Buckwheat flour is a great grain-free and gluten-free flour alternative to other baking flours. Depending on what kind of buckwheat flour you use, it can add a strong or nice nutty flavor to your recipes.
What is Buckwheat?
Despite wheat being in its name, buckwheat is not even closely related to wheat. In fact, buckwheat isn’t even considered to be a grain, it’s considered to be a seed. This means that buckwheat is gluten-free and grain-free. Hence, it makes such a nice alternative to most baking flours.
Not to mention buckwheat is a nutrient powerhouse. It’s one of the few complete plant-based protein sources, it has iron, fiber, and more.
Is Buckwheat Gluten-free?
Yes, Buckwheat is gluten-free and grain-free.
Are there different types of Buckwheat Flour?
Dark buckwheat flour has a strong flavor. It should be used if you’re trying to capture the earthy and nutty flavors of buckwheat in your dish.
Light buckwheat flour has a lighter flavor than dark buckwheat flour. It should be used in recipes where you don’t want too much of a buckwheat flour taste.
I typically use light buckwheat flour because while I appreciate the nutty flavor of buckwheat, I feel like dark buckwheat flour can be too overpowering at times. My favorite buckwheat flour is from Anthony’s. It has a mild enough taste and is batch tested to be gluten-free.
10 Buckwheat Flour Recipes (all gluten-free)
Now that we know the basics of buckwheat and buckwheat flour, let’s talk buckwheat flour recipes! Below are my top 10 ways to use buckwheat flour.
Air Fryer Falafel
This Air Fryer Falafel recipe is a fun plant-based protein dish.
The buckwheat pairs nicely with the cumin and chickpeas in this recipe. It just adds the extra hint of nuttiness that really makes this falafel delicious.
Not to mention the buckwheat flour in this recipe helps add complete protein to this plant-based protein dish.
Chocolate Protein Energy Bites
I think that buckwheat flour pairs beautifully with anything chocolate and these chocolate protein energy bites definitely apply to this rule.
Often times energy bites will use oats or some other form of flour as their base. I thought that using buckwheat flour in these energy bites was a nice change.
These bites not only sport a whopping 5g of protein per bite, but they also are delicious and easy to make.
Buckwheat and Apple Cake
A dense yet moist cake featuring buckwheat flour and almond flour.
I love it because not only does it use buckwheat, but it also has a lingonberry jam filling. It takes me back to my Swedish roots.
It’s delicious but might require some intermediate baking skills.
Chocolate Buckwheat Cookies with White Chocolate Chips
Don’t like having to combine 50+ flours together to get a decent gluten-free cookie? Then this recipe is for you! It only requires buckwheat flour.
The nuttiness of the buckwheat complements that cocoa beautifully in these chocolate buckwheat cookies. Not to mention they are easy to make and hold their shape nicely. (Am I the only one who struggles with their cookies cracking or coming out misshaped?)
5 Ingredient Buckwheat Bread
This recipe comes from my favorite gluten-free buckwheat flour brand, Anthony’s (this is not sponsored – but this is an amazon affiliate link – I just truly love them).
It’s such a quick, easy, and delicious recipe. Definitely worth a shot, especially if you’ve been meaning to try to make your own bread.
Peanut Butter Protein Bites
I mentioned earlier that buckwheat is a decent source of complete plant-based protein.
Building on that, these peanut butter protein balls are a great snack option. They are packed with protein from both the buckwheat flour and peanut butter and they are tasty enough to honor your sweet tooth.
Just one ball has 8g of protein. How awesome is that?
Fluffy Buckwheat Pancakes
What better way to kick-off your morning than with some gluten-free fluffy buckwheat pancakes?
The author behind this recipe from Nutritionist Meets Chef describes the pancakes as:
“[I]ncredibly light, airy and fluffy. Perfect for breakfast as well for a weekend brunch. A real pancake dream.”
– Nutritionist Meets Chef
After that description, who wouldn’t want a stack of these?
Gluten-free Buckwheat Coffee Cake
Need something to pair with your coffee or tea? Try this coffee cake.
The buckwheat in this recipe adds a delicious nutty flavor to this coffee cake that honestly can’t be beat.
Not to mention, I give you two fun ways to add a delicious cinnamon crumble to the top. Yum.
Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge
This fudge is probably my favorite dessert to make at home. It’s quick, easy, and combines the delicious flavors of chocolate and peanut butter. Who can pass that up?
The buckwheat flour added to this recipe gives it an added nutty boost. Truly a treat worth trying.
Gluten-Free Buckwheat Crepes
Buckwheat crepes are commonly known in French as “crêpes de blé noir” or “crêpes de sarrasin” (blé noir and sarrasin both translating to buckwheat).
They are the quintessence of traditional Brittany cuisine…
Made with the simplest of ingredients (buckwheat flour, egg, salt and water), these 100% buckwheat crepes are the most authentic savoury French crepe recipe you’ll find.
– Audrey from Pardon Your French
She’s got me sold, I’ll take a plate… no wait make that 2.
Have you ever cooked with buckwheat? What’s your favorite recipe to use buckwheat in? Let me know in the comments.