These are the 17 best keto coconut flour recipes you will ever make! From breakfast ideas to lunch and even snacks, there are so many things you can make with coconut flour.
Plus, keep reading this guide to learn even more about this easy low-carb gluten-free flour. Discover new recipes such as keto coconut flour cookies, keto cakes, how much coconut flour to use, and what to do if you add too much coconut flour.
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What is coconut flour (and how it's made)?
Coconut flour is dehydrated and defatted coconut meat. Then it is dried at a low temperature and ground into a fine keto flour.
Coconut milk is squeezed from the meat.
People who are on the keto or low carb diet love using coconut flour in baking and cooking because it is high in protein, healthy fats, and EXTREMELY low in grams of NET carbs.
Coconut Flour vs Almond Flour
Another popular low-carb flour is almond flour. This coconut flour vs almond flour guide explains the differences between the two and how to use them in your low-carb recipes.
Coconut flour also has a lot of health benefits compared to almond flour and it's cheaper.
Both coconut flour and almond flour are low-carb flour and naturally gluten-free.
Both are less processed than "healthy whole grains", both coconut flour and almond flour are more nutritious without the need for fortification, that many wheat-based products often have.
As with most keto baking ingredients, there are pros and cons, so let's go through them.
3 reasons why I love baking with coconut flour vs almond flour
- Allergies – so many readers are requesting nut-free recipes. Either because they have nut allergies, or like me, their children attend a school with a nut-free policy. So baking with nuts is out of the question.
- Cost – coconut flour is cheaper to use. Prices vary from country to country, and what is currently on sale, but for us in New Zealand, coconut flour is half the price of almond meal/flour. Not only is coconut flour cheaper to buy, but the amount you use in a recipe is also incredibly small compared to almond meal/flour. A cake might require cups of almond meal/flour, whereas a coconut flour recipe might only require ¼ of this.
- Omega3/6 ratio – almonds have a high omega 6 (pro-inflammatory) content. This isn’t so important when you are just eating a few almonds as a snack, but to rely on cups of almond meal/flour for meals and baking, really does make a difference and adds up quickly.
Coconut Flour FAQ
Before we get into the recipes, these are the most commonly asked questions regarding coconut flour. If you have a question, please leave it in the comments and I'm happy to answer it.
Coconut flour can be used for sweet and savoury baking recipes. People usually use it to make low-carb and keto recipes such as low-carb and keto bread, cookies, and muffins. It is used in paleo, low-carb, and gluten-free recipes. Other people use it for quick recipes such as coconut flour pancakes and waffles.
One of the most popular ways to use coconut flour is in easy low-carb mug cakes, coconut flour bread, and coconut flour keto waffles.
No, coconut flour is the defatted and dehydrated dried coconut meat. Shredded coconut and dehydrated coconut is coconut meat that has been shredded and dried, but not completely.
These ingredients still retain fat and some moisture. You cannot swap shredded coconut for coconut flour in recipes. If you have accidentally bought a shredded coconut, you might like to make keto chocolate coconut bounty bars.
Because coconut flour recipes require a lot of wet ingredients and eggs, some readers mention a subtle eggy taste. My suggestion is, next time, add additional flavours and sweeteners (for a sweet recipe) and more salt and spices (for a savoury recipe).
So to decide your best option, look at the recipe card, and see where you can adjust the flavours. For example, in coconut flour peanut butter cookies use additional vanilla extract, or golden brown sweetener until you get a great taste. Maybe even add some unsweetened cocoa powder?
Yes, you can enjoy cake batter or raw cookie dough made with unbaked coconut flour.
Coconut flour as you have discovered behaves differently from wheat flour but it bakes exactly the same at the same temperature as regular baking with regular flour. It is high in fibre so requires more liquid and more eggs.
Coconut flour is commonly used in healthy diets instead of wheat flour or all-purpose flour. It is naturally gluten-free, extremely low in carbs, and high in fiber. Make sure you drink plenty of water to prevent any bloating or constipation.
Can I substitute regular flour with coconut flour?
No, you cannot just do a 1:1 substitute with coconut flour in recipes that call for regular flour (or all-purpose flour).
I suggest you only begin baking using coconut flour recipes. These are recipes that have been developed specifically using this new flour. Don't start off by trying to convert your old recipes just yet.
This is because coconut flour absorbs a lot more liquid than wheat-based flours do. If you are trying to swap regular flour with coconut flour, the general idea is that you can use ¼-1/3 cup coconut flour for every 1 cup of wheat flour. BUT you need to experiment with how many eggs and liquid you need.
Gluten-free batters tend to be thicker than those made with wheat-based flour too, so keep that in mind as well.
How to make keto cookies
Now you understand how the net carbs in coconut flour are so low, and perfect for the keto diet, you can see why there are so many recipes using it.
For keto coconut cookies to work, you need to add an egg to allow the cookie batter to bind. Remember, coconut flour is gluten-free so the protein from the egg will help the coconut flour cookies stay sturdy and yummy.
Many readers ask me how to remove (or hide) the subtle coconut flavour, I always advise them to add additional flavours such as vanilla, orange zest, or cocoa. I also suggest a little additional sweetener will help hide the coconut flour taste.
How to make dairy-free coconut flour recipes
Most of the recipes here use butter, which for many people with a dairy (lactose) intolerance, can tolerate quite well. However, if you wish to have a true dairy-free coconut flour recipe, simply use coconut oil, add extra flavourings and a pinch of salt.
How to store keto coconut flour recipes
It's best to store recipes made with coconut flour in an airtight container in the fridge in the summer months, and on the kitchen top in cooler months.
Because low-carb and keto recipes use a high number of eggs and no preservatives, they are best baked fresh then stored away from direct heat.
They freeze well and can be defrosted easily by placing your cake, cookie, or pizza at room temperature for a few hours.
Health Benefits of Coconut Flour
As you learn more about low-carb flours, consider the health benefits of coconut flour. One of the most popular benefits it is known for is that it is extremely low carbs. There are various unsubstantiated claims that it can help people lose weight. This is because it is so high in fibre, protein (protein may reduce hunger and appetite), and filling.
Almond flour has a higher fat content but it is the quality of fat that is important to consider. Almond flour is high in omega 6 which is the inflammatory polyunsaturated fat we want to avoid in large quantities.
Coconut flour is lower in fat (another reason why it is so absorbent for liquids in recipes), but it is stable saturated fat.
Omega 6 is inflammatory and omega 3 is anti-inflammatory.
In the past, our omega 6:3 ratio was closer to 1:1, in modern times it has moved to be 15:1, i.e: a highly inflammatory diet. "Excessive amounts of omega-6 ... promote the pathogenesis of many diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, whereas increased levels of omega-3 PUFA (a low omega-6/omega-3 ratio) exert suppressive effects." Source.
🌴The 17 Best Keto Coconut Flour Recipes
Now that you understand the benefits of coconut flour on a low-carb and keto diet, here are some of the easiest and most delicious keto baking recipes that use it. Remember, these are all naturally gluten-free too.
All of them are sugar-free and naturally gluten-free as well. Of course, they are low-carb and keto-friendly too! Each of these will keep you feeling full because they are made with high-fat and high-protein coconut flour.
Breakfast Recipes
1: Coconut flour sheet pan pancakes
One of the most popular ways to use coconut flour in a breakfast recipe is to make coconut flour sheet pan pancakes! These have a texture that is similar to a sponge cake, so it feels like you are eating dessert for breakfast.
This is a perfect recipe for keto meal prep because you can make a bunch of pancakes at once on the sheet pan and then eat them throughout the week.
Top the pancakes with sugar-free whipped cream or your favourite sugar-free syrup. Serve it with some eggs and bacon for a classic breakfast that reminds you of your childhood.
2: Keto waffles
These keto waffles are perfect for the freezer too. So make a double or triple batch and make meal prep easy for the week. They are light and fluffy and perfectly served with berries and cream.
3: Blueberry Paleo pancakes
These easy coconut flour pancakes are perfect for those who want a dairy-free breakfast. Serve with whipped coconut cream and blueberries.
Lunch Recipes
4: Coconut flour bread recipe
You don't have to stop eating sandwiches on the keto diet, you just have to eat them with low-carb bread or crepes. This coconut flour bread only has 1.7g of net carbs in each slice. It slices just like a typical bread and it is sturdy enough to be toasted in a toaster.
Optionally, sprinkle some flax and chia seeds on top of the bread. They give it more protein and fibre and add a satisfying crunch to each bite.
5: Keto mozzarella bagels (coconut flour or almond flour)
Bagels are back on the menu with this mozzarella dough recipe. The basic recipe uses almond flour, but I have a coconut flour conversion for you in the recipe.
6: 1-minute muffins
Once you master keto muffins, you can make almost every flavour you wish. Cheese, chili, cinnamon, and even garlic.
7: Low-carb 3-seed bread
If you're looking for a dense low-carb gluten-free bread, this is the one. You can even slice it really thin then bake on a low long heat and turn these into easy low-carb and keto crackers.
Dinner Recipes
I have two main ways that I use coconut flour in my dinner recipes. The first one is as a side dish in mini cheese loaves. You could also serve them as a snack or an appetizer, but I like to use them as a replacement for dinner rolls with my keto pork chops or steak. They are zesty and have the perfect texture - soft and not too crumbly.
8: Coconut flour mini cheese loaves
9: Coconut flour pie crust
Use this coconut flour pie crust recipe to make a keto-friendly chicken pot pie. Or, how about breakfast for dinner and use it for a quiche? This recipe makes a crust that melts in your mouth - without forcing you to go over on your macros.
10: Fat Head pizza
If you only master ONE low-carb flour recipe ... this is it. There are conversions for almond flour to coconut flour. And there's even an option to make it egg-free too.
11: Fat Head nachos
Healthy gluten-free nachos are here! Use any low-carb flour you like to make these. The nacho chips are crunchy heaven, but you may want to serve the spicy ground beef in coconut flour tortillas for a change.
12: Low-carb chicken nuggets
Say goodbye to processed gluten-free nuggets and make this keto chicken recipe instead. You can use coconut flour or almond flour depending on your preferences and allergies.
Desserts
One of my favourite ways to use coconut flour is to make some low-carb and keto desserts - and these are my favourites of all time!
13: Low-carb lemon and blueberry cupcake
These healthy low-carb blueberry cupcakes are super easy and are perfect to serve at birthday parties or wedding showers. There are only 2.8g NET carbs in each cupcake, so you can even indulge in more than one.
14: Coconut flour raspberry fingers
Another sweet recipe idea is this coconut flour raspberry fingers recipe. They are beautiful on a dessert table and taste just as good as they look. They are baked with real raspberries and only have 3g net carbs each.
15: Coconut flour chocolate chip cookies
Finally, you just can't go wrong with classic chocolate chip cookies. These cookies are soft and chewy. When you use sugar-free chocolate chips, you can enjoy one of your favourite cookies from your childhood.
Keto-Friendly Sweet Snacks
Whenever I feel hungry for something small, I eat a slice of this coconut flour zucchini bread. It is packed with fiber and has the same mildly-sweet flavour that you love about sweet bread. In fact, this is so tasty that you'll want to give it away to friends and family. You can even bake the batter in muffin tins and make low-carb zucchini muffins.
16: Double chocolate low-carb mug cake
17: No-bake keto peanut butter fudge
A simple recipe using peanut butter and coconut flour with sweetener and vanilla. Keep the peanut butter fudge in the freezer for when a sugar craving strikes.
New Recipes Just Added
Because so many of my readers are LOVING this new low-carb flour, I have developed some more cookie recipes since writing this recipe round up.
I love the soft and buttery keto shortbread cookies served with some raspberry chia jam and whipped cream. But my children love the easy recipe for keto peanut butter cookies.
Which will you make?
Low-Carb Coconut Flour Recipes: Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are a ton of different ways you can use coconut flour to make low-carb foods. You don't have to give up your favourite snacks or desserts when you eat low-carb, you just have to use a different flour. With its high fiber and protein content, coconut flour is an excellent choice!
Once you are have made a few of the best coconut flour recipes above, you'll be able to start converting your favourite baking recipes. Easy, healthy, low carb versions.
Lindsay
Hello! Thank you for the great information in this article! And the recipes look amazing! You mention you like the buttery cookies with raspberry chia jam. Do you make the jam? If you do, have you posted the recipe?
Thank you, again!
Lindsay
Rachel Groff
Hi Lindsay. We absolutely have a raspberry chia jam recipe. It is so easy to make and tastes delicious. Enjoy!
Maria
Can’t find the shortbread cookie recipe
Libby Jenkinson
Here is the direct link to the best keto shortbread cookies recipe.