Sweet rice flour is a popular ingredient in Asian cuisine.
However, it can be hard to find outside of Asia, and the store-bought brand often has added ingredients that you don’t want.
When you can’t find it or don’t want to buy it, you’ll need a substitute.
Fortunately, there are several options for a good substitution which means you can still eat your favorite foods.
Check out these five substitutes for sweet rice flour and see if one of them is what you’re looking for in your recipe.
What is Sweet Rice Flour?

Sweet rice flour is a type of flour made from ground glutinous rice.
Because the rice is glutinous, it helps to bind ingredients together and add texture to recipes that call for sweet rice flour.
It also gives off a sweet taste that makes it ideal for desserts and baked goods while making them gluten-free.
Sweet rice flour can be used to make various baked goods such as bread, muffins, and even cakes.
It can absorb liquid and keep recipes moist while adding great flavor at the same time.
Since the rice is glutinous, it will also add a chewy texture to baked goods.
The flour can be bought at most local grocery stores for a very low price.
If you have a gluten allergy, sweet rice flour is the perfect substitute for all-purpose flour in your recipes.
It can help you make yummy baked goods that won’t hurt your body and keep you feeling great.
The 5 Best Substitutes for Sweet Rice Flour
To substitute sweet rice flour in recipes for baked goods, here are five of the best substitutes you can use:
1 – All-Purpose Flour

All-purpose flour is a great substitute for sweet rice flour.
It can be a very useful substitute if you’re aiming for a more traditional end product that doesn’t have the same texture as Sweet Rice Flour makes.
All-purpose flour is incredibly versatile and tastes great in many recipes.
Since this type of flour contains less protein than all-purpose gluten-free flour, making recipes much softer.
As a substitute for sweet rice flour, all-purpose flour effectively makes sticky doughs.
However, you will need to mix your batter longer than usual because it contains less protein than gluten-free flour.
You should use no more than two parts all-purpose to one part sweet rice flour for the best results.
2 – Arrowroot Flour
Arrowroot flour is a supreme substitute for sweet rice flour because it’s high in starch and low in protein.
It has a very different structure than other gluten-free flours you’re used to working with, and it behaves differently, too.
For example, arrowroot doesn’t rise like other flours.
In addition, it sets incredibly fast and is great for thickening up sauces.
You can add arrowroot flour to your baked goods for a unique taste.
This flour has a neutral flavor compared to other gluten-free ingredients so that it won’t interfere with the flavor of your recipes that much.
When using this ingredient, you need to mix it with an equal part of another gluten-free flour.
In addition, arrowroot doesn’t contain any protein or gums, so adding more than one tablespoon in a recipe will make your baked goods crumbly and dry.
If you’re using this ingredient for thickening sauce, you can go up to two tablespoons of arrowroot to one part liquid.
3 – Cornstarch

Corn starch is another great substitute for sweet rice flour because it’s cheap, easy to find, and gluten-free.
It can be used in rice flour in most recipes, including baked goods.
Once again, sweet rice flour will give your end product a much different texture than cornstarch will not yield.
In your recipes, you can use a half cup of corn starch to substitute for every one cup of sweet rice flour.
If you’re baking something that doesn’t need to be as strong and hold together well, then you only need a quarter cup of corn starch per cup of rice flour in the recipe.
You should note that this ingredient can be a little trickier to work with than other substitutes for sweet rice flour.
This is because it has properties similar to glue, so you need to add cold liquid and work quickly when cooking with corn starch.
4 – Tapioca Flour

Tapioca flour is another popular substitute for sweet rice flour because it’s high in starch and has no taste.
It works great in many baked goods, but you need to add many eggs or egg replacers for binding.
In addition, tapioca flour will not produce the same texture as sweet rice flour.
This gluten-free ingredient is made from cassava root.
This means your baked goods might have a slight root beer taste to them, which you can mask by adding vanilla extract.
In addition, this ingredient is a great substitute for recipes that need to be chewy or crunchy.
It’s important to note that tapioca flour is not like potato starch.
While they have similar names, these two ingredients are completely different and cannot be used interchangeably.
5 – Buckwheat Flour

Buckwheat flour is another great substitute for sweet rice flour because it’s high in protein and has a strong, nutty flavor to it.
This means your products will have a stronger taste than what you would get if you used other substitutes for sweet rice flour.
Buckwheat is another gluten-free grain alternative, so you can use it to make pancakes, muffins, and bread.
It contains no starch or gums, so you need to mix it with other flours for your recipes.
However, buckwheat flour gives baked goods a fantastic flavor if mixed with the right ingredients.
Make sure to mix up your batter quickly, or else it will clump.
For example, if you’re making pancakes, the best way to incorporate buckwheat flour is by using a whisk and folding it into the rest of the ingredients.
Conclusion
Sweet rice flour is a popular substitute for regular flour in baking.
It’s great at making pie crusts and cakes chewy with a unique taste.
Hence, it’s not usually an ingredient that people look for substitutes.
However, you can use several good alternatives, including arrowroot flour, cornstarch, tapioca flour, and buckwheat flour.
While they all have advantages and disadvantages, the best substitute for sweet rice flour is often tapioca flour.
This ingredient has properties similar to cornstarch, but it doesn’t cook up as stiff or clumpy if you add too much to your recipe.
Plus, it gives baked goods a more cohesive texture than some other sweet rice flour substitutes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What can I use instead of sweet rice flour in kimchi?
You can use regular rice flour, arrowroot starch, potato starch, or tapioca flour as a substitute for sweet rice flour in kimchi.
All of these flours will give you similar results when making kimchi. Just be sure to adjust the amount used according to the recipe instructions.
Can I substitute sweet rice flour for cornstarch?
Yes, you can substitute sweet rice flour for cornstarch in many recipes.
Sweet rice flour has a slightly more gritty texture than cornstarch and will not thicken as much, so make sure to adjust the amount accordingly.
Some people also prefer to use potato starch or tapioca flour as a substitution for cornstarch.
Can I use glutinous rice flour instead of sweet rice flour?
Glutinous rice flour and sweet rice flour are not interchangeable.
Sweet rice flour is made from short-grain, glutinous “sticky” rice while glutinous rice flour is made from long-grain, non-glutinous “regular” rice.
The texture and taste of these two products will be different and using one in place of the other could lead to an undesired outcome.
What can I use if I don’t have any sweet rice flour?
If you don’t have any sweet rice flour, substitutes such as arrowroot starch, potato starch, or tapioca flour are a good option.
These flours will provide similar results when making kimchi or other recipes which call for sweet rice flour. Be sure to adjust the amount used according to the recipe instructions.
Additionally, you can use cornstarch as a substitute but keep in mind that it will not thicken as much and has a slightly more gritty texture than sweet rice flour.
The 5 Best Substitutes for Sweet Rice Flour

Ingredients
- All-Purpose Flour
- Arrowroot Flour
- Cornstarch
- Tapioca Flour
- Buckwheat Flour
Instructions
- Pick your favorite substitute from the list above.
- Follow cooking directions for your selected substitute with the proper ratio of ingredients.