How to Make Oat Flour ~ simple instructions for making your own homemade naturally gluten free oat flour, it takes just seconds! Use it alone or in combination with other flours to give added flavor, a nutritional boost, and an extra tender crumb to your baking recipes.
I’ve gotten a lot of questions about oat flour since I posted my Apple Cider Doughnut Cake, where I use oat flour in addition to all-purpose flour in the recipe. Many of you have never heard of oat flour, and don’t know where to find it. So let’s dive deep, you’ll be an expert by the end of the post ~
What is oat flour?
Oat flour is a whole grain flour made from oats. It’s naturally gluten free, and full of flavor and nutrition. Oat flour has a silky texture and a subtle ‘oaty’ flavor which I love. It is similar to wheat flour except that it doesn’t contain any gluten. It’s a very healthy product, with more protein and fiber than regular flour. It’s lower in carbs, too. Basically oat flour has all the nutritional benefits of oatmeal.
Where can I find oat flour?
You can buy oat flour in most large supermarkets, health food or specialty stores, and chains like Trader Joe’s. My favorite brands are Bob’s Red Mill and Arrowhead Mills, both of which you can find online as well. Look for it with the regular flour, or in the health food section of the market. If you’d like to buy it in bulk, just keep the unopened packages in the freezer.
Why do I use oat flour in some of my recipes?
Why do I use oat flour in some of my recipes?I’ve discovered that a combination of regular all purpose flour with oat flour results in the perfect crumb and a lovely flavor, along with an extra nutrition boost from the whole grain oats. Oat flour generally adds moisure and a fluffier texture to recipes. I like to use it in cakes, shortbread, pancakes, cornbread, etc., and I love the result. I’ve listed out some of my favorite ways to use oat flour under the recipe card, below.
How to make your own flour from plain oats ~
If you’re interested, it’s super easy to make your own oat flour. You’ll need a food processor or a good blender, and oats, that’s it! You use raw oats, any type, and process for a few seconds until they turn into a fine powder. Voila ~ oat flour!
You can use a food processor like the Cuisinart, left…
Or you can use a high speed blender like Vitamix, which is my choice for grinding flours because it pulverizes any grain in seconds and creates a super fine texture. Vitamix makes a special dry grains container for grinding ingredients like grains, or nuts, etc., above. If you’re going to invest in a Vitamix it’s smart to buy one that comes with this extra feature. You can also buy it separately.
What kind of oats do I use to make flour?
Any type of oats will work for this. You can use oat groats (the whole oat kernel,) steel cut oats, or old fashioned rolled oats. You can even use quick cooking rolled oats, if that’s all you have, although that would be my last choice because they have been processed. In other words, you can make flour out of raw oats in any form.
What can I do with my homemade oat flour?
Your homemade oat flour can be used in all sorts of recipes from pancakes and waffles, to muffins and breads, to cakes and cookies. Many recipes are formulated for oat flour, but if a recipe calls for all purpose flour you can substitute oat flour for up to 25-30% the amount of regular flour in most baking recipes. Oat flour can be used to thicken gravies, soups, and stews, too.
How to store homemade oat flour
Whole grain flours spoil quicker than processed white flour, and so I like to keep mine in the refrigerator, or even freezer for longer periods of time. Store it in a zip lock baggie, a mason jar, or other airtight container. Since it’s so easy to make, I usually make small batches so it’s always fresh.
How To Make Oat Flour
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups oats use steel cut or rolled
Instructions
- Put the oats in a food processor or high speed blender. Blend until the oats become a fine powder. This will only take a few seconds in a high speed blender, and a little bit longer in a food processor.
- Store the oat flour in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
notes
Some of tvfgi recipes that use oat flour ~
-
Irish Oatmeal Soda Bread
-
Apple Cider Doughnut Cake
-
Scottish Lemon Sugar Shortbread
-
Quick Whole Grain Oat Rolls
-
Best Blueberry Cornbread
32 Comments
Angela Stewart
February 4, 2020 at 12:54 pmSince making the cider cake I’ve used half oat flour in several recipes. Currently have banana bread in the oven. Thanks for the tip!
Sue
February 4, 2020 at 1:09 pmBanana bread with oat flour sounds amazing!
Amanda
September 18, 2019 at 4:20 amJust to confirm…if I were to replace all purpose flour with oat flour: 1 cup all purpose flour in a recipe should equal 1/4 cup oat flour to 3/4c all purpose four?
Sherri H.
September 2, 2019 at 5:59 pmHi! I read that 1 1/2 c of oat flour replaces 1c of all purpose flour? Is oat flour keto friendly?
Sue
September 2, 2019 at 6:18 pmOats are lower in carbs than other grains, but I don’t believe they’re technically a part of the keto diet plan. I think oat fiber is preferred, which is mostly the non-digestible part of the grain, and contains little to no carbs.
Aliza
August 20, 2019 at 6:36 amHi .
Thanks for your blog. Now I know how to make oat flour! Do you have a good gluten free oat bread recipe you can share as well?
Thanks.
Sue
August 20, 2019 at 6:44 amI don’t have an oat bread, but I’ll work on that for this fall Aliza. You might try one of my paleo breads, here.
Kathi
August 9, 2019 at 5:37 pmIf I’m gluten intolerant, what other flours would you recommend to add to the oat flour since I can only use 25%-30% oat flour? I would like to start making my own gluten free breads.
Pam
August 7, 2019 at 5:08 amWhat would a good ratio and combo be I want to try and make oatmeal cookies. Want to stay away from white flour I’m diabetic.
Sue
August 7, 2019 at 7:32 amI’ll have to work on a recipe Pam, great idea. In the meantime, here’s one from Quaker Oats: https://www.quakeroats.com/cooking-and-recipes/gluten-free-vanishing-oatmeal-cookies
Mary
February 17, 2019 at 12:54 amI tried to make Barley Flour in my processor but ended up finishing it in the Coffee grinder!! It was still a bit ‘gritty’ but was really lovely in the cookies I made. Will be trying the Oat flour soon. Good reading your post, thanks.
Sue
February 17, 2019 at 5:57 amA Vitamix blender really helps with making your own flour Mary, I’ve used my processor and the results aren’t as fine. The oats are a lot easier to grind than barley, though, so you should have better luck with them.
Angelina
January 16, 2019 at 2:08 pmvery informative post …. just curious, which wordpress theme you have used for your website?
Sue
January 16, 2019 at 2:21 pmThanks Angelina! I have a custom theme 🙂
Janet Bennett
January 9, 2019 at 6:08 amMy daughter cannot tolerate gluten. I’m on a mission to find a bread recipe that doesn’t use wheat flour. Can you help me on my mission?
Enjoyed your article.
Karen
September 24, 2018 at 4:50 amHave you ever used the oat flour in banana bread? You mentioned being able to partially substitute oat flour (OF) for all purpose flour. What’s in all purpose flour that prevents a total substitution?
Sue
September 24, 2018 at 12:56 pmRegular flour has gluten, Karen, and that’s responsible for a lot of the structure of breads and cakes, etc. Oat flour alone would result in a cake or quick bread that would not hold together. You can definitely substitute some of the flour in the banana bread, though, and I think it would be delicious.
Patricia Ellsworth
September 20, 2018 at 9:49 amThis is so interesting – I am going to make some Oat Flour and make your donut bundt cake. Thank you!
Sue
September 20, 2018 at 11:20 amEnjoy!
Tina
September 15, 2018 at 4:12 amHow ‘fine’ of a powder should it be? Like AP flour or have a bit of texture? I have ground mine in my mini food processor, but I can’t seem to get it to a powder state. Still a bit grainy. Wondering if it will still be ok to use this way.
Sue
September 15, 2018 at 7:08 amYour mini processor probably isn’t strong enough to get it to a fine grind, Tina, so just use it as is. A stronger motor will grind it finer, you can use the photos or video as a guide. Mine is not quite as fine as all purpose flour, I’d say it has the texture of a whole wheat flour, but yours will work.
Cassie
September 13, 2018 at 6:48 pmI’ve been warned by a friend with celiac that, while pure oats are indeed gluten-free, it’s really common for traces of wheat to sneak into oat products. If the oats you’re grinding aren’t specifically labeled as gluten-free, they’re probably not, and your flour won’t be, either.
Sue
September 13, 2018 at 7:09 pmGood point Cassie, I’ll make a note of that in the post.
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
September 13, 2018 at 5:08 amLove the idea of making my own oat flour! I love the flavour and extra goodness it brings to baking 🙂
C zeller
September 12, 2018 at 12:39 pmIs steel cut oats and whole old fashioned oats gluten free?
Sue
September 12, 2018 at 12:40 pmThey are gluten free.
Alexandra
September 12, 2018 at 7:46 amI have been recommended to use oat flour where possible to control blood sugar levels and your extended list of uses is of great help; thank you Sue!
Sue
September 12, 2018 at 8:28 amI’m glad this helps Alexandra, I’d like to start experimenting with recipes that use a higher percentage of oat flour, too.
Tricia
September 12, 2018 at 5:15 amThanks so much for this great post Sue. I’m ready to start adding oat flour to everything 🙂
Sue
September 12, 2018 at 8:29 amIt really adds that indefinable something special, Tricia, I think you’ll love it.
Chris Scheuer
September 12, 2018 at 5:15 amGreat post, so full of useful information. Thanks, Sue! I never thought of making my own oat flour. You are full of wonderful ideas!
Sue
September 12, 2018 at 7:35 amI think you’ll get a kick out of making the flour, and with all the baking you do Chris I bet you’ll find all kinds of uses for it.