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Get this, learning how to make almond flour can save you money, time, and is a whole heck of a lot easier than you’d think!
Because low carb foods are expensive, and you don’t want to have to go to the grocery store everyday. Making easy kitchen staples can keep you sane, keep cash in your wallet, and it takes only 10 minutes! So grab your food processor, some almonds, and let’s get started with how to make almond flour!
What is Almond Flour
What is almond flour? Well, it’s exactly what it sounds like — almonds ground into a fine grain that can be used as a flour in all sorts of low carb, paleo and gluten free recipes.
As far as low carb flours go, almond flour is the most similar flour to wheat flour in color, mouthfeel and consistency. That said, there are some big differences in the two, and generally speaking almond flour can’t be used in lieu of regular flour without additional modifications.
From a nutritional standpoint, almond flour has 160 calories per ¼ cup and 6 grams of carbs. Whereas wheat flour has 124 calories per ¼ cup and 24.8 carbs.
Almond Meal vs Almond Flour
For the most part, recipes will specify whether to use almond meal vs almond flour. Incase they don’t here’s what you should know:
Almond meal and almond flour are usually interchangeable — the only real difference is that almond flour is made with blanched or skinless almonds, which results in an off white, “flour-looking” flour. Where as almond meal contains almond skins, and is full of dark brown specks.
These two flours have the same baking times and consistency — although many bakers prefer almond flour as it results in a prettier crumb and final product.
How to Make Almond Flour Ingredients
How to make almond flour, i.e. how to make blanched almond flour, can be done with one simple ingredient: blanched almonds. These can be found whole, in slivers, or slices, and all of these shapes are perfect for this how to make almond flour tutorial. Check the product prices, as I find the slivers are often less expensive!
How to Blanch Almonds
If you’re unable to find blanched almonds, you can always check out how to blanch almonds yourself — it’s surprisingly easy: Cover the almonds in a pot of boiling water for 1 minute (no longer). Strain almonds in cold water, then pinch off the skin of the almonds with your hands (it should come off easily!)
Instead of wondering how to make almond flour from almond meal or how to make almond flour from ground almonds, start with the right almonds based on the flour you’d like to make — almond meal or almond flour!
How to Make Almond Meal Ingredients
If brown specks in your bread won’t keep you up at night, try making almond meal! The ingredient for how to make almond meal is: Raw almonds with the skin on. These are way easier to find, and are often much less expensive!
How Do I Make Almond Flour
You’re gonna love this EASY how do I make almond flour tutorial! All you need is a food processor or a high speed blender (such as a Blendtec or Vitamix). Here’s how to make almond flour:
1. Measure your almonds, and pour them into your food processor or blender.
2. Cover and “pulse” 20 times, using one second intervals.
3. Remove the top and scrape down the sides using a rubber spatula. Be sure to get any flour in the corners of the food processor.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until your flour is the grain size you’re looking for. I usually do this 4-5 times.
How to make almond flour vitamix or blendtec can be done the same way as in a food processor — the most important part is that you “pulse” the ingredients and periodically scrape down the sides.
How to Make Almond Flour, Super Fine
Using almond meal vs almond flour may not make a difference — but the size of your almond flour grain will make a huge difference, when it comes to baking. You’ll get the best results with certain low carb recipes when you use a super fine almond flour grain, as fine grain almond flour is lighter, and can help add more “fluff” to a recipe.
The instructions above won’t leave you with a super fine grain — for fine grain almond flour, follow the steps above, then:
1. Place you flour in a mesh strainer.
2. Place nuts that don’t pass through the mesh strainer back into the food processor and pulse until they do!
If you’re wondering how to make almond flour for macarons, you’ll want to follow these additional steps!
Storing Blanched Almond Flour
Our blanched almond flour doesn’t contain any preservatives, or additional ingredients to extend its shelf life — whoop whoop! To preserve its freshness as long as possible, I store almond flour in the fridge in an airtight container. Mason jars work great for this.
How Much Almond Flour Does 1 Cup of Almonds Make
Despite what you’d think, this how to make almond flour recipe yields more flour than almonds used! This can vary depending on the shape and size of your almonds, but from my measurements: 1 cup of almonds yields 1 + ¼ cup of almond flour or almond meal, how cool is that?
Does DIY Almond Flour Save Money?
As fun as DIYs can be, if you aren’t saving money, what’s the point? Let’s look at Trader Joe’s prices to calculate the cost comparison of this DIY almond flour (they typically have awesome priced nuts!).
Here’s the product pricing breakdown based on costs when I posted this how to make almond flour article:
Trader Joe’s sells an 16 ounce bag of almond flour for $7.99.
I purchased 2 – 8 ounce packages of raw slivered and blanched almonds from Trader Joe’s for $3.49 each, $6.98 in total.
That’s $1.01 you can save by following this how to make almond flour tutorial over purchasing a bag of almond flour! Which may not seem like a lot, but will add up quickly if you’re using almond flour as often as I do. I’d also like to point out, that purchasing nuts at Costco or Amazon can help save money! Purchasing almonds with their skin will save even more.
How to Make Almond Milk + Almond Flour at The Same Time
Fair warning, this how to make almond flour from almond milk tutorial will take a LOT more time. I’ve made it this way a few times, but personally don’t have the patience — it’s pretty awesome that you can use a batch of almonds for two delicious low carb shopping list ingredients! If you don’t like DIYs, this isn’t for you!
First check out my how to make almond milk tutorial, then report back. Instead of tossing the almond pulp away, you’ll want to spread it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and put it in the oven at its lowest possible temp. Check it every 30 minutes and toss the almond meal on the pan as you see fit, it should be done in about 3 hours. Once this is done, toss the almond meal into a very dry blender or food processor to break up the grains again.
Where to Buy Almond Flour
If after reading this how to make almond flour article, have decided it’s not for you, check out these options for where to buy almond flour:
- Trader Joe’s: As I mentioned above, this unique grocery store is an awesome place to grab some usually expensive items for a lot less! They sell both almond meal and flour.
- Amazon: For the best almond flour prices, check Amazon. My favorite is Bob’s Red Mill Super-Fine.
Homemade Almond Flour Recipe
Trust me friends, this homemade almond flour recipe is easier to make than going to the store and buying yourself a bag! I hope you find it as cost effective, fun and easy as I do! Let me know about your experience in the comments below.
Pst, if you’re looking for almond flour tips beyond just how to make almond flour, check out the information below the recipe!
How To Make Almond Flour
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Blanched Almonds you can use almonds with skin, but your flour will have dark brown specks in it. See photos above for the difference
Instructions
- Place almonds in a food processor.
- Cover and “pulse” 20 times, using one second intervals.
- Remove the top and scrape down the sides using a rubber spatula. Be sure to get any flour in the corners of the food processor.
- Continue the “pulse” / scrape the sides steps until your flour is the grit you’re looking for. I usually do this 4-5 times.
- If you’re looking for a “fine grit” (similar to most store bought almond flours), place you flour in a mesh strainer.
- Place nuts that don’t pass through the mesh strainer back into the food processor and pulse until they do!
Notes
- Use almonds with skin for almond meal, and blanched almonds for almond flour
- 1 cup of almonds = 1 ¼ cup of almond flour
- Making almond flour in a Vitamix, Blendtec, or any high speed blender doesn't require as much processing. I usually pulse the almonds 10 times to achieve the grain size I'd like.
Nutrition
What You Should Know About Baking With Almond Flour
Despite their similarities, the difference in baking with almond flour and regular flour are surprisingly drastic. Regular flour contains wheat gluten — which acts as a glue to bind baked goods together. Almond flour doesn’t have the same property, and is a heavier product. Have no fear, baking with almond flour can be easy with a few additional ingredients!
Almond Flour Recipes
Almond flour is one of the most important ingredients used in all the low carb foods I bake! You’ll be shocked at how easy how to make almond flour bread is! I use almond flour in everything from this dessert almond flour bread recipe, to low carb tortilla chips, to low carb hamburger buns to low carb pie crust! If you’re looking for almond flour recipes, I’ve got you covered!
Almond Flour Substitute
Looking for an almond flour substitute such as coconut flour, pecan flour, or sunflower meal? Check out this full list of low carb flours to help you find a flour that works best for you!
Coconut Flour vs Almond Flour
Baking with coconut flour vs almond flour comes with an entirely different set of rules. I wanted to mention this as it’s the second most popular low carb flour. To learn more about this, check out how to make coconut flour!
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