Coconut Flour

Coconut flour is a soft flour made from dried coconut meat and is a by-product from coconut milk production. It is rich in fibre, protein and fat. It is also not a grain-based flour and is gluten-free. Coconut flour is also a great source of manganese, which helps to support bone health, nervous system function, thyroid health and also to help maintain good sugar levels. Coconut flour is incredibly dry, which can make your bakes very dense. To reduce this, it is recommended to either combine the coconut flour with other gluten free flours, or to add pureed fruits and vegetables to add extra moisture to the mixture. Due to its dryness, coconut flour is very absorbent so cannot be used like for like to replace other flours. It is best to use established recipes rather than attempting to recreate old favourites, which could cost you in both time and money. Coconut flour is also very clumpy. To prevent lumps in your bakes, make sure you beat the flour into your mixture thoroughly.