Homemade almond flour is cheap, easy, and healthy! Only 1 ingredient and 1 appliance needed. Here’s how to make almond meal at home within minutes!
Do you love almond flour but not the cost? Or perhaps you’ve never made almond flour and want to try it.
Well, good news: we’ll show you how to make almond flour without the big price tag!
When you make almond flour at home, you can save money and always have some on hand! If you’re gluten-free, almond flour is a great staple to have for your baking needs.
Below you’ll find helpful tips and tricks for making your own almond flour.
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What is almond flour
Almond flour is a delicious, grain-free alternative to wheat flour. It has a sweet, nutty taste that can enhance your baked goods.
It is made of 1 ingredient: ground almonds! They are pulverized in a blender or food processor until they form a powder-like consistency.
Almond flour vs almond meal
Almond flour and almond meal are often used interchangeably, but they are technically different!
Almond flour is made from blanched almonds (raw almonds without the skin). The flour is fine and powdery with a pale color.
Almond meal is made from raw almonds with the skin on. The texture is slightly more coarse and has brown flecks.
Depending on the recipe, you can use either almond flour or almond meal. For example, if a recipe needs a lighter texture, then almond flour would be the better choice.)
How to make almond flour at home
What almonds to use
These are the best almonds to use for almond flour/meal!
Raw, Unsalted, Unpeeled Almonds: These are unprocessed almonds with the husk removed. Best for making almond meal.
Blanched Almonds: These are raw, unsalted almonds with the skin removed! Best for almond flour. Some stores sell blanched almonds, although they tend to be more expensive. You can blanch your own at home (we’ll show you how below!)
Slivered Almonds: These are blanched almonds cut into thinner pieces. Great for almond flour. Oftentimes, these are more affordable and accessible at the store!
How to blanch almonds
Blanching almonds is a fun process but a little time-consuming. If you can’t find slivered almonds, then this is the right pathway to almond flour!
Here’s how:
- Measure the amount of almonds you need
- Pour into hot/slightly boiling water for exactly 60 seconds (if you heat them too long, the almonds become soft and hard to peel)
- Drain almonds and run them under ice-cold water
- Blot almonds with a towel until mostly dry
- Pinch the almond and the skin will pop right off. Make sure the almond is facing the bowl, or it might shoot across the room!
How to make almond flour in a blender
The process is quick and easy!
Pour (minimum: 1 cup) blanched or slivered almonds into your blender. Blend on high speed for 5-10 seconds. Stop and scrape down the sides (or you can pick up the blender and shake). Blend for 10 seconds more, or until you get a soft, fine flour.
Important note
Blend in short increments! If you overblend, you will get oily flour or even almond butter. The goal is to get fluffy powder.
How to make almond flour in a food processor
Making almond flour in a food processor is quick but a little more hands-on.
Pour (minimum: 1 cup) blanched or slivered almonds into your food processor. Pulse in 1-second increments for 50-60 seconds. Every 10 pulses or so, scrape down the sides of the food processor.
The short pulses are vital to successful almond flour! Do not over-process, or else the almonds will be oily (or even turn into almond butter!)
How to store almond flour
Store your almond flour in an airtight container. It’s best kept fresh in the fridge for up to 3 months, and in the freezer for up to 6 months.
You can store almond flour in the pantry/cabinet for 2-3 weeks.
Since almonds are oil-rich and high in fat, keep the almond flour away from heat, humidity, and sunlight to prevent rancidity.
Uses for almond flour
Now it’s time to use your freshly made almond flour! The fiber-rich ingredient adds a nice texture to baked goods like cookies, pizza crusts, pancakes, and cakes.
Here are some of our favorite recipes to try.
FAQs
Is almond flour gluten-free?
Yes, 100% pure almonds (and almond flour) are gluten-free. Ensure that the almonds are unprocessed and raw on the food label!
Brands can sometimes have flavor coatings that potentially contain gluten, so always double-check.
Is almond flour healthy?
Almond flour is nutrient-dense and contains important vitamins and minerals! It has vitamin E, fiber, biotin, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, and monounsaturated fats.
It’s a healthy, low-carb, and gluten-free alternative to wheat flour.
Can you substitute all-purpose flour with almond flour?
Almond flour cannot directly substitute wheat flour in a recipe. Why?
Well, almond flour has more moisture than wheat flour, and it does not have the same binding properties.
It’s best to find recipes that specifically call for almond flour! This way, you will have the proper measurements and ingredients to ensure success.
Can you freeze almond flour?
Yes! Almond flour will keep fresh the longest this way. Store it in an airtight container for up to 6 months in the freezer.
What other nuts can you use to make flour?
Fortunately, you can use many types of nuts to make flour! Each kind has a unique flavor to add to your dishes.
Other nuts that can be made into flour:
- Hazelnut
- Pecan
- Cashew
- Walnut
- Chestnut
- Macadamia
You can use nut flours for more than baking — you can coat and fry food with them too! Or even sprinkle them as a topping for texture.
More cooking guides
- How to make oat flour
- How to cook without oil
- How to cook vegan
- How to make bliss balls
- How to make spiralized veggies
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Ingredients
- 2 cups almonds blanched or silvered
Instructions
Blender
- Measure how many almonds you need to make enough flour. Don’t use too little!
- Place almonds into a blender. Blend on high speed for 5-10 seconds.
- Stop and scrape down the sides (or you can pick up the blender and shake)
- Blend for 10 seconds more, or until you get a soft, fine flour
- Blend in short increments! If you overblend, you will get oily flour or even almond butter. The goal is to get fluffy powder.
- Use your homemade almond flour in any baking recipe.
Food processor
- Measure how many almonds you need to make enough flour (minimum 1 cup).
- Place almonds into a food processor that has a blade attachment.
- Blend in 1-second increments for 50-60 seconds. Stop and scrape down the sides every 10 seconds or so.
- The short pulses are vital to successful almond flour! Do not over-process or else the almonds will be oily (or even turn into almond butter!)
- Use your homemade almond flour in any baking recipe.
Notes
- We recommend that you use at least one cup of almonds when making your own flour.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in cool, dry, and dark place.
Hi, Can you tell me if 1 cup almonds roughly grinds to 1 cup flour/meal? So if my recipe calls for 3 cups almond flour, would I need to grind 3 cups almonds? Thank you!
Susan