The hottest new trend in coffee couldn’t be farther from a cup of joe. It’s overflowing with nutrients, is gluten-free and helps to reduce food waste. Should you get your hands on some coffee flour?

What Is Coffee Flour?

Coffee flour is derived from the byproducts of coffee production. Coffee beans are encased within a small fruit. Once the beans are removed, the remaining fruit is typically discarded as waste. Farmers have now discovered that this fruit pulp can be salvaged, dried and ground into flour. Recommended uses include baking as well as incorporation into soups, sauces and beverages.

Coffee flour does not possess a strong coffee flavor but does have similarly deep and earthy characteristics. There is a floral undertone that resembles tea more than coffee. It also has a little bit of caffeine; according to Marx Pantry, each tablespoon of coffee flour contains roughly the same amount of caffeine as a third a cup of black coffee (they sell coffee flour for $9/pound).

Healthy Attributes

A small amount of coffee flour contains a huge amount of nutrients. One tablespoon holds almost 10 percent of the daily recommended amount of potassium and nearly 13 percent of daily iron. This plant-based flour is also gluten-free and an excellent source of fiber. Similar to coffee, coffee flour is also rich in cell-protecting antioxidants.

5 Ways to Love Coffee Flour

Add a small amount of coffee flour to a variety of recipes to boost flavor and nutrients.

1: Whisk a few teaspoons with olive oil, garlic and balsamic vinegar for a unique salad dressing or marinade.

2: Blend it into a banana and almond butter smoothie.

3: Sprinkle it onto trail mix.

4: Bake it into granola bars.

5: Make a batch of Coffee Flour Brownies (recipe follows).

Coffee Flour Brownies

Serves 12

When baking with coffee flour, use it to replace 10 to 15 percent of the regular flour in a recipe. You may also need to increase the liquid in the recipe, as coffee flour is more absorbent than other flours.

Ingredients:

Nonstick cooking spray

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup coffee flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1/4 to 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce

3/4 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup miniature chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch square baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.

Combine flours, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl and set aside. Melt butter in a medium saucepan; set aside to cool slightly.

Whisk in 1/4 cup applesauce and sugar; using a spatula, mix eggs in one at a time, followed by the vanilla; if mixture appears too dry, add remaining applesauce. Fold in chocolate chips.

Pour mixture into prepared baking dish and bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean from the center. Cool for at least 20 minutes before cutting into squares.

Per serving: Calories 182; Fat 9 g (Saturated 5 g); Cholesterol 46 mg; Sodium 84 mg; Carbohydrate 24 g; Fiber 3 g; Sugars 17 g; Protein 3 g

Photo courtesy of Marx Pantry

Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC, is a registered dietitian, certified athletic trainer and owner of Dana White Nutrition, Inc., which specializes in culinary and sports nutrition.