I often get questions from new readers or clients who are interested in trying some of my recipes but are overwhelmed by the “new to them ingredients.”
One of those ingredients is almond flour. They see it a lot in my recipes but aren’t sure why or how to use it.
Or perhaps you bought a giant bag at Costco because you heard almond flour was healthy, but now you have no idea what to do with it.
Read on my friends, read on!
Almond Flour Vs. Almond Meal
- Made famous by the Paleo community, almond flour is blanched almonds (skins removed) ground into a very fine flour. You need to know that, when it comes to baking, almond flour is VERY DIFFERENT from almond meal.
- Almond meal is not ground as finely, so it’s courser and typically not blanched, meaning that it often contains fragments of the skin. They don’t work well substituting one for the other.
Almond Flour Nutrition
The reason I bake with almond flour instead of whole wheat flour or gluten-free flour is that it has a high protein and healthy fat content. Swapping almond flour for carb-heavy flours reduces the amount of processed carbohydrate in the recipe because you can still use a similar amount of sweetener and creates a more satisfying product (so you eat less of said product). However, you can’t swap almond flour in a one to one ratio for any other flour, see the next point.
Almond Flour Baking Tips
My advice, unless you are adventurous and don’t mind wasting food (aka a food blogger like myself), don’t try to experiment with almond flour on your own. As mentioned previously, almond flour has a high protein and fat content giving it unique baking properties like being extremely dense. There are TONS of recipes out there for whatever you want to make just search almond flour XXXX (replacing XXXX for whatever you want to make) because almond flour can not be substituted one to one for any other type of flour. Can’t find it? Send me an email maybe I can waste six bags of almond flour trying to create it for you.
Where To Get Almond Flour
Um, everywhere and anywhere. If you don’t see it in the baking section, check the gluten-free section. It used to be nowhere and super expensive, now it’s everywhere and moderately priced. I’m writing this post because numerous people told me they bought almond flour from Costco, but don’t know what to do with it.
Store Almond Flour In the Refrigerator or Freezer
Almond flour is less shelf-stable than say, raw whole almonds, because it’s delicate oils, have become more exposed when processed into flour. These oils can become rancid very quickly, so you need to store in the refrigerator (up to 6 months) or freezer (up to 12 months). If you aren’t sure if your almond flour is good anymore, smell it. Almond flour should smell slightly sweet and nutty. It shouldn’t smell off or have a bitter taste.
Now that you know all about almond flour, it’s time to try something from this incredibly delicious list! Let me know how it goes!
15 Delicious Almond Flour Recipes You'd Never Guess Were Made With Almond Flour
Almond Flour Banana Bread
Almond flour banana bread is so moist and delicious you’ll want every last crumb! – Paleo, low sugar, and gluten-free!
Chocolate Almond Flour Cupcakes
Chocolate Almond Flour Cupcakes are a little healthier but moist, rich, chocolatey cupcakes that everyone will love! Gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo
Almond Flour Funfetti Cupcakes
On of my favorite almond flour recipes! Almond flour funfetti cupcakes are a slightly healthier version of the best cupcake flavor ever, FUNFETTI! Includes recipes for an easy homemade buttercream frosting to top it off!
Paleo Coconut Almond Banana Bread
A healthy low carb grain free, gluten free banana bread recipe with a coconut almond twist! An easy breakfast or on the go snack! Freezer Friendly!
Flourless Mini Samoa Brownie Skillet
This Flourless Samoa Brownie Skillet is perfect when you want a little dessert around but not an ENTIRE batch of brownies, you feel me? Chewy fudgy brownie topped with date caramel and toasted coconut flakes, it’s good, REAL good!
Frosted Flourless Thumbprint Cookies
These gluten-free frosted flourless thumbprint cookies are only 140 calories per cookie and made with almond flour for a healthier treat! Gluten Free, Vegetarian (Vegan and Paleo without frosting.)
Mint Chocolate Protein Bars
Mint Chocolate Protein Bars are delicious make at home protein bars with 14 grams of protein that come together in less than 5 minutes!
Cranberry Bliss Bars
I make this for any event we go to, people LOVE them and rave about them for days! Nobody even knows or cares that they are paleo friendly! Cranberry Bliss Bars are shortbread cookie bars with tart dried cranberries & creamy white chocolate chips, topped with a layer of cool frosting.
Healthy Cranberry Orange Muffins (Paleo)
These are a DELICIOUS holiday muffin. However, if you want to make them during the summer - swap the frozen cranberries for frozen blueberries for a delicious healthy muffins!
Healthy Blueberry Lemon Poppy Seed Bread
This healthy blueberry lemon poppyseed bread is moist, bursting with warm blueberries, and exploding with lemon flavor you’d never know it’s good for you! PS You can totally make it without the poppy seeds if you don't happen to have those on hand!
Paleo Cinnamon Raisin Bread
On of the first almond flour bread recipes I ever created here at HH! This Paleo Cinnamon Raisin Bread is a healthier but equally delicious version of your favorite sweet bread. Be prepared to make more than one batch!
Healthy Cinnamon Rolls
These are our go too holiday breakfast options! They are AMAZING! Healthy Cinnamon Rolls without yeast, refined grains, or refined sugar. Doused with an optional greek yogurt cream cheese frosting!
Animal Style Paleo Meatloaf
Yep! Almond flour can act as a binder in meatloafs and meatballs! This recipe taste like an in and out burger in meatloaf form!
Pumpkin Pie Bars (Gluten Free)
Almond flour actually makes up the crust in these bars! Adding healthy fats where there used to be refined white processed carbs!
Healthy Homemade "Fig Newton" Cookies
Another one of my favorite cookie recipes! Not only are these unique but they are so much healthier than the original "supposedly healthy cookie."
Bacon & Chive Drop Biscuits
Using almond flour packs these biscuits with 14 grams of protein EACH! These Bacon & Chive Easy Drop Biscuits are super quick to whip up and packed with flavor, the perfect compliment to gravy, chili, or naked with butter!
Oven "Fried" Chicken Drumsticks
Oven "Fried" Chicken is a healthy tasty dinner that will totally kill any "fried" chicken drive thru craving!
[…] still love baking with oat flour and almond flour, as I think they are very nutrient-dense. I also never called myself a gluten-free blog (or […]