There is no need to spend a lot of money on oat flour when you likely already have everything needed in your own pantry to make it in less than 2-minutes. It really is so simple and useful!
One great thing about making your own oat flour is that you can prepare as much or little as needed without having to store extra bags of specialty flour that get used infrequently. Making this gluten-free flour is super simple and inexpensive and great to have on hand for making recipes like my Banana Oat Pancakes.
What is oat flour?
Oat flour is a whole grain gluten-free flour that is made from oats. It can be made using old fashion oats, quick-cooking oats, and even steel-cut oats though steel-cut takes just a little longer to blend since they are a thicker cut.
Making your own oat flour is a very cost-effective option compared to other specialty flours such as almond, coconut, and quinoa flours. In addition to being naturally gluten-free, oat flour is loaded with plenty of fiber and protein.
Substituting with other flours
I often am asked by followers how to substitute other flours with oat flour when baking and cooking. Most of the time, people are asking because they are avoiding gluten and want to replace wheat flour or traditional white flour with a gluten-free option.
The good news is that oat flour is very user-friendly and can usually be substituted for white and wheat flour at the same ratio. So, if a recipe calls for 1 cup of whole wheat flour, using 1 cup of oat flour instead should work just fine in most cases.
Cooking with oatmeal flour
Not that many years ago, the only flours that were used regularly in recipes were the standard all-purpose white flour and whole wheat. Things have really changed since then, and people are incorporating a wide range of other flours like spelt, rice, almond, oat, and many more in their favorite recipes.
Some people are in search of gluten-free flour, and others are just interested in trying something new and different. The problem is that most of these bags of specialty flours can be quite pricey, especially if they are only going to be used for one or two recipes.
Luckily, with oat flour, I’m betting you already have everything needed in your cupboard to make the exact amount for that recipe without wasting a penny!
Is oat flour gluten-free?
Oats are naturally gluten-free, however, they can be cross-contaminated during processing if the facility also processes other grains. If you are gluten-intolerant, be sure any oats bought say “certified gluten-free.” It is so easy to make gluten-free oat flour at a fraction of the cost of those name brands.
How to make oat flour
Making your own homemade oat flour is super easy. Simply add old fashion or quick-cooking oats to your blender, food processor, or even coffee grinder.
Next, blend or pulse oats until they are ground into powdery flour, approximately 1 minute or less. Time will depend on the power of your appliance.
If needed, stop and stir oats then pulse again to make sure they are completely blended.
One cup of oats makes just under 1 cup of flour. There is about a tablespoon difference, with the finished flour product being the lesser measurement.
I make my oat flour in my Vitamix, and it creates a super soft and fluffy finished product to be used in oat flour recipes.
Use immediately in your favorite recipe or store in an airtight container. I vote for using it immediately in a delicious treat like these Heavenly Tootsie Rolls from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
Storage and freezing
If you want to make a large batch of oat flour to keep on hand for recipes, simply store it in an airtight container at room temperature like you would other flour varieties. It should keep for at least 6 months or longer.
It can also be stored in your refrigerator or freezer if it won’t be used for long periods of time.
The recipe card at the bottom of the page has the full list of ingredients with measurements and instructions.
Gluten-free flour options
For those interested in learning more about the different types of gluten-free flours and how to use them, along with substitutions, check out this article and chart called Gluten-Free Flours and How to Use Them.
What do you use oat flour for?
There is a reason that oat flour has become popular with cooks around the world. It’s inexpensive, easy to make, gluten-free, and delicious! It’s a healthy substitute when making pancakes, waffles, muffins, cakes, and lots of other baking recipes.
10 Oat flour recipes
So many recipes are made with oat flour nowadays. Plenty of health food bloggers are including it in their baking, so I’ve listed 11 great recipes from lots of different chefs and websites to help get you started. Here we go!
- Oatmeal Raisin Chocolate Chip Cookies / Rip Esselstyn
- Vegan Zucchini Fudgy Brownies / TheVegan8
- Blueberry Oat Breakfast Muffins / Forks Over Knives
- Quick & Healthy Vegan Oat Bar / Nutritiously
- Vegiterranean Baked Oat Bread / Plant-Based Dietitian
- Blueberry Oatmeal Pancakes / EatPlant-Based
- Oatmeal Breakfast Muffins / Center for Nutrition Studies
- Oil-Free Zucchini Fritters / TheVegan8
- Gluten-Free Plant-Based Waffles / EatPlant-Based
- Heavenly Tootsie Rolls / EatPlant-Based
- Chocolate Vegan Pie Crust / EatPlant-Based
Though you do not need a high-powered blender to make oat flour, this is the one that I personally use and highly recommend. Of all the appliances in my kitchen, this Vitamix is the one I could not do without. I’ve never met a recipe or kitchen task it can’t handle.
Other great plant-based desserts
For those of you new to the whole food plant-based lifestyle, we’ve created a FREE 7-Day Plant-Based Menu Planner to help you get started!
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If you try this recipe, please let us know how you like it by rating it and leaving a comment. We love to hear from you!
How to Make Oat Flour in Blender
No need to spend a lot of money on specialty oat flours when you already have everything needed in your own pantry. Make as little or as much as needed without having to store extra bags of flour.
Ingredients
- 1 cup old fashion oats
- blender or food processor
Instructions
- Measure out 1 cup of old fashion oats and place in blender
- Blend or pulse oats until they are ground into powdery flour, approximately 1-minute or less. Time will depend on the power of your appliance.
- If needed, stop and stir oats then pulse again to make sure they are completely blended.
- One cup of oats makes just under 1-cup of flour. Use immediately in your favorite recipe or store in an airtight container.
Notes
Storage
If you want to make a large batch of oat flour to keep on hand for recipes, simply store it in an airtight container at room temperature like you would other flour varieties. It should keep for at least 6 months or longer. It can also be stored in your refrigerator or freezer if it won't be used for long periods of time.
Uses for oat flour
There is a reason that oat flour has become popular with cooks around the world. It's inexpensive, easy to make, gluten-free, and delicious! It's a healthy substitute when making pancakes, waffles, muffins, cakes, and lots of other baking recipes.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 308Total Fat: 5gCarbohydrates: 55gFiber: 8gProtein: 11g
To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
About Terri Edwards
Hi guys! I am the content creator behind EatPlant-Based and a licensed Food for Life instructor with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. I am passionate about sharing healthy recipes and tips to empower others to get healthy. I’m so glad you’re here! Read More…
what to make with oat flour – Exst
Monday 29th of July 2019
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