Skip to content

Top Navigation

MyRecipes MyRecipes
  • Course
  • Baking
  • Global
  • Healthy
  • Favorite Ingredients
  • Holidays and Occasions
  • Quick and Easy
  • Convenience Recipes
  • BBQ and Grilling
  • How To
  • Extra Crispy
  • News

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Account

  • Register
  • Recipe Box this link opens in a new tab
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Logout
Login
Pin FB

Explore MyRecipes

MyRecipes MyRecipes
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 55+ Easy Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights

      55+ Easy Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights

      Everybody understands the stuggle of getting dinner on the table after a long day. If you're looking for a simple recipe to simplify your weeknight, you've come to the right place--easy dinners are our specialty. For an easy supper that you can depend on, we picked out some of our tried-and-true favorites that have gotten us through even the busiest of days. Whether you're cooking for yourself or for a family, these easy dinners are sure to leave everyone satisfied and stress-free. Read More
    • The Brilliant Secret to Making Better Mashed Potatoes

      The Brilliant Secret to Making Better Mashed Potatoes

      Trust me, it’s so worth it. Read More
    • 65 Super Easy Finger Foods to Make for Any Party

      65 Super Easy Finger Foods to Make for Any Party

      From chips and dip to one-bite apps, finger foods are the perfect way to kick off a party. No forks or spoons required, just easy-to-pick-up party foods, so you can clean up in no time.  Read More
  • Course

    Course

    See All Course
    • Best Appetizer Recipes...Ever
    • Best Drink Recipes for Any Occasion
    • Salad Recipes
    • The Ultimate Guide to Sensational Sides
    • Soup and Stew Recipes
    • Easy Entertaining for Everyone
    • Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
    • Main Dishes and Entrées
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
  • Baking

    Baking

    See All Baking
    • Bread Recipes
    • Our Most-Loved Cake Recipes
    • Cookie Recipes
    • Pie Recipes
  • Global

    Global

    See All Global
    • Spanish Recipes
    • Thai Recipes
    • Vietnamese Recipes
    • Middle Eastern Recipes
    • Mexican Recipes
    • Malaysian Recipes
    • Korean Recipes
    • Japanese Recipes
    • Italian Recipes
    • Indian Recipes
    • Greek Recipes
    • French Recipes
    • Chinese Recipes
    • African Recipes
    • American Recipes
    • Cajun and Creole Recipes
    • Caribbean Recipes
    • South American Recipes
    • Southern Recipes
    • German Recipes
  • Healthy

    Healthy

    See All Healthy
    • Easy, Healthy Recipes
    • Healthy Breakfasts
    • Healthy Dinners
    • Healthy Desserts
    • Diabetic Recipes
    • Gluten-Free Diet and Recipes
    • Vegan Recipes
    • Low Carbohydrate Recipes
    • Low Cholesterol Recipes
    • Low Fat Recipes
    • Low Sodium Recipes
    • Low Calorie Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
  • Favorite Ingredients

    Favorite Ingredients

    See All Favorite Ingredients
    • The Ultimate Guide to Chicken
    • Vegetable Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Cheese Recipes
    • Chocolate Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Pork Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Shrimp Recipes
  • Holidays and Occasions

    Holidays and Occasions

    See All Holidays and Occasions
    • A Foodie's Guide to Halloween Recipes
    • The Ultimate Thanksgiving Guide
    • Hanukkah Recipes
    • Your Ultimate Christmas Recipe Guide
    • Our Most Festive New Year's Recipes
    • Best-Ever Super Bowl Sunday Recipes
    • Best Valentine's Day Recipes
    • Mardi Gras Recipes
    • The Ultimate Guide to Easter Recipes
    • Cinco de Mayo Recipes
    • Labor Day Recipes
    • The Ultimate Fourth of July Guide
    • Memorial Day Recipes
    • Touchdown-Worthy Tailgate Recipes
    • Wedding and Shower Recipes
  • Quick and Easy

    Quick and Easy

    See All Quick and Easy
    • 15-Minute Recipes for Busy Home Cooks
    • 5 Ingredients or Less
    • Dinner Tonight
    • No-Cook Recipes
    • 45-Minute Recipes
  • Convenience Recipes

    Convenience Recipes

    See All Convenience Recipes
    • Budget-Friendly Recipes
    • Our Top Make-Ahead Recipes
    • Our Favorite Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
  • BBQ and Grilling

    BBQ and Grilling

    See All BBQ and Grilling
    • Grilled Beef Recipes
    • Grilled Fish Recipes
    • Grilled Shrimp Recipes
    • Grilled Chicken Recipes
    • Grilled Pork Recipes
    • Grilled Vegetable Recipes
  • How To

    How To

    See All How To
    • 7 Ways With...
    • Videos
    • Ingredients and Tools
    • Kitchen Cleaning
  • Extra Crispy
  • News

Profile Menu

Your Profile

Account

  • Register
  • Recipe Box this link opens in a new tab
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Best Your Best Chef-Self: The Complete How-To Guide
  3. Flour Power: A Guide to Using Alternative Flours

Flour Power: A Guide to Using Alternative Flours

Updated July 28, 2011
Skip gallery slides
Pin
grain-flapjacks
Credit: Beatriz Dacosta

Expand your flour horizons beyond all-purpose with these ten terrific flours and recipes that showcase each one. By: Deanna Segrave-Daly, RD

Start Slideshow

1 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Using Different Flours

Using Different Flours

Expand your flour horizons with these ten terrific flours, including several gluten-free options. As a general rule, any flour stays fresher longer when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer. Nowadays, many alternative flours are readily available at standard supermarkets or online.

1 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Whole Wheat Flour

Fontina, Olive, and Tomato Pizza with Basil Whole Wheat Crust
Credit: Randy Mayor

Whole Wheat Flour Recipe

Punch up the whole grains in your diet by replacing whole wheat flour for up to half of the regular flour in your bread, scone or muffin recipes. Because it can be dense, try finely ground whole wheat pastry flour for lighter baked goods like cookies and cupcakes.

2 of 11

3 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Semolina (Pasta Flour)

Ricotta-Basil Gnocchi
Credit: Tina Rupp

Semolina (Pasta Flour) Recipe

A staple in every Italian’s pantry, this yellow colored flour is made from durum wheat. Besides being the prime ingredient for making fresh pasta, semolina is commonly used to make hot cereals, breads and even puddings. Like cornmeal, it can be dusted onto surfaces to prevent dough from sticking.

3 of 11

Advertisement

4 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Peanut Flour

Peanut Oven-Fried Chicken With Citrus-Ginger Sauce

Peanut Flour Recipe

Naturally gluten-free, defatted roasted peanut flour offers a protein punch and familiar flavor to your recipes. It’s an aromatic ingredient for breads, pastries and baked goods. Since it crisps nicely when frying, peanut flour creates a tasty coating for meat, chicken or fish and is a nutritious thickener for soups or smoothies.

4 of 11

5 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Buckwheat Flour

Banana-Cinnamon Waffles
Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Buckwheat Flour Recipe

Nutty and bold flavored, buckwheat flour is unrelated to wheat and is actually gluten-free (it’s a fruit seed vs. a cereal grain.) Often seen in pancake and waffle recipes, this protein rich flour is a staple in Asian cooking and the basis for making soba buckwheat noodles.

5 of 11

6 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Rye Flour

Brown Beer Rye Bread
Credit: Randy Mayor

Rye Flour Recipe

With a very distinct and rich flavor, rye flour is most commonly used to make crackers and breads like pumpernickel. Dark rye flour is loaded with fiber and also has a more robust taste. The more rye flour used in baking, the longer the bread will stay fresh.

6 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Coconut Flour

Piña Colada Cheesecake Bars
Credit: Jeff Kauck; Styling: Melanie J. Clarke

Coconut Flour Recipe

Gluten-free and with the highest fiber content of any flour, coconut flour adds a wonderful sweet and fruity flavor to any baked good. Its texture and taste makes an ideal seafood or fish coating (think coconut shrimp) or a nutritious mix-in for hot breakfast cereals.

7 of 11

8 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Chickpea Flour

Spicy Chickpea Sandwiches
Credit: John Clark

Chickpea Flour Tout

Ground from dried garbanzo beans, chickpea flour is a delicious staple common in Indian and Middle Eastern cooking. Gluten-free and a good source of protein and fiber, this versatile flour can be used as a baking ingredient, a soup thickener or even mixed with water into a dip like hummus.

8 of 11

9 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Soy Flour

Peach Upside-Down Cake
Credit: Karry Hosford

Soy Flour Recipe

Available as full-fat or low-fat, soy flour packs a serious protein punch. Yet another gluten free option, it’s most often seen in baked goods but can also be used to make soy milk on the stove. (Whisk and cook with 1 part flour to 3 parts water.)

9 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Amaranth Flour

Wheat Berry Bread
Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Lydia DeGaris-Pursell

Amaranth Flour Recipe

This ancient grain is mildly sweet tasting, protein rich and gluten free. Substitute for no more than 30 percent of the white flour in your muffin, pancake or bread recipes to keep the texture and leavening in tact. It also pairs well with strong sweeteners like molasses and dark honey.

10 of 11

11 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email

Barley Flour

grain-flapjacks
Credit: Beatriz Dacosta

Barley Flour Recipe

Full of fiber, barley flour can help tenderize baked goods but still allows for proper rising because it contains some gluten. With a slightly sweet flavor, this is a fun flour to experiment with in cookies, quick breads or pancakes like this recipe for flapjacks bursting with whole grain goodness.

11 of 11

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 11 Using Different Flours
    2 of 11 Whole Wheat Flour
    3 of 11 Semolina (Pasta Flour)
    4 of 11 Peanut Flour
    5 of 11 Buckwheat Flour
    6 of 11 Rye Flour
    7 of 11 Coconut Flour
    8 of 11 Chickpea Flour
    9 of 11 Soy Flour
    10 of 11 Amaranth Flour
    11 of 11 Barley Flour

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email
    MyRecipes

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithMyRecipes.com is part of the Allrecipes Food Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. MyRecipes is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. MyRecipes may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright MyRecipes. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.myrecipes.com

    Sign in

    View image

    Flour Power: A Guide to Using Alternative Flours
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.