Baking with Almond Flour Guide

Baking with almond flour is an emerging trend that’s helping desserts get a little bit healthier. However, making the switch from regular flour to almond flour can be confusing. 

This guide helps answer the most frequently asked questions about baking with almond flour + breaks down how to make almond flour at home. 

What is almond flour?

Almond flour is flour made from finely ground, peeled almonds. Traditionally, French baking has called for almond flour in delicacies like galette des rois and macarons. Today, almond flour substitutes regular flour in a variety of baked goods including cakes, muffins, and cookies.

Almond meal vs almond flour 

Almond meal and almond flour are not the same thing.

In fact, both almond meal and almond flour are made from ground almonds. However, almond meal is made by grinding unpeeled almonds whereas almond flour is made from peeled almonds.

Typically, almond meal is more coarse due to the skin of the almond. On the other hand, almond flour has a finer consistency. 

Can almond meal replace flour?

No. It’s best to avoid using almond meal when the recipe calls for almond flour. Getting the two confused can easily ruin the texture of your baked goods. 

What is almond flour blanched?

Almond flour blanched is flour made from almonds that have been boiled in water to remove their skin.

Blanched almond flour is used in baking recipes because its texture is much finer compared to almond meal. 

Does almond flour go bad?

Generally, almond flour has a shelf life of 18 months when correctly stored. Storing your almond flour properly can help prevent oxidation and maintain its freshness.

How to store almond flour:

• Keep in an air-tight container
• Store in a cool, dry space 
• Avoid storing in direct sunlight
• Avoid storing with items that have strong odors

How to make

Almond flour can be easily made at home. Making almond flour at home usually takes less than 5 minutes.

What you’ll need:

• Raw almonds (blanched)
• Food processor or blender
• Food scale
• Silicone spatula 

How to make almond flour at home:

1. Start with 1 cup of almonds in a food processor or blender. 
2. Pulse the almonds at a low speed for 20-25 seconds. 
3. Stop pulsing and scrape the side of the blender using your spatula.
4. Pulse again for 30 seconds or until it becomes a fine flour 
5. Repeat with as many cups as the recipe calls for.

Conversions

If you’re making almond flour at home, it can be tedious trying to guess how many almonds you’ll need to meet the recipe’s requirements. 

For convenience, refer to this handy guide on how to get the right almond flour measurement. 

Almond flour measurements:

• 150 grams of blanched almonds makes 1 cup of almond flour
• 1 cup almond flour is 112 grams 
• 1 cup of almond flour is 3.9 ounces

Can you substitute almond flour for regular flour?

Yes. You can substitute almond flour for regular flour (all-purpose flour) in most baked good recipes. In fact, substituting regular flour for almond flour is fairly easy to do. Almond flour roughly has a 1:1 ratio with all-purpose flour. For more almond flour conversions, keep reading!

Other ways to substitute almond flour 

Now that you’re comfortable with almond flour, you may find yourself experimenting with other types of flours for baking. The good news is that there’s plenty of substitutes for almond flour. 

If you want to try other alternatives to almond flour but still keep the same sweet taste, you can incorporate almond extract into your recipe.

1. Oat flour

If you prefer a less sweet taste, consider oat flour as a substitute for almond flour. Like almond flour, oat flour is highly nutritious and easy to make at home. 

Also, oat flour is easy to adapt to baking recipes that call for almond flour. Oat flour has a 1:1 ratio to almond flour. Plus, it’s gluten-free. 

2. Coconut flour

Coconut flour can add a distinct and sweeter flavor to your baked goods.

How to substitute almond flour for coconut flour:

To swap almond flour for coconut flour, use ¼ cup coconut flour for 1 cup of almond flour. It may also be helpful to add 1 extra egg per ¼ cup coconut flour used for added moisture.

3. Cashew flour

Yes, you can use cashew flour instead of almond flour. Simply use a 1:1 conversion in your recipe. Cashew flour is made from freshly grounded cashews. It makes a near identical substitute for almond flour.

4. Whole wheat flour

Whole wheat flour is a whole-grain alternative to both almond flour and white flour. It’s usually used for baking bread, but it can also be incorporated into other baked goods.

Whole wheat flour can substitute almond flour at a 1:1 ratio. Since this flour contains gluten, it’ll produce an airy, less dense dessert. 

5. White All-purpose flour 

Yes, you can easily substitute all purpose flour with almond flour, and vice versa. All purpose flour will provide a less sweet taste. On the other hand, almond flour is sweeter but will make a flatter and denser baked good.

You can substitute all purpose flour with almond flour at a 1:1 ratio.

Nutritional Facts

Almond flour makes a nutritious alternative to all-purpose flour given that it has one simple and healthy ingredient. In fact, almonds are an excellent source of healthy fats and other beneficial nutrients.

One serving of almonds (28 grams) contains:

• 161 calories 
• 3.5 grams of fiber
• 6 grams of protein
• 2.5 grams of carbs 
• 14 grams of fat
• 37% of the RDI for vitamin E
• 32% of the RDI for manganese 

Plus, you can count on almond flour to be both wheat-free and gluten-free, making it a great ingredient for people with wheat or gluten intolerances. 

Another perk of substituting almond flour is its taste. Almond flour is low in carbs, but can add a sweet flavor to your baked goods without having to add more sugar. 

Final thoughts

Almond flour makes a great (and healthier) substitute for regular flour. Not only does almond flour add a sweetening element, but it’s also easy to adapt to a wide variety of baked good recipes.