Guide to Baking with Almond Flour

I love baking with almond flour because it adds a rich, nutty flavor and moist texture. It's a common ingredient in German baking due to its distinctive taste and texture. Plus almond flour is naturally gluten free!

However there are some good (and not-so-good) substitutes. I've compiled all this info along with my favorite almond flour recipes for you here in this guide!

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What is Almond Flour?

Almond flour and almond meal are made from finely ground almonds.

I love using almond flour in both sweet and savory recipes to add a nutty flavor. I often either use almond flour in tandem with all purpose flour or in place of all purpose flour altogether. And it's also great as a breading on chicken or fish.

Types of Almond Flour

There are two main types, which are blanched almond flour and almond meal. Both are commonly used in baking, but the choice depends on the desired texture and appearance of your final recipe.

What is Blanched Almond Flour?

Blanched almond flour is made from almonds that have had their skins removed. This creates a really fine texture and light color.

What is Almond Meal?

Almond meal is made from almonds ground with their skins still intact. This creates a coarser texture, darker color, and nuttier flavor.

Why is Almond Flour Common in German Baking?

Almond flour is a staple in German baking due to its rich flavor, moist texture, and versatility.

Germany has a rich tradition of nut-based cookies and desserts such as Nussecken and Mandelhörnchen. Almond flour provides a delicious nutty flavor that complements many of these traditional recipes.

Its ability to add moisture and richness to baked goods also contributes to its widespread use in German baking. It makes desserts like cake and cookies super soft.

How to Make Almond Flour at Home

Since almond flour is just made from ground almonds, you can easily make it at home with whole almonds.

Use a high powered food processor for large quantities, or a coffee grinder for small quantities.

I recommend sifting the ground almonds through a fine mesh sieve to prevent any large pieces or clumps from getting into your baked goods.

And to make blanched almond four at home, you can remove the almond skins first by soaking them in water. Read how to peel almonds in my almond milk recipe post.

How to Store Almond Flour

Since almond flour contains natural fats from almonds, proper storage is essential to maintain its freshness and prevent it from going rancid.

Here are my main tips to storing almond flour:

• Airtight Container: Store almond flour to an airtight container to protect it from moisture and too much air exposure.
  
• Cool, Dark Place: Store almond flour in a cool, dark place, such as a pantry, cupboard, or fridge. Keep almond flour away from heat sources (like to stove) and direct sunlight.
  
• Refrigeration or Freezing: For longer-term storage, I usually store my almond flour in the fridge or freezer. You can store almond flour in the freezer much longer than in the fridge or room temperature.
  
• Buy in Bulk: I usually buy almond flour in bulk and split it into smaller containers. Then when I get some out of the freezer, I only have to thaw a small amount . This prevents exposing a large quantity to moisture when defrosting it.
  
• Labeling: Label your container with the date of purchase or its expiration date. I usually put a piece of tape on the container and write the label with a permanent marker.

Almond Flour Substitutes

Great substitutes for almond flour in baking recipes include other nut flours such as hazelnut flour or cashew flour. Seed flours can also be good substitutes for almond flour including sunflower seed flour and pumpkin seed flour.

If you have a nut allergy or sensitivity, coconut flour, cassava flour, and oat flour can be used as alternatives to almond flour, but these will alter the flavor.

Cassava Flour vs Almond Flour

Cassava flour is made from the root vegetable cassava or yuca.

It tends to have a more neutral taste and a finer texture, making it suitable for a wider range of sweet and savory recipes. If you substitute cassava flour for almond flour, you won't get the same nutty flavor, and your final baked good might be lighter in texture.

Oat Flour vs Almond Flour

Oat flour is made from ground whole oats. Both have a fine consistency and will provide a similar flavor.

However oat flour can be a little sweeter and a little less nutty. And when I bake with oat flour, my desserts end up with a slightly softer texture.

Coconut Flour vs Almond Flour

Coconut flour is made from dried, defatted coconut meat that has been ground into a fine powder. If you substitute coconut flour for any other flour, it adds a pretty strong coconut flavor to your recipe.

Also coconut flour is highly absorbent and requires more moisture in recipes. So you'll need to add more liquid ingredients if you replace almond flour with coconut flour.

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Dessert Recipes with Almond Flour

1. Linzer Raspberry Cookies

6. Vegan Cookie Dough Macarons

These vegan cookie dough macarons are soft and chewy on the inside, with a light crunch on the outside. Best of all, they're filled with vegan cookie dough for the ultimate plant-based decadence!