Wheat Flour Alternatives

Many people are on the lookout for alternatives to wheat flour, whether it’s because of dietary restrictions or simply a desire to try out new ingredients. It’s good to know that while these flours are wheat-free, not all of them are gluten-free, so let’s clear that up!

If you’re into making “quick bread,” you’ll be happy to know that many of these flours can also work wonders in flatbreads, crepes, crackers, cookies, and more! One of our favorite substitutes is buckwheat (just a reminder: not kasha!). It’s fantastic for swapping out wheat flour in a one-to-one ratio, especially when you don’t need gluten.

You might wonder when gluten is important—it’s mainly needed for making pastas, breads, and doughs that require that lovely activation. But for yummy cookies, quick breads, crackers, pancakes, and similar treats, you won’t miss it at all! In those cases, buckwheat is a delightful choice to make your baking adventures even more enjoyable. Happy baking!

FLOURPROTEINGLUTEN?TASTEUSES
AlmondHighNoLike almonds (mild, sweet and nutty)Breads, cookies and pastry
BarleyLowYesEarthy with a mild sweet flavourQuick breads, cookies
BuckwheatHighNoEarthy flavour that is mild and slightly sweetQuick bread, noodles, dumplings, crepes
Kasha (roasted buckwheat groats)HighNoVery strong earthy/woody flavourQuick bread, noodles, dumplings, crepes
Chickpea (garbanzo, gram, and besan)HighNoMild, and neutral tastingQuick breads, yeast breads
CornLowNoNutty, corn flavourQuick breads, yeast breads
MilletHighNoMild, with a slightly nutty flavourQuick breads, crumbly food (best combined with corn, oat and rye flour)
OatHighNo (but unsuitable for celiacs)Sweet and earthyQuick breads, cookies, year breads
QuinoaHighNoMild, with a nutty flavourQuick breads, yeast breads, pairs well with corn, oat, barley and buckwheat flour.
RiceLowNoMild with an earthy (for white rice) or nutty (for brown rice)Quick breads, dumplings and noodles
RyeLowYesEarthy, mildness is based on fineness.Quick bread and yeast bread
CoconutLowNoLight coconut flavourCookies, crackers. Very dry flour that requires a lot of liquid.

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