Coconut Flour vs. Almond Flour

Coconut flour vs. almond flour—which one is better?

Both coconut flour and almond flour are low-carb, grain-free alternatives to wheat flour. But is one of these flours more keto-friendly than the other? The answer may surprise you. 

Let’s look at why almond flour is an ideal keto-friendly flour and how you can incorporate it successfully into your keto recipes.

What is coconut flour?

Coconut flour is dried coconut meat ground into a fine powder. Coconut pulp, a byproduct of coconut milk production, is dehydrated and milled into coconut flour. It’s low-carb, naturally gluten-free, mild in flavor, and a good substitute for conventional wheat flour.    

Coconut flour absorbs a lot of moisture, and you want to add plenty of eggs and liquids to your recipes. It produces slightly thicker batter than other flours and is great for pancakes, muffins, waffles, and cakes.   

Coconuts are technically tree nuts but are generally well tolerated, even by people sensitive to tree nuts. However, some people with tree nut allergies can react, so it’s best that you check with your doctor whether coconut flour is safe if you are allergic to coconuts or other tree nuts.

Watch the video below to learn more about coconut flour vs. almond flour. 

What is almond flour?

Almond flour is made by grinding blanched almonds into fine flour. Blanching the almonds with boiling water removes the outer skin, resulting in a fine powder with a fluffy texture. 

Almond flour is low-carb and gluten-free, making it an ideal substitute for wheat flour for keto baking and dessert recipes. 

Almond flour is white with a light texture that can be easily substituted for all-purpose flour. With its sweet and nutty flavor, almond flour adds depth to many baked goods, such as macaroons, cakes, and bread. 

Don’t mistake almond flour for almond meal, which is similar to almond flour but made from unblanched almonds. Because almond meal contains almond skins, it’s coarser than almond flour.

People with nut allergies should avoid finely ground almonds and use keto-friendly flour like sunflower seed flour, chia flour, or a moderate amount of coconut flour. 

Coconut flour and almond flour compared

Almond flour and coconut flour are low-carb and gluten-free. Both are keto-friendly flours and the most popular flour substitutes in many keto recipes. 

Let’s look at the nutrition facts of both flours and learn why almond flour is the perfect flour for keto. 

Nutrition facts

Here are the nutritional facts on how 1 cup (128 grams) of coconut flour compares to 1 cup (96 grams) of almond flour:

Coconut flour:

• 551 calories
• 22 g total fat
• 32 g protein
• 65 g total carbohydrate
  • 11 g dietary fiber
  • 54 g net carbs

Almond flour:

• 648 calories
• 56 g total fat
• 24 g protein
• 24 g total carbohydrate
  • 14 g dietary fiber
  • 10 g net carbs

Which is more keto-friendly?

Almond flour contains twice as much fat and half the amount of net carbs as coconut flour, crowning it the clear winner for being the most keto-friendly of the two flours. 

Its high-fat, low-carb content makes almond flour an ideal ingredient to include in your keto diet. 

Almond flour has slightly more calories than coconut flour due to the high amount of healthy fats, a crucial component of the keto diet. It’s the perfect ingredient if you want to experiment with your keto recipes and try your hand at baking. 

Health benefits

Almond and coconut flours are keto-friendly, grain-free flours and have plenty of health benefits. Coconut flour is a rich source of fiber and medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), a fat easily digested that helps ketone production. 

Because MCTs don’t require bile for absorption, they are easier to digest without a gallbladder and are a good option for your keto diet after gallbladder removal. 

It’s best to avoid large amounts of food with coconut flour, as the high net carbs in coconut flour can quickly push you out of ketosis. 

Both flours are high in fiber, and research published in Nutrients suggests that a fiber-rich diet significantly benefits your health. Fiber supports steady blood sugar levels, aids weight loss, improves detoxification, and feeds the beneficial bacteria in your gut.¹

Both flours have health benefits, but almond flour is nutritionally superior to coconut flour. 

“Almond flour doesn’t just beat coconut flour in terms of carbs—it also provides vitamin E, magnesium, calcium, and other nutrients that coconut flour lacks,” says Dr. Berg.

Almond flour is a rich source of essential nutrients that help support overall wellness, including vitamin E, which plays a key role in immune function and maintaining healthy skin.

Almond flour also contains magnesium, a mineral that supports heart health and helps maintain balanced blood sugar levels.

Additionally, almond flour offers copper, which assists in red blood cell production and supports healthy nerve function, as well as manganese, a trace mineral involved in energy metabolism and the development of strong bones.

In fact, research published in Nutrients shows that almonds have a protective effect against diabetes, obesity, and heart disease.²

Uses for coconut flour and almond flour

Because coconut flour typically forms a heavier batter, it’s excellent for waffles, cakes, and pancakes. It’s made from dehydrated coconut meat and is very absorbent. Most coconut flour recipes call for extra eggs and liquid to compensate for the amount of moisture it absorbs.

Almond flour, with its delicate texture, behaves similarly to wheat flour. Its slightly nutty flavor makes it an ideal ingredient for bread, muffins, and French pastries like macaroons. 

Almond flour contains more moisture than coconut flour, making it a great cake flour and perfect for baking cookies.

Don’t limit the use of almond flour to desserts and cakes—its light texture is perfect for savory bakes like Keto Naan Bread.

Almond flour and coconut flour have slightly different tastes. Coconut flour is somewhat sweeter, while almond flour has a nuttier taste, so experiment with flavors and ratios for your keto desserts. 

You can also combine both flours to get the right balance of texture and taste. This Keto Coconut Pecan Cake calls for almond flour and small amounts of coconut flour to achieve a moist but light bake. 

You can substitute coconut flour with almond flour or vice versa. One cup of almond flour is the equivalent of 1/4 cup (32 grams) of coconut flour. 

Almond flour can be used for many keto bomb recipes, such as  Keto Cinnamon Roll Fat Bombs or Keto Speckled Gingerbread Fat Bombs. Because of almond flour’s delicate texture, it’s easy to overeat these delicious keto bombs—you want to avoid snacking on them or eating too many.   

Key takeaways

Coconut flour vs. almond flour—which one is better? 

Coconut flour’s high net carbs can push you out of ketosis. Use only small amounts or substitute with almond flour for your keto-friendly desserts and bread. 

Almond flour is an excellent keto-friendly flour rich in nutrients and low in carbs, keeping your metabolism in fat-burning mode while enjoying tasty treats.   

FAQ

Sources

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7589116/ ↩︎
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7146189/ ↩︎

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