If you like food and, above all, healthy, gluten-free baking, you will surely have already heard about or come across oat flour in a recipe. It’s a universal ingredient with many benefits and I’m going to tell you why it is so healthy, how to use it and even how to prepare it at home.

I will also give you easy and healthy oatmeal recipeslike a cake with oatmeal and cinnamon that you will love or some surprising ones oat donuts to enjoy a healthy snack without feeling guilty.

Properties of oat flour

Oat flour is a type of whole wheat flour that is generally made with oat grains. Is naturally gluten-free and very rich in nutrientsalthough people with celiac disease are recommended to purchase it certified gluten-free, as it may contain traces due to cross contamination.

Like oat grains, oat flour contains minerals such as calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, molybdenum, phosphorus, manganese and B vitamins. rich in protein and fiberwhich makes the products prepared with it satisfy us for longer, and due to its contribution of nutrients it is ideal for athletes, growing children, pregnant women and all food lovers. healthy. The good thing is that, compared to other gluten-free flours, it has a cheaper price and it is easy to prepare it at home.

The flavor of oatmeal is light and nutty, making it very universal in the kitchen. It is easy to use it to make breads, cakes, muffins, cookies or pancakes. Due to its lack of gluten, those prepared with this flour are not as spongy and to make breads with this flour, it is advisable to add ingredients such as psylliym, xanthan gum or guar gum.

How to substitute oat flour in recipes

Can replace wheat flour in recipes with oat flour using the same weight (which means for every 100 g of wheat flour 100 g of oat flour). The only thing to keep in mind is that the result will be denser.

If we want results similar to conventional ones, we can replace only 1/3 of the usual flour with oat flour.

If we make oat dough with oat flour, it is convenient let the dough rest for about 15 minutes in the refrigeratoreven for cookies or muffins. This way, the flour will be able to absorb the water and the final result will not break.

How to make oatmeal at home

It is very easy to prepare this flour at home. The only thing that is needed is two ingredients: a powerful blender and rolled oats.

To do this, simply add about 200 g of rolled oats to a blender (or you can use a hand mixer) and shreds at high speed for about 30 seconds until you obtain a fine flour. Store in a glass jar closed for up to 2 months in a dark place.

If you have a gluten intolerance, use certified gluten-free rolled oats.

Easy and healthy oatmeal recipes

Oatmeal and cinnamon cake

A moist cake, full of nutrients and thanks to its low sugar content, ideal for breakfast or snack. Accompany it with yogurt or almond or peanut butter and fresh fruit for a complete breakfast.

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups oat flour
• 1/2 cup almond flour
• 1/2 cup of panela or unrefined cane sugar
• 2 teaspoons of cinnamon
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• a pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup of vegetable drink
• 2 eggs or 2 tablespoons ground flax
• half cup of olive oil

Preparation (15′ + 40′ cooking):

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
2. If you are going to use the flax egg, mix 2 tablespoons of ground flax with 6 tablespoons of water in a bowl and let it sit until it forms a gel.
3. Grease a cake pan with a little oil.
4. In a bowl, mix the oat flour with the almond flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder and salt.
5. On the other hand, mix the vegetable drink with the eggs or flax egg and the oil.
6. Add the liquid mixture to the dry, mix well and pour into the mold. Bake for about 35-40 minutes or until the inserted toothpick comes out dry.

Oatmeal piadina

Piadina is a pita-type flatbread that is almost instantaneous. You just need to grind the ingredients, make the breads and that’s it.

This «dish bread» is ideal for filling with other ingredients such as avocado, vegetables, hummus, scrambled tofu or using as a pizza base.

Ingredients (4 small piadinas):

• 8 tablespoons rolled oats or oat flour
• 1 tablespoon flax or ground flax
• 5 tablespoons of water or vegetable drink
• a pinch of salt
• half a teaspoon of fine herbs or other spices to taste

Preparation (10′ + 10+ cooking):

1. If you don’t have the oatmeal ready, grind it. oat flakes and flax in a blender or with the help of hand the ingredients until you obtain a fine flour.
2. In a bowl, mix the flour with the flax and the salt and the seasonings, add the vegetable drink and mix.
3. In a non-stick frying pan, heat a little oil. Once ready, pour a quarter of the dough and shape it into a round with the help of a spatula. Cook on one side until set, about 2-3 minutes. Flip over and cook on the other side. Repeat with the rest of the dough.
4. Fill to your liking.

Fluffy oatmeal bread

This oat bread is ideal for the most nutritious snacks, like this other oat bread proposed to make your breakfasts with oats. It is easy to prepare this really nutritious sliced ​​bread at home, since industrial breads contain many additives due to their long shelf life.

Ingredients:

• 2 3/4 cups oat flour
• 2 tablespoons honey or maple or rice syrup
• 250ml of vegetable drink
• 3 eggs or 9 tablespoons chickpea flour
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 tablespoons psyllium

Preparation (10′ + 15′ rest + 45′ cooking):

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and line a loaf pan with baking paper.
2. If you are going to use chickpea flour, mix 9 tablespoons of chickpea flour with 9 tablespoons of water in a small bowl and let it sit for a little while.
3. In another bowl, mix the oat flour with the salt, baking powder and psyllium. Mix all the liquid ingredients – the vegetable drink, honey, eggs, chickpea flour mixture and oil.
4. Pour the liquid mixture into the dry mixture, mix well and let it rest for about 15 minutes.
5. Pour the mixture into the mold and bake for about 45 minutes, until golden.
6. Let cool and store.

Gluten-free oatmeal and coconut donuts

A healthy version of the famous donuts. It is a gluten-free donut recipe, prepared with oat flour and coconut to enjoy a special breakfast or snack without guilt. If we do not have a mold to make donuts in the oven, we can prepare muffins using this same dough.

Ingredients (9 donuts) :

• 1 cup oat flour
• half a cup of grated coconut
• a pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup coconut or panela sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 egg or 1 tablespoon flax egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 tablespoons melted coconut oil
• 1 cup coconut yogurt

For the chocolate topping

• 70 g of 70% chocolate
• 2 teaspoons coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons grated coconut

Preparation (15′ + 20′ cooking):

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.
2. If you are going to use the flax egg, mix 1 tablespoon of ground flax with 3 tablespoons of water in a bowl and let it sit for a while.
3. In a bowl, combine the oat flour with the grated coconut, a pinch of salt, the sugar and the baking powder.
4. On the other hand, mix the egg or flax egg with the oil and yogurt and beat well.
5. Add to the dry mixture and mix well.
6. Fill the donut molds and bake for about 15-20 minutes.
7. To decorate the donuts, melt the chocolate with the oil in a double boiler. Coat the donuts with the chocolate and sprinkle with the coconut.