You can substitute almond flour for coconut flour (and vise versa). With that said, you do need to make adjustments to the recipe to account for the extra absorbency of coconut flour.
Why Substitute Almond Flour for Coconut Flour?
There are several benefits to switching almond flour out for coconut flour, including:
- Nut Allergies: Nearly 3 million Americans have nut allergies. If you are serving someone with a tree-nut allergy, almonds are off the table.
- Missing Ingredient: We’ve all been there. You’ve found the perfect recipe, but don’t have all the ingredients needed to create it. It never hurts to have more alternatives in your baking/cooking toolbelt.
- Diet Restrictions: Whether you’re eating keto or prometibolic, coconut flour is the perfect substitute.
- Healthier Alternative: Rich in MCTs and fiber, coconut flour is known to promote good digestion, heart health, and stable blood sugar.
Step-by-Step Guide: Substituting Almond Flour for Coconut Flour
When converting a recipe from almond flour to coconut flour we would recommend making the following adjustments:
- Replace every 1 cup of almond flour with ¼ cup (1 ounce) of coconut flour
- Add 1 egg (or an equivalent amount of liquid) for every ¼ cup of coconut flour used
For example, if your pancake recipe requires a cup of almond flour, you would need ¼ cup coconut flour plus additional liquid.
Helpful Tips:
- Due to its high absorbency, coconut flour requires additional liquid when using it as a substitute. You’ll notice in the chart above that the amount of additional liquid required is a one-to-one ratio with the amount of coconut flour used in a recipe.
- 1 large egg is roughly ¼ cup in volume.
Pull Out the Coconut Flour and Get to Work
Whether you’ve run out of almond flour or simply want to try something new, coconut is a healthy, allergy-friendly alternative. Give it a try and let us know what you’re cooking!
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