Oat Flour Substitute

If you're looking for the best oat flour substitute, you have plenty of options to choose from depending on your needs! This list of alternatives features many types of gluten-free flour and some substitutes that do contain gluten but will work in a pinch. No matter the recipe, there is bound to be an oat flour substitute that will work just right!

The Best Oat Flour Substitutes

Oatmeal has been a staple in kitchens for decades. Most of us grew up with a canister of Quaker Oats in the pantry. Many of us continue to keep a canister in our homes today.

One of the great things about oats is that they are so versatile! In addition to being a perfect fiber-filling breakfast, they can also make a delicious cookie. Beyond that, oats can be made into flour you can use in even more recipes.

Jump to:

• The Best Oat Flour Substitutes
• Best Gluten-Free Substitutes for Oat Flour
• 1. DIY Oat Flour
• 2. Brown Rice Flour
• 3. White Rice Flour
• 4. Cassava Flour
• 5. Almond Flour
• 6. DIY Almond Flour
• 7. Coconut Flour
• Additional Gluten-Free Flour Substitutes
• The Best Substitutes for Oat Flour (That Contain Gluten)
• 8. All-Purpose Flour
• 9. Bread Flour
• 10. Whole Wheat Flour
• 11. Barley Flour or Rye Flour
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• 💬 Reviews

Even if you have used oat flour before, you may still wonder what it is. Oat flour is simply raw oats that have been ground up into a fine powder. It’s as simple as that. The simplicity of oat flour is also what makes it such an easy ingredient to substitute.

Best Gluten-Free Substitutes for Oat Flour

One of the key reasons oat flour is used in cooking and baking is because it is gluten-free. If you need to keep your recipe gluten-free, there are several wonderful alternatives. In addition, there are also a couple of great options if you want to make a recipe that is both gluten-free and low-carb.

If you are not concerned about keeping the recipe gluten-free, then there are several additional substitutes you can use as well.

1. DIY Oat Flour

Oat flour is one of the all-time easiest things to make at home. All you need are raw oats and either a food processor or blender.

Pour oats into the food processor and blend until you have the consistency of flour. That’s it!

Once ground, you can measure your homemade oat flour in any recipe. Store the extra flour in an airtight container to use in the future.

Use exactly as you would any store-bought oat flour in any recipe!

2. Brown Rice Flour

Brown rice flour is another gluten-free flour that has a similar texture to oat flour. It has an earthy taste that is slightly nutty. When ground into flour, those same flavors come through.

This similar flavor and texture are an excellent substitute for oat flour. It will provide a great base for baking and thickening soups and sauces.

Use ¾ cup brown rice flour for every 1 cup of oat flour.

3. White Rice Flour

White rice flour (or just rice flour) can also be used as a substitute. Its flavor is more neutral compared to brown rice flour. Therefore, it will not reflect the earthy flavor profile of oat flour.

Its consistency is a bit softer as well. However, it will still provide a close final texture to that of oat flour.

White rice flour is less dense than brown rice flour and can be used in a 1:1 substitution for oat flour.

4. Cassava Flour

Cassava flour is made from dehydrated cassava root. It is a starchy vegetable similar to a potato or yucca.

In recent years, cassava flour has become popular in gluten-free baking and cooking because of its texture and taste. It is especially popular in making tortillas and tortilla chips.

While cassava flour is a popular choice for replacing all-purpose flour in recipes, it also works as an oat flour substitute. Its overall flavor is more neutral than oat flour, but it will lend a similar texture and consistency.

Cassava flour can replace oat flour in any recipe in a 1:1 ratio.

5. Almond Flour

At the top of the list of popular gluten-free flour is almond flour. Made from grinding raw almonds into a fine powder, this flour has a soft nutty taste. The flavor will reflect the same type of flavor that oat flour offers.

The texture of almond flour is a bit different from oat flour. It is grainer and less dense. However, many find this nutty and grainy texture enjoyable in baked goods.

Almond flour is especially tasty in muffins, bread, and cookies. This is the best alternative for those who want a low-carb substitute for oat flour.

Almond flour can be used cup for cup in place of oat flour. In addition to baking, it can be used for thickening soups and sauces too.

6. DIY Almond Flour

Just like with oats, you can make your own almond flour at home. Almond flour is best made with hulled almonds (where the skin has been removed).

Just toss these almonds into a food processor and grind to the desired consistency. Use in the same way you would use store-bought almond flour.

7. Coconut Flour

If you are looking to make a gluten-free recipe also keto-friendly, coconut flour is another great alternative. Made from the dehydrated meat of a coconut, coconut flour is high in fat and low in carbs.

When replacing oat flour with coconut flour there are a couple of distinct differences. The first is the taste. Coconut flour has a distinct coconut flavor. This taste will come through in most recipes, although it is often a lovely addition to many recipes.

Another difference is the consistency of coconut flour. While it has a soft flour texture that resembles oat flour, coconut flour is highly absorbent. It will absorb liquid quickly and can quickly make things too dry.

Begin with a 1:1 ratio of coconut flour for oat flour. Then, slowly add more liquid (water, milk, oil) as needed to maintain the desired consistency of the recipe.

Additional Gluten-Free Flour Substitutes

The great thing about gluten-free living these days is that there are so many choices! Especially when it comes to flour substitutes!

In addition to the alternatives listed above, you can use any of these additional gluten-free flours in place of oat flour. The best part? All of them are an easy 1:1 swap.

• Chickpea Flour
• Soy Flour
• Buckwheat Flour
• Millet Flour
• Amaranth Flour
• Quinoa Flour

The Best Substitutes for Oat Flour (That Contain Gluten)

Oat flour is often used as a gluten-free substitute for traditional wheat flour. However, if you do not require a gluten-free substitute you can use standard flour as a substitute for oat flour.

8. All-Purpose Flour

All-purpose flour is the most common flour used in cooking and baking. It is considered the best all-around flour due to its protein content.

The protein content in all-purpose flour is mid-range. The amount of protein in flour is what forms the gluten, and the amount of gluten is what determines the final texture of a baked good.

Therefore, all-purpose flour produces baked goods that are not too dense & not too airy. This is a slightly different outcome than baking with oat flour, as oat flour tends to be denser.

While your baked goods may not be quite as dense as the original recipe intended, they will still have a good form and consistency.

Use all-purpose flour in a 1:1 ratio for both baking and cooking.

9. Bread Flour

In comparison to all-purpose flour, bread flour has more protein. Therefore, it creates more gluten. This results in sturdier baked goods and bread.

While it is a bit denser than oat flour, bread flour is a substitute that may give you a closer consistency to oat flour. When using bread flour (or all-purpose flour) be mindful of the neutral flavor.

A neutral-tasting substitute is good for not overpowering a recipe, but it can also lead to a bland recipe. Therefore, these neutral flours are best used in recipes that have other strong flavors (like chocolate or citrus).

Use as a 1:1 substitution for oat flour in baking and thickening soups and sauces.

10. Whole Wheat Flour

Whole wheat flour resembles the flavor and texture of oat flour more than white flour (all-purpose or bread). However, its overall flavor is richer than oat flour.

Using whole wheat flour will lend a richer flavor to your baked goods. It will alter the overall flavor of a soup or sauce too much though, so it is not recommended as a thickening agent.

Most recipes will work well with a 1:1 ratio. However, sometimes whole wheat flour will absorb the liquid too quickly.

Therefore, start with ¾ cup of whole wheat flour for 1 cup of oat flour. If the batter or dough is too thin, continue to add the remaining ¼ cup.

11. Barley Flour or Rye Flour

Barley flour and rye flour are two substitutes that have a richer and heartier flavor. Unlike all-purpose flour that may be too bland, barley or rye flour will lend a rich taste to your recipe.

Both flours have a nutty and earthy taste that is reflective of oat flour. Their fibrous texture is also similar to oat flour. Therefore, these two less common types of flour are two great substitutes for oat flour.

While you could use either of these alternatives in cooking, their rich flavors are best suited for baking. Both can be used in an easy 1:1 substitute for oat flour in any recipe.

Cooking Substitutes	Herb & Spice Substitutes	Baking Substitutes
Apple Cider Vinegar	Bay Leaf	Tapioca Starch
Sesame Oil	Rosemary (Fresh & Dried)	Cornmeal
Marsala Wine	Turmeric	Potato Starch
Dijon Mustard	Celery Salt	Coconut Sugar
Horseradish	Tarragon	Buttermilk
Red Wine Vinegar	Cardamom	Brown Sugar
Masa Harina	Paprika	Arrowroot Powder
Cream Cheese	Chili Powder	Cornflour
Creme Fraiche	Cilantro	Shortening
Worcestershire Sauce		Vanilla Extract
Shallots		Lemon Extract

We hope we helped you find an oat flour substitute that will suit your needs! Remember to come back and tell us how everything turned out!

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