

A significant difference between all-purpose, almond, and coconut flours is the taste. All-purpose flour has a neutral flavor. This makes it ideal for baking and cooking because it does not impact the overall taste of a recipe. In fact, it takes on the other flavors added to it. Therefore, allowing for the intended flavors to be distinctly noticed.

Almond flour is made from almonds, so it is naturally going to taste like almonds. However, almonds have a mild flavor. Therefore, when milled into flour and combined with other ingredients it adapts to the flavors around it. It is not as neutral as all-purpose flour though. You will notice a slightly nutty taste.

Of the three flour types, coconut flour has the most distinct flavor. Like almond flour it tastes like what is made from – coconuts! Coconuts have a much stronger flavor than almonds though. The coconut flavor will come through quite distinctly in any recipe. Therefore, recipes that call for coconut flour are specifically made with other ingredients that pair well with coconut.

Can You Substitute These Flours for One Another?

The simple answer is yes, you can use these three flours as substitutes. However, how you use them as substitutes is more complex.

When swapping out one for the other it is essential to consider the differences discussed above. Especially the gluten content. If you try to switch all-purpose flour with almond or coconut flour, you will need to add a binding agent to mimic the gluten that is missing from the almond or coconut flour.

Binding agents like xanthan gum, guar gum, and psyllium husk are all good gluten-free binding agents. Adding extra eggs can also work. Without a binding agent, your baked goods will not form and bake in the way you would like. In addition, it is often suggested that you use about ¾ the amount of gluten-free flour for all-purpose flour.

Don’t forget to consider the impact on flavor as well.

Can Almond Flour and Coconut Flour Be Substitutes?

Even though almond flour and coconut flour have many similar properties they are not always an easy 1:1 substitution either. The overall consistency of each flour is quite different from the other.  Therefore, it is helpful to learn how to substitute almond flour for coconut flour and vice versa.

A Better Alternative to Substituting

Although these three flours can be used as substitutes it is not always the easiest swap. Rather than guessing how to make a substitute work, it is better to find an alternative recipe.

For example, if you want to use almond flour instead of all-purpose flour to make chocolate chip cookies then look up “almond flour chocolate chip cookies.” Below I have listed my articles on the best substitutes for each type of flower:

• Almond Flour Substitutes
• All-Purpose Flour Substitutes
• Coconut Flour Substitutes

Since all of these flours are commonly used in the kitchen these days it is easy to find alternative recipes for your favorite baked goods. While it may not be YOUR recipe it will often lead to a better overall result than simply trying to swap out one flour for the other.

We hope we cleared up any questions you had regarding almond flour vs all purpose flour vs coconut flour. If you have further questions, ask us in the comment section below!

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Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!

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