If you’re a fan of no bake desserts, you’ll want to read this quick and easy tutorial! Learn how to heat treat flour in just minutes, in your oven or microwave.

Learn why your flour should be heat treated if you’re not going to bake it, and learn how to quickly and safely walk through the process.

Flour spread out on a gold rimmed baking sheet, on a marble countertop
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Who doesn’t love to sneak a bite of raw cookie dough before it heads into the oven? I’m guilty, I’ll fully admit it!

That doesn’t mean it’s a good practice, of course. Did you know that the raw egg in your dough isn’t the only thing you should be concerned about when you sneak that spoonful?

Flour can be hiding bacteria, too. That’s why heat treating will help you create safe no-bake desserts! Ensure you’re creating safe desserts with this simple technique.

I’m a big fan of no bake desserts. In fact, I recently shared a complete recipe guide featuring all the best No Bake Dessert Recipes – don’t skip it!

My edible cookie dough recipe is a reader favorite around here. Have you tried it? It’s worth every delicious calorie, I promise!

Of course, it’s up to every individual whether or not they take the steps to heat treat flour in no bake recipes. However, I think it’s important to share this information so you can make an educated decision for your own family!

A canister of flour next to flour spread out on a baking sheet, all placed on a marble countertop.

Can You Eat Raw Flour?

Well, yes. But should you?

If you’ve ever made a no bake recipe that requests flour (or even a box of cake mix) you might want to heat treat the flour!

According to the FDA, raw flour can potentially contain harmful bacteria. This includes salmonella, E. coli and more.

While it’s rare, it’s something to keep in mind if you’re creating a no bake dessert that includes flour. We are all risk-averse in our own ways, so this quick step is simply an option to ensure you’re serving the safest treats possible!

A glass canister full of flour, with a baking sheet and a digital thermometer to the side

Here’s What You Need:

  • Oven or Microwave
  • Sheet Pan or Microwave Safe Bowl
  • Parchment Paper (for the sheet pan – not necessary for microwave)
  • Food Thermometer
  • Flour (or Cake Mix)
A glass canister full of flour, with a white bowl and a digital thermometer to the side

How to Heat Treat Flour in Oven

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  3. Bake in two minute intervals, stirring in between to ensure the flour doesn’t burn. A baking sheet with flour in a white oven, as part of a tutorial for how to heat treat flour. A baking sheet with flour in a white oven, as part of a tutorial for how to heat treat flour. A baking sheet with flour in a white oven, as part of a tutorial for how to heat treat flour.
  4. With a thermometer, ensure the flour has reached a temperature of 165 degrees.
A baking sheet filled with all purpose flour, on top of an oven with brass knobs.

How to Heat Treat Flour in Microwave

  • Place the flour in a microwave safe bowl.
  • Heat in microwave (on high heat) in 30 second intervals, stirring in between.
  • After 1-2 minutes in microwave, use a thermometer to ensure flour has reach 165F.
A white bowl full of flour on a marble surface
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Tips

  • Heat treating is used for unbleached or bleached flour.
  • Use a sheet pan with sides, not a cookie sheet. Lining the sheet pan with parchment paper also makes for easier clean up.
  • Stir the flour frequently, whether you’re heat treating in the microwave or the oven. This prevents burning!
  • Before using in any of your no bake recipes, ensure the heat treated flour is completely cooled through – this usually takes around 20 minutes, depending on the temperature of your home.
  • In a rush? Put your heat treated flour in the fridge for a few minutes to cool it down before using.
Flour on a baking sheet, being spread out with a white spatula

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need to heat treat flour?

If you’re baking the flour in cakes, cookies and the like, then no, you don’t need to heat treat it! However, if you’re using flour in a no-bake dessert, you might want to heat treat your flour first.
Every individual needs to consider the pros and cons of eating raw (uncooked) flour. Heat treating your flour will safely eliminate any bacteria that remains from processing the grains.

Do I need to heat treat cake mix in a no bake dessert recipe?

Do you have a no bake recipe that requests cake mix – for example, this funfetti cheeseball? If so, yes! You’ll heat treat it just like you would the flour in these step by step directions.

Can you buy heat treated flour?

Yes, you can! There are a few companies that sell flour that has been heat-treated and is safe to serve in your no-bake recipes.

A baking sheet filled with all purpose flour, on top of an oven with brass knobs.

How to Store

You can store heat treated flour in an air tight container in your pantry for up to one year! It’s easy to make it ahead and grab it for your no-bake recipes.

Where to Use Heat Treated Flour

Here’s a few fun suggestions of our favorite recipes that request flour or cake mix!

Flour spread out on a gold rimmed baking sheet, on a marble countertop

More Cooking and Baking Guides

tips, guides & substitutions
A baking sheet with flour in a white oven, as part of a tutorial for how to heat treat flour.
5 from 1 vote

How to Heat Treat Flour

Learn why your flour should be heat treated if you’re not going to bake it, and learn how to quickly and safely do it with these easy tutorial for oven or microwave.
Prep: 2 minutes
Cook: 5 minutes
Total: 7 minutes
Servings: 8
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Ingredients  

Instructions 

How to Heat Treat Flour in the Oven

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Bake in 1-2 minute intervals, stirring well in between to ensure the flour doesn’t burn, for up to 4-5 minutes total.
  • With a thermometer, ensure the flour has reached a temperature of 165 degrees.

How to Heat Treat Flour in the Microwave

  • Place the flour in a microwave safe bowl.
  • Heat in microwave (on high heat) in 30 second intervals, stirring in between.
  • After 1-2 minutes in microwave, use a thermometer to ensure flour has reach 165F.

Julie’s Tips

  • Heat treating is used for unbleached or bleached flour.
  • Use a sheet pan with sides, not a cookie sheet. Lining the sheet pan with parchment paper also makes for easier clean up.
  • Stir the flour frequently, whether you’re heat treating in the microwave or the oven. This prevents burning!
  • Before using in any of your no bake recipes, ensure the heat treated flour is completely cooled through – this usually takes around 20 minutes, depending on the temperature of your home.
  • In a rush? Put your heat treated flour in the fridge for a few minutes to cool it down before using.
Calories: 114kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.05g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 33mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.1g | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg

Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.

Equipment

Baking Pan Or Microwave Safe Bowl
Parchment Paper For oven, not necessary for microwave
Thermometer

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