I use half the coconut flour I think I need, and add extra eggs, tapioca flour, and/or guar/xanthan gum when I bake with coconut flour. You can always add more coconut flour, but most recipes use a LOT less than it seems like they'll need. The batter should be almost runny by comparison, because as it sets, it will thicken substantially.

However, one of the things I found most effective was letting go of the idea of 'substituting' breads, cookies, cakes, etc. at all. You see, I think we get habituated to those things -- especially if we get them when we're young, and then it becomes difficult to let them go. I decided that, since most "substitutes" didn't really 'represent' well, it was probably better just to find alternatives.

In place of pitas, try "inside out sandwiches" -- slices of meat, poultry, etc., with salad fixings shoved or wrapped inside. (We will purchase a whole fresh pork shoulder or roast beef, rub/roast it, and slice it super thin, then spread it with home-made mayo and mustard and wrap it around baby lettuces).

In place of tacos, roast up some sweet potatoes. Scoop out the middles, leaving a 1/4" layer of potato against the skin, then pop them back into the oven to crisp (like making potato skins) -- then fill them with home-made taco meat.

In place of pancakes, whizz up 1/4 cup of cooked pumpkin or butternut squash in the blender with 3 3ggs. Pour into a buttered pan and let cook until set -- flip to brown the 2nd side, and serve with butter and cranberry relish. (this makes about a half-dozen).

+1 re: "letting go of the idea of 'substituting' breads"

I add shredded zucchini or grated cauliflower to recipes and it provides texture and stability. When I get a chance I'll post my cheese biscuit recipe. It is stable enough to support bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches.

You need binder to replace the gluten in wheat flour. Add in additional eggs (or other protein). I've made coconut flour pancakes that are nearly 75% eggs and they turn out well - holding their shape while still being bread-like.

I suggest adding more eggs. For a good understanding on coconut flour read this awesome post from a blogger who I find extremely knowledgeable.

http://nourishedkitchen.com/baking-with-coconut-flour/

You can also find good paleo recipes with coconut flour on this site too.

http://www.thewholekitchen.com/

I'd check out recipes specifically made for coconut flour. When I transitioned to GF (before going grain-free) I learned to sub by weight, not volume. That was easy. The transition to grain-free baking was a lot more difficult, since coconut and almond flours each require a significantly different approach. Almond flour (which you don't use) requires very little moisture, and coconut flour sucks up all the moisture you can give it (and will get crumbly). Once you feel comfortable using recipes for coconut flour goodies, you can more comfortably make your own.

I hesitate recommending xanthan and guar gums as binders. I used them briefly when I baked GF and honestly they just wreak my stomach. And they're a bitch to clean up. Think dried, caked on egg and multiply it by about a thousand.

Also, +1 to the people who mentioned that it'd be best to 'get over' substitutions for gluten products. I became pretty good at GF baking before going grain-free, but nothing will completely replace a good baguette or French pastry (in my opinion, anyway). But, I make a mean 'paleo' cookie and muffin on occasion.

Definitely adding more eggs and maybe some xanthan gum would help. Coconut flour requires a lot of eggs... you might even try some recipes from healthyindulgences.net, or comfybelly.com. I have had successes with some of their coconut flour recipes. :)

I have not found anything to work, and so reserve coconut flour for recipes that resemble crumbly or tender food such as bisquits and crusts.

All the above ideas are great and I have one in a different direction--you can USE the tendency to be crumbly by making what we used to call an "apple brown Betty." I sauteed some apple chunks in butter and cinnamon. Then I temporarily took the apples out and added more butter plus some coconut flour (I also used a little almond flour but obviously you'd skip that.) Anyhow, in this case you want a buttery, crumbly texture and I left it in the pan long enough to brown a little. Then I dumped the apples back in and stirred it up.

For serving, you could add whipped cream but it was Christmas so I poured on a little home-made eggnog. Very yummy! I made the dish out of jealousy of my grandson's apple pie, but in all honesty my dessert was legal and smelled better and tasted (probably) as good.

You can take a few large spoonful's of flax seeds and crush them up. Place in a cup with a few spoons of hot water. They will turn into a gel. I have found that this is a good binder. I am not a fan of tapioca or xanthan gum as I would not normally eat them.

I also second the adding of zucchini or cauliflower or chesses. I have added potato flour a few times - however this is abit border line, depends if you eat potatoes or not. For me I do occasionally and when I occasionally make breads/cakes I find it ok.

Has anyone tried using gelatin for this?

I have been searching for coconut recipes too and have found this site: http:// www. tiana-coconut. com/ coconut_flour_recipes.htm It has expanded our repitoire at least. Good luck!

Use a crap ton of eggs. Seriously. You should have about the same amount of liquid to flour when you're working with coconut flour.