What Can I Bake With Oat Flour?

Are you looking for a healthy and gluten-free alternative to wheat flour? Oat flour may be just what you need.

Oat flour is made from ground oats and is an excellent source of fiber, protein, and nutrients. In this article, we’ll explore the world of oat flour and show you how to use it in your baking.

1. What is Oat Flour?

Oat flour is a type of flour made from ground oats. It is commonly used as a gluten-free alternative to wheat flour in baking.

Oat flour has a slightly sweet and nutty flavor, making it a great addition to baked goods like cookies, bread, and pancakes.

2. The Benefits of Oat Flour

Oat flour is a nutritious and healthy alternative to wheat flour. Here are some of the benefits of using oat flour in your baking:

• High in fiber: Oat flour is an excellent source of fiber, which can help keep you feeling full and satisfied.
• Rich in nutrients: Oat flour is high in vitamins and minerals, including iron, magnesium, and zinc.
• Gluten-free: Oat flour is naturally gluten-free, making it a great option for those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
• Low glycemic index: Oat flour has a lower glycemic index than wheat flour, which means it won’t cause a rapid spike in blood sugar levels.

3. How to Make Oat Flour at Home

Making oat flour at home is easy and affordable. All you need is a food processor or blender and rolled oats. Here’s how to do it:

1. Add rolled oats to a food processor or blender.
2. Pulse until the oats are finely ground and have a flour-like consistency.
3. Sift the oat flour to remove any large pieces of oats.

4. Oat Flour vs. Wheat Flour

Oat flour and wheat flour have different properties and are not interchangeable in all recipes. Here are some differences between oat flour and wheat flour:

• Gluten content: Oat flour is naturally gluten-free, while wheat flour contains gluten.
• Texture: Oat flour has a finer texture than wheat flour, which can make baked goods more dense and moist.
• Taste: Oat flour has a slightly sweet and nutty flavor, while wheat flour has a neutral taste.

Keep these differences in mind when substituting oat flour for wheat flour in your baking.

5. Baking Tips for Oat Flour

Baking with oat flour can be a bit different than baking with wheat flour. Here are some tips to help you get the best results:

• Use a combination of flours: Oat flour can be used on its own, but it works best when combined with other gluten-free flours like rice flour or tapioca flour.
• Add xanthan gum: Xanthan gum can help bind the ingredients together and give your baked goods a better texture.
• Use less flour: Oat flour is denser than wheat flour, so you may need to use less of it in your recipes.

• Add more liquid: Oat flour can absorb more liquid than wheat flour, so you may need to add more liquid to your recipes to prevent them from being too dry.

6. Recipes Using Oat Flour

Now that you know the benefits of oat flour and how to use it, here are some delicious recipes to try:

6.1 Oat Flour Pancakes

Ingredients:

• 1 cup oat flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 egg
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, mix together the oat flour, baking powder, and salt.
2. In another bowl, whisk together the honey, egg, milk, and vanilla extract.
3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until well combined.
4. Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat.
5. Pour 1/4 cup of batter onto the pan for each pancake.
6. Cook until bubbles form on the surface, then flip and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
7. Serve with your favorite toppings.

6.2 Oat Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups oat flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the oat flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. In another bowl, cream together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
4. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix until well combined.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until well combined.
6. Fold in the chocolate chips.
7. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
8. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
9. Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

6.3 Oat Flour Banana Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups oat flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 3 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. In a bowl, mix together the oat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
3. In another bowl, whisk together the mashed bananas, Greek yogurt, honey, egg, and vanilla extract.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until well combined.
5. Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan.
6. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

6.4 Oat Flour Pizza Dough

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups oat flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
2. In a bowl, whisk together the oat flour, salt, baking powder, dried basil, and garlic powder.
3. Add the warm water and olive oil and mix until a dough forms.
4. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for 5 minutes.
5. Roll out the dough into a circle or rectangle shape.
6. Place the dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
7. Add your favorite pizza toppings.
8. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.

6.5 Oat Flour Banana Muffins

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups oat flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 3 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. In a bowl, mix together the oat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
3. In another bowl, whisk together the mashed bananas, honey, unsweetened applesauce, egg, and vanilla extract.
4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until well combined.
5. Pour the batter into a muffin tin lined with muffin liners.
6. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Cool in the muffin tin for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

FAQs

Conclusion

Oat flour is a nutritious and versatile alternative to wheat flour. It is gluten-free, high in fiber, and rich in nutrients. Oat flour can be used in a variety of recipes, from pancakes and cookies to bread and pizza dough.

When using oat flour in recipes, it is important to keep in mind that it can absorb more liquid than wheat flour and may require adjustments to the recipe. Give oat flour a try and enjoy its health benefits and delicious taste.