How to Make Almond Flour at Home: 6 Uses for Almond Flour

Almond flour is a nut flour made from finely ground blanched almonds. The blanching process involves submerging the almonds briefly in boiling water to remove the skins, resulting in an almond flour with more uniform color and texture. Almond flour is a rich source of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and monounsaturated fats, which can help lower cholesterol. Unlike all-purpose flour and other milled flours, almond flour is grain-free, gluten-free, and low in carbohydrates, making it an excellent option for those with dietary restrictions. While you can't use this low-carb flour to bake an airy loaf of sourdough bread, it is a popular flour alternative in many gluten-free baking recipes and classic French pastry recipes. Adding a small amount of sugar to your homemade almond flour recipe can prevent the mixture from turning into almond butter.

While almond meal and almond flour are both made from almonds, there are a couple of notable differences between the two low-carb ingredients, such as:

• Almond flour is made with blanched almonds. To make almond flour, you must blanch the raw almonds before the grinding process. Conversely, almond meal is made with skin-on whole almonds.
  
• Almond meal is coarser. Almond meal can also have a coarser texture, making it a good substitute for recipes that call for breadcrumbs. Learn more about almonds in our comprehensive guide to the tree nut.

You can use homemade almond flour in various sweet and savory applications, such as:

1. 1. French macarons: Macarons are gluten-free almond meringue cookies sandwiched together with a creamy filling of ganache, buttercream, or jam. Almond flour gives these special cookies their signature chew.
2. 2. Chocolate chip cookies: Swap part of the wheat flour in your favorite cookie recipe for almond flour for a nuttier, chewier cookie.
3. 3. Brownies: Nuts and chocolate are a classic combination. Using almond flour instead of (or in addition to) wheat flour yields brownies that are more tender than cakey.
4. 4. Quick breads: When used alongside wheat flour, a small amount of almond flour will keep quick breads (like banana bread) tender and light while adding a touch of nuttiness.
5. 5. Pancakes and waffles: Almond flour is often used as part of a blend of gluten-free flours to make gluten-free versions of these breakfast staples.
6. 6. Sauces: In India, finely ground almonds and cashews are commonly used to thicken sauces and gravies.