What does flour do?

Question

What does flour do in cookies? I was about to make some and didn't find any flour in the pantry and I don't feel like running to the store... So are there any substitutes that you can use? Or is it a needed thing?

Answer 1

An ingredient used in many foods, flour is a fine powder made from cereals or other starchy food sources. It is most commonly made from wheat, but also maize (also known as corn), rye, barley, and rice, amongst many other grasses and non-grain plants (including many Australian species of acacia). Flour is the key ingredient of bread, which is the staple food in many countries, and therefore the availability of adequate supplies of flour has often been a major economic and political issue. Flour can also be made from legumes and nuts, such as soy, peanuts, almonds, and other tree nuts.

Flour is always based on the presence of starches, which are complex carbohydrates.

Usually, the word "flour" used alone refers to wheat flour, which is one of the most important foods in European and American culture. The corresponding Spanish word "harina" normally refers to Maize flour - wheat flour is "harina de trigo". Wheat flour is the main ingredient in most types of breads and pastries. Wheat is so widely used because of an important property: when wheat flour is mixed with water, a complex protein called gluten develops. The gluten development is what gives wheat dough an elastic structure that allows it to be worked in a variety of ways, and which allows the retention of gas bubbles in an intact structure, resulting in a sponge-like texture to the final product. This is highly desired for breads, cakes and other baked products. However, certain individuals suffer from an intolerance to wheat gluten known as coeliac or celiac disease. Increased awareness of this disorder, as well as a rising belief in the benefits of a gluten-free diet for persons suffering certain other conditions, has led to an increased demand for bread and other products made with flours which do not contain gluten.

A coarser, somewhat granular preparation, rather than a fine dust, is often called meal.

no substitutes

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Flour, usually white flour is the primary ingredient in most baked goods and is necessary. However, if you have oatmeal in the house and you have a high speed blender --you can make 'oat flour' . Run the the oatmeal in small portions at a time through the blender until very fine. Keep doing this until you have the amount of 'flour' called for in the recipe. Use 1 extra teaspoon of baking powder or 1 slightly beaten egg white for extra leavening (do not want concrete cookies!) . This may give you an edible cookie.
Also, very, very fine dry bread crumbs mixed with very finely ground pecans or walnuts can sometimes be used instead of flour for some baked goods.
It might be easier to go to the store, but I admire your 'daring',to think "out of the box", in the long run this daring will make you a very good cook.

Answer 4

You could make some chocolate, oatmeal, and peanut butter no cook cookies!!
2 c. sugar 4 tbsp cocoa
1/2 c milk 2 1/4 c oatmeal
1/4 lb margarine 2 tbsp vanilla
1/4 c peanut butter 1/2 c chopped nuts, optional
(I just use crunchy pb)
Combine sugar, milk and cocoa. Bring to a boil for 4 1/2 min.-no more. Remove from heat, add remaining ing. Then quickly drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper. Enjoy!!

And yes if a cookie recipe calls for flour you need to use it.

Answer 5

Well you can't do the cookies then sorry because well flour can make a bunch of stuff like say bread, cake, brownies, any thing in the pastry section really but without it its nothing and that's all I can say really and yes it is a needed thing no substitute.

Answer 6

It's pretty much necessary. However, all white flour is is bleached ground wheat kernels. You *could* use about any other grain, ground or powdered instead of wheat flour. It will probably change the consistency of the cookie.
If you have a food processor you could make flour out of oats, rice, or barley.

Answer 7

Oats are often used in Scotland as a substitute (or addition to) flour. For example oatcakes (contains flour and oats).

Answer 8

flour is the main part of the cookie u can't really substitute it with any other thing

Answer 9

In the event it's a fruit it includes seeds, otherwise it's a vegetable. And vegetables are usually grown in the ground while fruits are grown in trees.

Answer 10

thikens the recipe like david beckham