How To Make Almond Flour?

In this article, you will learn how to make almond flour, its health benefits, and why it is a better alternative to other types of flours!

What is Almond Flour?

Ground almonds are used in making almond flour. The skins of almonds are removed by blanching them in boiling water, then grinding and sifting them into a fine flour.

Almond flour is nutrient-dense. Vitamin E serves as antioxidants in your body, is particularly abundant in almond flour.

Also, this flour can have additional health benefits over wheat flour, such as lowering “bad” LDL cholesterol and insulin resistance. 

Is Almond Flour Good For You?

Almond flour is full of protein and monounsaturated fats than all-purpose white flour, which helps you feel satisfied. Almonds consist of 6 grams of protein and 3.5 grams of fiber per ounce!

Refined wheat foods are high in carbohydrates, but low in fat and fiber. This can result in high blood sugar spikes followed by rapid declines, leaving you exhausted, hungry, and craving sugary and calorie-dense foods. However, almond flour is low in carbs but high in healthy fats and fiber.

Since this flour is simply ground almonds, which are high in magnesium, it can aid in blood sugar regulation and blood pressure reduction.

Also, it has a low glycemic index. A low GI means sugar releases steadily into your bloodstream to provide a steady supply of energy.

Is Almond Flour Gluten-Free?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat flour. It aids in the dough’s stretchiness and the capture of air during baking, allowing it to rise and become fluffy.

Celiac disease or wheat intolerance prevents people from eating gluten-containing foods because their bodies misinterpret them as toxic. Almond flour is wheat-free and gluten-free, making it a perfect baking substitute for those who cannot handle wheat or gluten.

You can buy quality almonds from both in stores and online to make it by yourself. Nonetheless, it’s crucial to inspect the packaging of almond flour before purchasing it. Almonds are normally gluten-free, but some products can still contain gluten.

Also, many people prefer a flour substitute to stay healthy and happy on their keto diet routine. Almond flour is a decent choice because it only has 3 grams of net carbs.

I wouldn’t recommend making too many sweet baked goods on a keto diet, but you can get a bread-like fix by making low-carb almond flour pancakes without maple syrup!

Where To Buy Almonds From?

These are some popular brands that can be found in most supermarkets for purchasing almond flour.

Blue Diamond Almond Flour – This is by far my favorite brand because it is odorless and inexpensive. It’s also available in a 3-pound pack, which is handy. You can quickly consume as much as you want and then freeze the remainder.

Barney Almond Flour – If I have to buy almond flour from the supermarket, then you can buy it from here.

Almond Flour from Bob’s Red Mill – I like their almond flour and almond meal. They are, however, more expensive than other labels, in my opinion.

Trader Joe’s Almond Meal – If you live near a Trader Joe’s, you must try their almond meal; it’s reasonably priced and tasty. It can be used in place of blanched almond flour in some recipes.

Is Homemade Almond Flour Cheaper Than Store-Bought?

If you enjoy baking with almond flour but don’t like how much it costs at the supermarket, try making it yourself! It’s less expensive than store-bought alternatives and can be made in minutes if you use a food processor or blender.

It’s very simple to make your own almond flour! It only takes one ingredient, one blender, and 5 minutes to make. Simply blitz blanched almonds until they become a fine, powdery flour in a blender. Not only is homemade almond flour easy to prepare, but it also tastes better and is typically less expensive than store-bought.

If you don’t need a lot of flour for a recipe, it’s again a good idea to make your own. You can quickly grind your own almond flour if you just need 1/2 cup and don’t want to think about storing the rest of a large bag for months.

Difference Between Almond Flour, Ground Almonds and Almond Meal:

I want to make sure you know the distinction between almond flour, almond meal, and ground almonds before I begin talking about the equipment used to make almond flour.

Almond flour is made from blanched almonds that are peeled, whereas almond meal is made from raw unpeeled almonds. This flour has a smoother texture and a lighter color than almond meal. When comparing almond flour to an almond meal made from leftover almond pulp, the variations are even more pronounced.

Almond meal and almond flour are gluten-free alternatives to conventional flours that can be used interchangeably in most bread and cookies.

However, because of its lighter texture, color, and neutral taste, almond flour is the way to go for recipes that call for a more cake-like consistency and less pronounced almond flavor.

On the other hand, ground almonds are yet another name for the almond meal (aka almond flour formed by using almonds with the skin on). The distinction between the two is due to the form of almonds used to make almond flour/meal (with or without the skin).

Can You Substitute Almond Flour for All-Purpose Flour?

I have used almond flour 1:1 for my cake recipes with success, even though my recipes are vegan and gluten-free. It is important that you use tried and proven recipes when substituting almond flour with all-purpose flour.  

My Orange Almond Cake and Vegan Carrot Cake and Almond Flour Pie Crust are easy to prepare recipes with almond flour.

How to Blanch Almonds:

Blanched almonds are fresh almonds that have had their skins removed. You can blanch your almonds at home or buy already blanched almonds from the store.

Because of the time and effort required to remove the skin from each almond, blanched almonds are slightly more costly. If you want to learn how to blanch almonds on your own, follow these steps:

• Carry a big pot of water to a rolling boil. After the water has reached a boil, add the almonds and cook for 30 seconds.

• In a strainer, position the almonds and run them under cold water to cool them down. With your fingertips, remove the skin from each almond. The skin will easily peel away.
• Spread the skinless almonds in a single layer on a large cookie sheet and set them aside to dry in a cool, dark location such as your pantry or oven.

Almond Flour vs. Almond Meal

Blanched Almond Flour or just Almond Flour is the name given to the almond flour made from blanched almonds. Simply by looking at the color, you can spot the difference between almond meal and almond flour. It has been blanched if it is white. It’s an almond meal if there are brown pieces (from the almond skin).

If you are interested in grinding almonds very finely (almost to almond flour or almond meal), you should dry them first. To do so, place them in the oven at 210°F (100°C) for about 10 minutes, then cool until absolutely dry.

That is everything there is to it. There is no fuss, no complex processes, and no gimmickry. A pot of boiling water, a handful of almonds, and less than 5 minutes of your time are all you’ll need. So, shall we begin blanching?

There are also two other types of almonds available in the market other than the blanched ones. They are raw almonds and slivered almonds.

• Raw Unsalted Almonds with the skin on: These are raw almonds that have had their shells removed but have not been processed or packaged. These are ideal for making homemade almond meals.
• Slivered Almonds: Slivered almonds are blanched almonds that have been sliced into skinny sticks across their diameter. They are very similar to blanched almonds.

DIY Almond Flour

Adding blanched almonds to your food processor or blender and processing until finely ground is all it takes to make your own almond flour at home. There are, however, a few pointers and best practices to remember:

• Almond flour is made from one cup of slivered almonds.
• One 8-ounce bag of raw blanched slivered almonds yielded precisely 2 cups of almond flour––perfect for almond flour cookies as well if you want to try out that recipe!
• One cup of almonds should be consumed at a time. If you blend any longer, the texture will be uneven, and you’ll end up with clumps of unground almonds.
• Standard whole almonds (non-blanched) can also be used to make an almond meal if you don’t mind specks of brown in your baked goods. Almond meal gives baked goods a “cakier” texture than almond flour, giving them a buttery, shortbread-like texture, as discussed earlier.

Blendtec blender produces the finest, most finely ground results, but if you don’t have one, a food processor will suffice. The baked goods would be slightly grainier as a result of this. Now let’s have a look at the steps of making almond flour.

How to Make Almond Flour?

Ingredients: Blanched Almonds (8 Ounces)

Servings: 8

Prep Time: 5 mins

Required: Blender

1. Blend or process the blanched almonds until they are finely ground in a high-powered blender or food processor. If using a high-powered blender, be careful not to over-process the almonds, as they will slowly release their oils and transform into almond butter.
2. Blend no more than 8 ounces of almonds at a time for best performance. A blender produces the most finely ground results, but the flour produced in the food processor can also be used to make almond flour recipes; the final product is only slightly grainier.
3. For the longest shelf life, store leftover almond flour in an airtight jar in a dark pantry, or better still, in the fridge or freezer. If not subjected to sunlight or moisture, almond flour can last for up to a year.

To make the majority of baked goods with almond flour, this method yields excellent results. However, if you go to your store, you will note that certain brands sell “Super-Fine Almond Flour.” To be frank, the almond flour you get from this method isn’t going to be super good right away.

You can still make super fine almond flour at home (which is mainly used in making French macarons), but it will take a little more effort. To do so, sift the flour through a fine or medium-mesh strainer and process the large pieces several times (again, using the same method as before) until there are no large pieces left.

How To Store Almond Flour:

If you often use almond flour or almond meal in your cooking and baking, grinding your own flour and storing it for later use may be a good idea.

The best way to store almond flour/meal, in my opinion, depends on how quickly you expect to use it. As a result;

• Place it in an airtight container, seal it tightly, and store it in the pantry, ideally in a dark place, if you intend to use it within a week or two.
• Place it in an airtight container, seal it firmly, and store it in your freezer if you intend to use it in more than a week or two. When you’re ready to use it, measure the quantity you’ll need, set it aside for 15-20 minutes on the counter, and then use it as instructed in the recipe.

Pro tip: Another way to make this flour at home is to use the leftover almond pulp from making almond milk.

Bottom Line:

Summing it up, this flour is a perfect substitute for wheat flour. It’s extremely nutrient-dense and can have a variety of health benefits, including a lower risk of heart disease and better blood sugar regulation.

Almond flour is also gluten-free, making it a good option for those who have celiac disease or a wheat allergy. This flour is a good option if you’re looking for a low-carb, high-nutrient flour and want to make healthy almond flour at home easily, which will also be cheaper.

Recipes Using Almonds:

• Basic Vegan Gluten-Free Cake
• Jamaican Christmas Cake
• Vegan Tiramisu
• Banana Upside Down Cake
• Lemon Pound Cake

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