February 18, 2013
updated
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Today we’re making homemade oat flour and sharing recipes to help you put this gluten free flour to use. You don’t have to spend a lot of money because you already have everything you need in your pantry to make your own flour, simply and inexpensively.
Since it’s always more fun to watch how things are made, I had this recipe made into a video – see how easy it is to make here!
What is Oat Flour?
Oat flour is made from ground oats. Simple and sweet right?
But don’t be fooled, this flour is capable of making some incredible baked goods and breakfasts. We’re talking light and fluffy breads, pancakes, waffles, golden brown cookies, all the essential things.
Is Oat Flour Gluten Free?
The short answer is YES! Both pure rolled oats and flour made form them are gluten free. However, if the oats are processed in facilities with wheat and other grains, there’s a good chance they’ll contain traces of gluten. If you are looking for certified gluten free oat flour, all you need to do is make sure the oats you purchase say “certified gluten free” and then you can make your own flour at a fraction of the cost.
No need to worry, there are multiple sources of gluten-free oats and flours this one is my favorite. Or you can take matters into your own hands, like we’re doing today, and make homemade oat flour!
How to Make Oatmeal Flour
Making oat flour is wonderfully simple, and I have a hard time figuring out why people haven’t caught on sooner. Homemade Oat Flour has all the benefits and quality of store-bought, and it’s way less expensive. All you need is a blender/food processor and old-fashioned oats.
- Add 1 to 2 cups old-fashioned oats to a blender or food processor.
- Place the lid on, and give it a go on high speed until the oats turn into a fine powder.
- Transfer to an air-tight container and store for in the pantry for about 3 months.
To make oats flour, I always use my Blendtec. Now, you probably already know I love using my Blendtec for my favorite smoothie recipes but it’s the by far the best tool for making your own flours as well!
Oat Flour Recipes
Oat flour has a 1:1 ratio for regular flour making it one of the best gluten-free flours available. You can use it for pancakes, muffins, waffles, and quick bread recipes with delicious results. It’s nutty flavor harmonizes with ingredients such as honey, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
Recipe: Applesauce Bread
A quick, comforting treat you can whip up with basic pantry staples. It’s super moist and great a breakfast or packed into lunches.
Recipe: Lemon Poppyseed Zucchini Muffins
Super moist lemon poppy seed muffins with zucchini are healthier than the coffee shops and just as tasty!
Recipe: Cheddar Apple Sausage Muffins
Try this savory breakfast muffin for a change. Loaded with sausage, chopped apple, and cheese, it’s an incredible breakfast you can enjoy on the go.
Recipe: Healthy Banana Oatmeal Muffins
No need for mixing bowls because these muffins are made in the blender! They’re light, moist and everything a banana breakfast muffin should be.
It doesn’t stop with these delicious recipes! You can use this flour in so many baking recipes to make them gluten free! But let’s get started with the complete instructions for homemade oat flour. And if you are looking for more gluten free recipes, be sure to check out our grain free meal plans. You’ll get fresh recipes every week that are gluten free and unbelievably delicious!
How to Make Oat Flour
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled or old fashion oats
Instructions
- Place the oats into the bowl of your food processor or blender.
- Pulse the oats until they are ground into a powder-like consistency.
- Depending on the speed and power of your food processor or blender, this process should take 60 seconds or less.
- Stop and stir to ensure that all the oats have been finely ground.
- One cup of rolled oats will yield approximately 1 cup of oat flour.
- Store unused portion in air tight container.
Val
oat flour is so expensive, definittely making my own from now on!
Dorothy Houghton
I grind quick oats and regular rolled oats in my coffee grinder, just a few seconds and perfect flour, I also use the flour for “ready break” and it makes great breakfast, suitable for little ones as well.
Howard B
I tried milling rolled oats in my KitchenAid flour mill attachment with not so great results. It clogged up the plates and very little oat flour came out. It wasn’t hard to clean so the oats were either a little too oily or not quite dry enough. I am definitely going to try this in my old Oster Blender. Something I also might try is toasting the oats a little first. I just read an article about how in Scandinavia they toast the oats slightly before using them for a variety of recipes. It gives them a very nice nutty flavor. You can roast them in the oven or in a pan with a little butter. I was going to try toasting them dry in the oven and give the grain mill another try but if they powder up through a processor then that should do, toasted or not.
Wydell
Hi! Has anyone tried this using a ninja food processor? Mine isn’t extremely powerful and I don’t want to spend 30 minutes making flour.
Demi
Yes I used my ninja, it didn’t take long at all :)
Beverly Crawley
I haven’t tried this but I’m going to I have the small ninja ive been wanting to try this fir awhile
Brenda Dodd
Thank you so much for this. I knew there was away but didn’t know how. I’m planning on making a glutton free Cornbread stuffing but don’t but glutton free flour as it is kind of expensive. I’m making this for a friend of mine who can only eat glutton free foods and I’m having her and her hubby over but I didn’t want her to have any concerns regarding the food.
Thanks again…
Mary
I have read that If you are using flour Mande this way you cannot substitute like for like as oat flour is much lighter. Can you clarify this for me please. I want to use my old family recipe to make my Xmas cakes but am unsure as to the weight of oat flour to use. These cakes are expensive to make so I don’t want to risk an expensive disaster.
MOMables-Laura
You can use homemade flour for baked goods but be sure to sub the oat flour for regular flour by weight and not volume. This will require a kitchen scale.
Tam
Thank you for this tip! Great recipes!
Marie
Would like to make pound cake with oat flour. If recipe calls for 1-3/4 cups all purpose flour how much oat flour do I use?
MOMables - Laura
You would use the same amount, except, you should expect your pound cake to be much denser not light and airy.
Sharon
Would the addition of extra baking powder help to off set the increased density so you would able to maintain the light and fluffy texture?
MOMables-Laura
Yes, the baking powder helps give the oat flour batter a lift.
Elaine
This just dawned on me – I googled making oat flour. thank you for this information. I am ready to try it, and hoping I can buy more oats if I can’t buy flour and bread in the supermarket. NZ has buy outs of bread and flour too!! If you are not in the shop at the time shelves are filled you need to go back, and who wants to do that just now with covid 19 around!! keep safe.
MOMables - Laura
Glad you found this helpful Elaine!
Baygirl
2020-03-27 Forgot dog buscuits while grocery shopping today, and googled instructions on how to make homemade dog biscuits. Your idea suited our recipe 100% Thanks so much. I had bought lots of Large Flake Oats on sale, and now I have yet another good use for them! Cheers from Ottawa Canada.
MOMables - Laura
I’m so glad this worked out well for you! Those are some lucky pups!
Rolyn
Can I make oatmeal smooth porridge with the flour for a 6 months baby?
MOMables - Laura
that’s how I made baby oat porridge!
Kemmy
Can I use quick cooking oat instead of rolled oat?
MOMables - Laura
Yes you can.
Emanuele Guidetti
Oh thank you very much for all your advice and helpful support
Jamie Warn
You just saved me! Need oat flour for GF apple crumb cake I am making my sister and didn’t have any oat flour, but I do have rolled oats and a food processor
MOMables - Laura
Woohoo! Enjoy the apple crumble.
Lisa
Thanks so much for the tip! It took all of 10 seconds to make.
grand prix story 2 cheats
This page definitely has all of the information and facts
I needed about this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
Judy Kaspar
Can I make rice flour the same way as making oat flour? And also, is there an article with instructions for coconut flour? I want to make treats for your two dogs that are healthy.
Stephanie Schneller
Yes, you can make rice flour the same way you make oat flour. There are no “instructions” to coconut flour but it’s not the type of flour that can be substituted 1:1 with regular flour. Coconut flour is the type of ingredient you use following a recipe.
Felipe
I make the oat flour and mix cacao powder and sugar, and then whip it in the Nutribullet for a quick drink with Almond milk, it is sooooo good! In Mexico its already made its called Avena Rivero, but when I can’t go to Mexico I make my own, its that simple. Very healthy drink.
Emilie Hebert
That sounds so delicious! Great idea!
Beatriz Thornton
Sounds good and nutritious, I use monk fruit sugar as I am pre-diabetic oats are great for colesterol. Thank you for this great site with so many healthy ideas.
Berit Hall
Just used my Magic Bullet to grind my oat meal in an attempt to have flour…within 15-20 second I had flour, just like the store bought, and for a fraction of what I would have paid at the store! Why did’t I think of this before??? Thank you for posting this suggestion!
My life will be so much easier now, and less expensive…..
MOMables
It really is the best tip! I’m so glad you can now make your own. :)
dave
Can I use steel cut oats to make oat flour (instead of rolled oats)?
Thanks
MOMables
Yes you can. just make sure they are finely ground.
G.baritt
Yes, there is nothing different, steel cut are oats that have been put through a special machine that orients the groats in one direction where they the ends cut off
Jennifer
Can I use Oat flour like white flour? I do not like to use white flour because of the processing.
MOMables
not in all recipes Jennifer.
Ashley
For most baking needs. Yes! I use it for cooking muffins, cookies and bread and it comes out fanatastic. I also use baking soda to help with rising it.
nancy
Great ideas. Thanks. New to gluten-free cooking.
Willietta
I began grinding my oatmeal and love it. I use it in place of flour. I make a stack of pancakes and refrigerate them. I also roll skinless chicken in it and put 2 Tbs. of coconut oil in skillet and fried. Delicious!!!!! I even fried fish in it. Never going back to regular flour. My husband even love it.
Natalie
I ground quick oats to use for flour to make chocolate chip cookies. They spread out completely flat, except for the chips that stayed in the center. After adjusting the cooking time with no success, I stirred in some quick oats (un-ground) to tighten up the dough some, That seemed to help. Any suggestions? Some baking powder maybe?
Cathy
You may need to adjust: sugar, fat, flour, or other ingredients. Somewhere there is a graphic showing which ingredient causes which problem. …too flat, too crunchy and so on. Sorry I couldn’t be more specific at this time.
Sarah
You might want to try adding a bit of corn or potato startch.
I am excited to try making my own oat flour. I’m trying (slowly) to get me and my oldest son on a gluten free diet.
Lisa
Could it be because she used quick oats and not just regular oats?
Toni
Thanks for the simple instructions. I am gluten intolerant. Oat flour is so expensive but great because it is lower in carbohydrates. I am definitely going to try this.
Dori Berg
Another great way to grind your oats into flour is to use a coffee grinder. I have used mine often to make oat flour. This would not work if you need to make a larger quantity but if you are just using oat flour for one recipe it will work just fine.
MOMables
great tip!
Hannah
Can you use a magic bullet for this? If so, which blade? There is a flat one and then one with prongs that stick up in the air.
MOMables
yes you can use your magic bullet. Use the one that chops.
Nikki
I use my magic bullet for this yes. And I use it with the flat blade and it’s flour in just a few seconds.
Good Luck!
Cathy
My coffee grinder has one end curved up and the other down, and it just made very nice flour.
Leah
How long does the oat flour last in a air tight container in the pantry?
MOMables
Pantry: 2months Freezer 4months
Lou
Can same be accomplished with a blender??? Or is the food processor a must??
MOMables
You can do this in a blender too. Just give the blender a good shake.
Queeneth
Thank you u just answered my question
Cassie
Hi Elaine.
Thank you for the great advise, however there is a huge error on your page, oats are absolutely NOT gluten-free. They along with Barley, Rye and Wheat are the main four gluten grains. Other grains include Kamut and Spelt.
Please look into this as it could be potentially fatal for a coeliac.
Kaj
Certified gluten free oats DO NOT contain gluten. That is why they say very plainly on the package “certified gluten free”.
People with celiac disease can be sensitive to oats even if the oats are certified gluten free. There is a certain protein in oats that can cause the same reaction in patients with celiac disease as gluten does, even if the oats are certified gluten free.
The best thing to do is ask the person. If the food item is for a surprise, the prudent thing would be to avoid the oats so you don’t risk causing them undue problems.
MOMables
Cassie, certified GF oats do not contain gluten. They are, however, often cross contaminated in production facilities which is why if someone suffers from celiacs disease they should check the packaging.
Elaine
I make and use oat flour for pancakes and waffles.
Recipe :
2 cups of oat flour, 2 eggs, tsp. baking powder, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1 tsp. vanilla, buttermilk (you can use regular milk as we’ll) the amount of milk is between a pint and pint and a half. If making waffles at a tbsp. of melted butter. Add pecans, walnuts, blueberries or what ever your heart desires. I add ground flaxseed to mine as we’ll. You will never go back to boxed mix again. Almond milk will NOT brown pancake or waffle. Oh, I ground my own oatmeal. If you refrigerate, it will thicken. Just thin with any liquid. Eggnog is great too!
MOMables
I MUST test this out Elaine! thank you!
Anne
What do you mean almond milk will not brown the pancakes?
MYO-MI
Love this recipe….added it to my favorites list….thankyou very much…MYO-MI.
joe
One cup of rolled oats will yield approximately LESS THAN 1 cup of oat flour.
1 cup rolled oats = “approximately” 3/4-1 cup oat flour
James
I tried making my own oat flour for the first time. I used an immersion blender on the high setting, which worked quite well for 1/2 cup proportions. I used 1 1/3 cups of quick cooking rolled oats and got 1 1/3 cups of flour minus a little more than 1/2 tablespoon. So for 1 cup of flour, if you want to be precise, I recommend 1 cup of rolled oats plus a rounded teaspoon.
mike
how many gram this rounded teaspoon?
Shautel
I used quick cooking oats. Is there a difference? I am also going to store in Freezer..
Lori
I JUST made some lemon shortbread cookies with quick cooking oats turned into flour using my vitamix and they were DELICIOUS!!! Worked like a charm.
Eddie
The difference between quick cooking oats is that they are typically rolled out thinner and steamed slightly longer in the processing facility as opposed to standard “old fashioned” oats. Same oat so use it as any non quick cooking oat.
Allison Waken
Love this tip! We make our own almond flour the same way!
Juanita Miller
Do you use the ground almonds made into flour the same as you would use flour or oatmeal flour?Thank you so much for this hint at the almond flour is very expensive.
MOMables
Yes, you can finely grind almonds to make into almond meal, although it’s hard for it to have a uniform consistency when ground at home.
Bettymae
Thank you. using oat flour for puppy cookies ❤️
Jessie
Is this the same as the powder that you can add water to to make oat milk?
MOMables-Laura
Hi Jesse, this oat flour is useful for baking purposes only. It won’t make drinkable oat milk.