Flour Alternatives & Substitutes For Pancakes: How To Properly Cook (2024)

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IN THIS ARTICLE

  • What can you use instead of flour for pancakes?
  • Can Pancake Mix Substitute for Flour?
  • How do you get almond flour pancakes to hold together?
  • How do you thicken pancake mix without flour?
  • How do you properly cook pancakes with alternative flours?

How Do You Properly Cook Pancakes With Alternative Flours?

08-14-20

Pancakes are the ultimate morning comfort food, and eating gluten-free or low-carb doesn’t mean you need to go without. We’ve got you covered with ideas to substitute for flour in pancakes. Read on for our favorite alternative pancake recipes!

What can you use instead of flour for pancakes?

If you’re trying to stay away from using all-purpose (wheat) flour for pancakes, there are lots of alternative flours out there.

Below are a few options that work well as a substitute for flour in pancakes:

  • Coconut flour- This super absorbent flour is used in many gluten-free pancake recipes. You could substitute ¼ to ⅓ cup coconut for all-purpose, but be sure to add more egg since coconut flour absorbs extra liquid.
  • Almond- This is a great option for a higher protein pancake mix. Substitute 1:1, but like coconut flour, you’ll need to add more egg to hold it together.
  • Almond and coconut- This is the best tasting combination - most of the top-rated gluten-free pancake recipes have a blend of almond and coconut flours. They work well together because while almond flour doesn’t absorb liquid well, coconut flour does, which leads to lighter, fluffier pancakes that hold together well. To use this blend, use 3 cups of almond flour to 1 cup of coconut flour. With this 3:1 blend, you shouldn’t need to add any extra eggs to hold things together.
  • Gluten-free blend- If you prefer to make your own homemade gluten free flour blend, here’s a simple recipe that works well for pancakes. You can substitute it for 1 cup of regular flour in any pancake recipe. ⅔ cup rice flour, ¼ cup potato starch, 2 tablespoons tapioca starch
  • Gluten-free flour blends- If you’d prefer a store-bought flour blend to use in your favorite pancake recipe, here are a couple of good choices:
  • Rice-based option:King Arthur Baking Measure for Measure Flour
  • Almond/Coconut Option:Bob’s Red Mill Paleo Baking Flour

Can Pancake Mix Substitute for Flour?

If you’re not into making your own pancake mix, don’t sweat it! There are plenty of gluten-free pancake mixes on the market, so you can definitely choose one in place of your favorite traditional pancake recipe.HighKey Pancake Mixis a gluten-free and keto-friendly option made with almond flour, and comes in fun and delicious flavors like strawberry, blueberry, and chocolate. They are the perfect way to liven up your breakfast!

How do you get almond flour pancakes to hold together?

Pancakes made with alternative flours, like almond and coconut, are a little more finicky, especially when you’re flipping them. To keep your pancakes all in one piece, try these tips:

  • Add an extra egg - You want your pancake batter to look like, well - batter! If it’s looking dry, or super thick, adding an extra egg can help hold things together.
  • Avoid too much moisture - Some alternative flours, especially almond flour, don’t absorb moisture well, which can make your pancake batter too runny. If this happens, try adding a little coconut flour. Start by adding 1 tablespoon, mix it in and let it sit for a minute or two, and add more as needed.
  • Almond butter - Believe or not, making pancakes using nut butters, like almond butter, works really well. They help hold the batter together, and give the pancakes a rich flavor that is out of this world!

How do you thicken pancake mix without flour?

If your pancake batter is looking a little runny and you need to thicken it, here are a few easy, no-fail solutions:

Starches- Gluten-free starches are great for absorbing extra liquid without making pancakes too dense. A few good ones to try are arrowroot, tapioca, or potato starch. Start with 1 tablespoon and add more if you need it.

Coconut flour- Since coconut flour is great at absorbing extra liquid, it works well to thicken pancake batter. Add 1 tablespoon and let it sit for a minute or two to give it time to absorb excess liquid.

Mashed banana or pumpkin puree- Adding pureed banana or pumpkin adds a little flavor and sweetness, and can thicken a runny batter. Try using it to replace half of the oil or milk in your favorite pancake recipe.

How do you properly cook pancakes with alternative flours?

If you’re struggling to get your gluten-free pancakes cooked to perfection, you’re not alone. Since alternative pancake recipes take a little longer to cook, try cooking them at a low temperature for longer. This helps keep them from being undercooked in middle, since gluten-free pancakes are a little denser than traditional pancakes.

Another easy trick to prevent dense pancakes? Add a little air into batter by mixing it in the blender. Add all your pancake ingredients to the blender and blend on high for 1 minute.

Alternative Pancake Recipes

Here are a few alternative pancake recipes you could try:

Pancakes are perfect for a weekend brunch or a weekday morning - there’s never a bad day to whip up a batch of pancakes. There are so many great ways to enjoy pancakes made with alternative flours, so hopefully you’ve gotten a few ideas to get you started. Now that you’ve gotten your pancake inspo, grab your griddle and try one of the recipes above!

Dana Haddad

Kaleena Lundmark is a registered dietitian, recipe developer, and food photographer. She also is the founder of The Crowded Table, a website dedicated to helping busy moms make easy paleo meals. You can find her recipes and get inspiration for kid-friendly meals thecrowdedtable.com

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    Flour Alternatives & Substitutes For Pancakes: How To Properly Cook (2024)

    FAQs

    Flour Alternatives & Substitutes For Pancakes: How To Properly Cook? ›

    You could substitute ¼ to ⅓ cup coconut for all-purpose, but be sure to add more egg since coconut flour absorbs extra liquid. Almond - This is a great option for a higher protein pancake mix. Substitute 1:1, but like coconut flour, you'll need to add more egg to hold it together.

    What can you use instead of flour in pancakes? ›

    Since pancakes don't rely on gluten formation, you can substitute just about any kind of flour - rice, millet, oat, etc. You can also use a combination of a gf flour and nut meal. You can even make pancakes by combining almond paste with egg whites and a mashed banana.

    What is the healthiest flour to use for pancakes? ›

    To make healthy pancakes, use whole-wheat or another whole-grain (cornmeal, oats or buckwheat) flour instead. Whole-wheat flour has 16 grams of fiber per cup compared to 3 grams of fiber in white flour.

    What can I use if I don't have flour? ›

    Four All-Purpose Flour Alternatives
    • Chickpea Flour. Relatively new to American households, chickpea flour (also called garbanzo bean flour or besan in Indian kitchens) is arguably one of my favorite ingredients. ...
    • Rice Flour. ...
    • Almond Flour. ...
    • Buckwheat Flour.

    What is a good substitute for plain flour? ›

    Dr Veronica Giacintucci, Teaching Fellow in Food Science, shares her top 4 alternatives using ingredients found in your cupboards. Rice, quinoa, almond and pulse flours are great alternatives when you're running low on your usual supplies.

    How do you thicken batter without flour? ›

    There are several ways to thicken pancake batter without flour, most of which include using an alternative like tapioca, corn, or potato starch, or coconut flour. Add 1 tablespoon of tapioca, corn, or potato starch to the bowl. Mix it well to combine and wait 5 minutes.

    How does flour affect pancakes? ›

    Flour contains a protein called glutenin (or gluten), which is crucial for the formation and structure of pancakes and baked goods. Gluten also provides the "chewy" texture in pancakes and breads. When the flour is dry, the gluten molecules are nearly immobile, which means that they do not move much.

    Is coconut flour better than almond flour for pancakes? ›

    Generally, yes. However, it's important to know coconut flour is more absorbent than almond flour, so you'll likely need to adjust the amount of liquid you use, and increase the number of eggs in your recipe.

    Why can't you use baking powder with almond flour? ›

    Since baking powder contains baking soda, baking powder cannot be used in almond flour baking. Instead, eggs (or applesauce or bananas) can be used as the leavening agent to help baked goods rise and achieve a light and fluffy texture.

    How to knead dough without flour? ›

    Some doughs, like those with a high rye content, are just going to be dense and sticky no matter what you do. The trick is to knead them with a bench scraper, rather than your hands, or to place the dough on an oiled baking sheet and oil your hands as you knead it.

    How do you make homemade flour substitute? ›

    How to Make a Homemade Cake Flour Substitute. Step 1: Sift 14 Tablespoons (110g) all-purpose flour and 2 Tablespoons (16g) cornstarch together two times. Step 2: Measure (spoon & level) 1 cup from this mixture. You'll have about 1 cup anyway, but sometimes sifting can produce more volume since it's adding air.

    What can I do if I don't have all-purpose flour? ›

    All-purpose flour is the most common flour called for in recipes, for both cooking and baking. But if you don't have any in the pantry, or can't find any in the store, there are other flours you can use in its place. Bread flour and cake flour—on their own or mixed together—can substitute for all-purpose.

    What to do when you run out of flour? ›

    11 best flour substitutions
    1. Chickpea flour. Often confused with besan (see below), chickpea flour is made from ground white chickpeas. ...
    2. Almond flour. Almond flour is an excellent alternative to have in your kitchen cupboard. ...
    3. Gluten-free flour mixture. ...
    4. Coconut flour. ...
    5. Gram flour (besan) ...
    6. Rice flour. ...
    7. Buckwheat flour. ...
    8. Oat flour.
    Jan 31, 2023

    Can I use Bisquick instead of flour? ›

    Yes, Bisquick can be used as a substitute for flour in certain recipes, particularly those that call for a leavening agent such as baking powder or baking soda. However, it's important to note that Bisquick already contains other ingredients like shortening and salt, so adjustments may be needed in the recipe.

    Can I use cornstarch instead of flour? ›

    It's important to note that cornstarch has twice the thickening power of flour. If you need to substitute cornstarch to thicken liquid in a recipe that calls for ¼ cup (four tablespoons) flour, you only need two tablespoons cornstarch.

    What can replace flour as a thickener? ›

    7 Ways To Thicken Sauce Without Flour
    • Cornstarch. Cornstarch is likely the most common way to thicken sauces without flour. ...
    • Arrowroot or Tapioca Flour. Both of these options can be used in the same way you'd use cornstarch in a recipe. ...
    • Gelatin. ...
    • Vegetable Puree. ...
    • Cashew Cream. ...
    • Oat Flour. ...
    • Egg Yolk.
    Feb 8, 2022

    What is a good substitute for flour in crepes? ›

    Cassava flour's soft, starchy consistency and mild flavor mimics wheat flour. If you don't have cassava flour, try sweet rice flour (for a non-paleo option), a smaller amount of coconut flour, or a GF or Paleo all-purpose blend. Tapioca flour makes the crepes tender and pliable. You could also try arrowroot.

    What can I use instead of flour to roll out dough? ›

    So, instead of using flour, try using vegetable oil. Paul Hollywood claims that using oil while kneading bread or rolling it out on the countertop will not negatively affect the dough and will keep the bread from sticking too badly on your hands or the table. BBC also says you can use olive oil for this technique.

    Can I substitute plain flour for self-raising? ›

    Yes and no. If the recipe calls for plain flour with the addition of baking powder (or another leavening agent), self-raising flour can be used instead, simply omit the leavening agent. If the recipe does not include baking powder or a leavening agent, do not substitute plain flour with self-raising flour.

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