Cooking With Almond Flour

There’s a reason we’re nuts about almond flour (and it’s not just because it’s a lower-carb alternative to wheat flour). For starters, almond flour is delicious. Baked goods that are made with it are light and airy, and this flour lends a nutty heartiness to savory recipes. Beyond flavor, almond flour offers nutrients like magnesium and vitamin E, and serves as a friendly staple for a variety of diets. Bonus: it’s easily available for purchase, or can even be made at home! Thinking about mixing things up with this fabulous flour alternative? Whether you like coconut flour or almond flour, there are always great ideas to try in the kitchen! Here are some tips for getting started.

What is Almond Flour?

Not to be confused with almond meal, almond flour is typically made from finely ground blanched almonds that have the skins removed (blanched almond flour will yield the airiest results). Unlike wheat flour, almond flour isn’t milled and is gluten-free, making it a welcome addition to gluten-free diets, Paleo diets, or any grain-free eating plan.

How to Make Almond Flour

Though there are many almond flour brands to choose from, making your own at home is surprisingly easy. Simply purchase skinless, blanched almonds (if you can find slivers, even better) or blanch almonds yourself by soaking them in boiling water for about 30 seconds and plunging them in cool water before removing the skins. Once dry, pulse almonds in your food processor. Be sure to pulse rather than blend, or you’ll wind up with almond butter instead of flour (hey, it could be worse)! Once pulsed, sift the almond flour to remove any large pieces. Now it’s ready to use.

Uses for Almond Flour

Sure, almond flour is an ideal choice for gluten-free baked goods, but there are plenty of other dishes that can be enhanced with this wheat-free wonder.

• Add to meatballs or meatloaf: Skip the breadcrumbs and beef up your meat with almond flour.
• Stir into pancake batter: Light, fluffy, and totally wheat-free, you’ll flip for almond flour flapjacks.
• Crust fried foods: Chicken tenders, fish, or wings get a gluten-free upgrade by swapping in almond flour for breadcrumbs.
• Make Paleo pasta: Give your pasta dough a protein boost by throwing together almond flour, tapioca starch, eggs, and water.
• Put in a pizza crust: Nutty, crunchy, and low in carbs, almond flour is a natural choice for a gluten-free pizza crust.

Baking With Almond Flour

As mentioned, almond flour is not the same thing as almond meal. Typical almond meal is not as finely ground and has a coarser texture. It also usually includes the almond skins. Since almond flour is finer, it works well for baking recipes that require a light, airy texture. Here are few tips for baking success:

• Store in the refrigerator: Almond flour is susceptible to oxidizing so keep it in the fridge for up to six months or in the freezer for up to a year.
• Swap in for wheat flour: You can replace wheat flour for almond flour in most recipes, but it’s not advised for some bread recipes as gluten-free flours can prevent rising.
• Use meal for rustic recipes: Almond meal is an ideal choice when it comes to flourless cakes or crumbles.

12 Almond Flour Recipes

Ready to get cooking? These 12 recipes will make almond flour your new favorite pantry staple.

Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins

Regular muffins have nothin’ on these gluten-free, almond flour-based cousins, which use buttery ghee for a moist texture and amp up the flavor with cardamom, cinnamon, Madagascar vanilla extract, and of course lots of blueberries.

Hemp Heart Zucchini Muffins

Give your breakfast some heart! These sweet little muffins are fortified with good-for-you ingredients like hemp hearts, shredded zucchini, and almond, sprouted rice, and tapioca flours.

Fermented Black Seed Scones

Your favorite tea companion just got a serious upgrade. This gluten-free recipe for savory scones combines almond and tapioca flour with garlic and onion powder, sesame seeds, and fermented black seed powder, which works to support a healthy stress response.

Salmon Burger With Avocado Salsa

There’s nothing fishy about these rich and flavorful burgers. They start with a base of non-GMO wild pink salmon, which is mixed with almond flour, chopped green onions, a handful of spices, and topped with creamy avocado salsa for a seriously sumptuous bite.

Paleo Rosemary Biscuits

If you haven’t tried almond flour biscuits, you’re in for a treat! These golden-brown, flaky, Paleo-friendly morsels are both sweet and herb-infused thanks to raw honey and rosemary.

Baked Vegan Falafel

Forget what you know about fried falafel! This vegan, baked version turns up the protein with almond flour and rounds things out with diced carrots and tahini.

Flourless Apricot Almond Cake

This is nut your average cake. This almond-based recipe is sweetened with just a touch of honey and topped with gorgeous, ripe apricot halves and crunchy chopped pistachios.

Chocolate-Almond Braid

Don’t get it twisted: Almond flour desserts can be totally indulgent. In fact, this recipe calls for an entire bar of chocolate to get the job done, and we’re not complaining!

Paleo Blueberry Pie

This Paleo-friendly recipe is as easy as, well… pie. Simply fill an almond, coconut, and tapioca flour crust with handfuls of beautiful blueberries coated in coconut sugar.

Chocolate Beet Cake

No, that’s not a typo. This gluten-free, dairy-free recipe calls for puréed beets, which blend with cacao powder for a super-moist, super-decadent treat.

Vanilla Bunny Ear Cupcakes

We have a feeling your little bunnies will get hoppin’ to enjoy one of these gluten-free, almond flour cakes topped with edible fruit ears.

Doggie Donuts

If your four-legged friend deserves a little something special, we suggest whipping up a batch of these dog-friendly donuts, made with kibble, peanut butter, and almond flour.