A simple way to make gluten-free oat flour at home using whole rolled oats. Oat flour has a slightly nutty flavor perfect for both sweet and savory baking applications. Our favorite is our rich gluten-free banana bread made with oat flour and brown sugar.
We have created an easy tutorial for you on how to make oat flour in just 5 minutes. You need just 1 ingredient (whole oats) and a blender or food processor.
Once you have made your oat flour be sure to check out our list of the best oat flour recipes for both savory and sweet ideas.
This post may include affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
I find making oat flour at home easier than buying store-bought. First off, it is much less expensive. I only need to have oats on hand which saves cabinet space.
I make exactly what I need for the recipe I am making. If I have leftover flour I use it in breading or batters, like for our gluten-free chicken nuggets recipe.
⏲️ Making Oat Flour
Oats can be made in a food processor or a high-speed blender, like a Vitamix. For small batches, less than a ¼ cup you can use a spice or coffee grinder.
Your oats should be dry, fresh oats work best so check the best buy date on your packaging.
Place 2 cups of whole oats into your food processor. Pulse the oats until they are ground into a powder-like consistency. This process should take about 60 to 90 seconds.
Always stir to ensure that all the oats have been finely ground. Pulse until again, if needed.
💬 FAQ
Oats do not contain gluten but are often cross-contaminated. Oat flour made from gluten-free certified oats is gluten-free.
It is not recommended to substitute oat flour for wheat flour in a 1:1 ratio because it lacks the gluten needed for self-rising recipes. See our section on how to substitute oat flour below.
Oat flours do not last as long as regular flours due to oils in the oats. Stored in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Use old fashion oats, rolled or steel cut, to make oat flour. Do not use quick cooking oats to make homemade oat flour.
💭Substituting Oat Flour in Recipes
Do not substitute one for one. Replace no more than ¼ of the total flour with oat flour.
If using oat flour in a gluten-containing (i.e. all-purpose or wheat) recipe that uses yeast increase the yeast by 15%.
When using oat flour in gluten-free baking add additional xanthan gum.
When replacing oat flour with regular flour in recipes go by weight not volume. A small kitchen scale is helpful.
Oat flour substitutes better in recipes that have a binder and fat, like eggs and oil.
As will all gluten-free baking the batter needs to rest before using to allow the flour to hydrate a bit.
🍞Recipes Using Oat Flour
Did You Enjoy Making This Recipe? Please rate this recipe with ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ or leave a comment. It helps other wonderful people connect with our food.
📖 Recipe
Homemade Oat Flour
Ingredients
- 2 cups old fashioned oats certified gluten-free, if needed
Instructions
- Place oats in a food processor (or a blender) and pulse the oats until they are ground into a powder-like consistency. This process should take about 60 to 90 seconds.2 cups old fashioned oats
- Stop and stir to ensure that all the oats have been finely ground. Pulse until again, if needed.
Video
Notes
- Scale up or down the recipe as needed
- Store extra flour in a labeled air-tight container for up to 3 months
- Recipe is gluten-free only when certified gluten-free oats are used
- Use whole or steel-cut oats. Quick-cooking or instant oats should not be used to make oat flour.
Melissa says
If a recipe calls for 2 cups of oat flour then you would use the 2 cups of rolled oats? 1 cup of rolled oats equals one cup of oat flour right?
Jen Wooster says
You will need about 2¾ cups of oats to make the 2 cups of oat flour.
im says
how much xanthan gum to add to 1 cup oat flour when using it as a replacement for regular flour?
Jen Wooster says
1/4 teaspoon
Christa says
This was a life saver! Thanks for the quick tutorial.