Create deliciously tempting bakery treats with our range of flours.
Flour is a baking staple and the principal ingredient in bread and cakes, but there’s more to flour than the plain and self-raising varieties found on supermarket shelves.
At Holland & Barrett, you’ll find varieties of flour you may not have known existed before, including coconut flour and almond flour, which taste great in sweet treats!
Should you have a mild or serious allergy, our online store is filled with an extensive range of wheat-free and gluten-free flours, so there’s no need to go without.
What are the different types of flour?
There are many different types of flour that are perfect for various baking needs, from flour that’s best suited to bread to flour made for people who are coeliac.
Below is just an example of the range of specialist flours we stock. We’ll go into what these are and what they’re used for in more detail below this.
What is gluten-free flour?
Gluten-free flour, is often made from alternative starches and plants like potatoes and buckwheat to remove the gluten that can trigger alleriges and intolerances. Similar in appearance to ordinary plain or self-raising flour, you can use it in all gluten-free and coeliac-friendly recipes, including vegan banana bread or delicious chocolate brownie.
What is wheat-free flour?
Similar to gluten-free flour, wheat-free flour is made from alternative wheat-free ingredients, including products like tapioca. When using any wheat-free flour, it’s important to look for specialist recipes, as not every wheat-free flour will substitute plain or self-raising flour like-for-like.
What is coconut flour?
A specialist product, coconut flour is naturally wheat and grain-free because it’s made from dried coconut meat. Like many coconut products, coconut flour is delicious in cakes, cookies and other sweet recipes.
What is almond flour?
Almond flour offers a subtly sweet taste that’s also nutty. It’s also naturally gluten-free, making it perfect for macaroons.
What is rye flour?
Rye flour is very different from the other ingredients on this list in that it contains gluten. Rye flour is commonly used in rye bread and sourdough bread, which tends to be dense and darker in colour than bread made with white flour. Rye bread is also unique in that it’s made from rye berries or ryegrass grains.
What is garbanzo (chickpea flour)?
Chickpea flour has many names, including gram flour and garbanzo flour. Made using (you guessed it) chickpeas, its high protein and fibre content make this a popular choice with healthy chefs. Chickpea flour is also used in many Asian dishes, including Middle Eastern falafel and Indian pakoras or poppadoms.
Other specialist flours to look out for
The above list gives you an idea of the range of flours available at Holland & Barrett for all your baking and cooking needs.
These flours are often preferred by people with dietary requirements, including those with an allergy or intolerance to gluten. However, they’re not the only flours from our store.
Our range extends flours and flour alternatives from around the world, including organic arrowroot. This cornflour alternative can be used in a number of recipes, including in biscuits, porridge and even cheese sauces for pasta.
Why not try something new? Shop our selection of flours, which includes quality own brand Holland & Barrett flours and versatile flours from brands like Doves Farm and Bobs Red Mill.
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Yes, flour is vegan-friendly! However, it is still important to double-check your product, as sometimes the processing techniques or additives used may not be vegan.
The type of gluten-free flour to use when baking can depend on what it is you’re baking! For sweet treats, substituting coconut or almond flour can work really well. For savoury treats, you may want to use something with a more subtle flavour.
Chickpea flour has many names, including gram flour and garbanzo flour. Made using (you guessed it) chickpeas, its high protein and fibre content make this a popular choice with healthy chefs. Chickpea flour is also used in many Asian dishes, including Middle Eastern falafel and Indian pakoras or poppadoms.