Many are searching for almond flour substitutes for flavor, health factors, high cost, or unavailability. Some want to experiment with something new or a different ingredient instead of repeatedly using the same almond flour.
Conventionally, coconut flour or regular flour is considered a good replacement for it. But there are still better alternatives.
Whatever the case, in this article, you’ll read about healthy and gluten-free replacements that you can use instead of almond flour.
What is almond flour?
Almond flour is made from ground sweet almonds. Exclusively blanched nuts are used for making the flour; the almond meal is made with whole or blanched almonds. The meal mix is coarser than almond flour.
Both almond flour and meal are suitable for making muffins, pancakes, or quick bread. Many low-carb or keto recipes use almond flour. Also, this flour is a great keto-friendly option for baking.
For diabetic patients and gluten-free diet lovers, almond flour-based foods are healthy and beneficial. Besides this, almond flour delivers a delicious nutty taste to baked goods.
In short, almond flour is a healthy alternative to traditional wheat flour.
7 Best Substitutes for Almond Flour
Gluten-free baking may not always involve a cup-for-cup replacement. Also, the required ingredients can vary, and additional chemical agents like baking powder and baking soda may be necessary.
If you want to replace almond flour with something that has a similar flavor and health benefits, consider one of the good almond flour substitutes.
1. Coconut flour
Coconut flour is a good replacement for almond flour, as they share a few common resemblances.
Like almond flour, coconut flour is gluten-free and has high protein levels. It has a lower glycemic index than wheat flour.
Coconut in baked goods tastes as delicious as almond. The mild sweetness of the coconut flavor keeps lingering. However, you won’t experience the crunch and nuttiness of almonds with coconut flour.
On a negative note, coconut flour is very dry compared to almonds. For this reason, adding an extra amount of liquid and eggs to coconut flour-based recipes is necessary. Otherwise, to improve the texture when baking, combine coconut flour and another type of flour.
Coconut flour can be baked at the same temperature as almond flour. The best ratio is 3:1 almond flour to coconut flour.
2. Hazelnut flour
Hazelnut flour is exceptional in pie crusts, cakes, pastries, pancakes, cookies, and quick bread. This flour also works great in savory applications and as a coating for chicken and fish.
Many chefs prefer to combine hazelnut and almond flour to produce a deliciously complex nutty flavor.
The flavor profiles of hazelnuts and almonds are quite identical. You can comfortably interchange these two ingredients without upsetting the original flavor of your recipe.
Hazelnut is also gluten-free and has a balanced amount of carbohydrates, protein, and fiber. Without hesitation, it’s a worthy substitute for almond flour.
The drawback of hazelnut flour is its lack of easy availability outside Latin America. And not well known, like almond flour.
3. Walnut flour
Walnut flour is the product of milling the oil press cake after oil extraction from the nut. This flour has a sweet and nutty flavor with a hint of earthiness. Like the almond meal, it gives the baked goods a coarse texture.
You can use walnut flour in various ways instead of almond flour. Great for baking your favorite cakes, biscuits, and cookies. Use it as a stuffing or crumb for your fish or chicken recipes.
Above all, it’s gluten-free, low in carbohydrates, and has the same low glycemic index as almond flour.
A downside is that it tastes slightly bitter if not diluted with other flours. While you use it as a replacement for almond flour, dilute it with wheat or oat flour to dispel its bitterness. Use it in a 50/50 blend with any other compatible flour. Use 1 cup of the blend for 1 cup of almond flour recipes.
4. Macadamia flour
Macadamia nuts, native to Australia, are tree nuts that have a subtle, butter-like flavor and creamy texture. It’s mildly sweet and has a delicious nutty flavor; it’s a useful gluten-free alternative to almonds.
Ground macadamia is highly versatile and useful for encrusting a filet of fish or chicken. Absolutely. It’s a worthwhile flour for making gluten-free cookies and a fine ingredient for the Paleo diet.
5. Cashew flour
From my research, I have found that cashew flour is an outstanding substitute for almond flour. Flavor-wise, cashew flour doesn’t alter the taste of your baked goods when used instead of almond flour.
Use it in a 1:1 ratio when using this flour instead of ground almonds.
By the way, cashew flour is gluten-free and has a few good health benefits. Effectively, it’s a good source of phytochemicals, proteins, and antioxidants.
Ground cashew nuts work great for elegant cookies, muffins, cakes, and other baked goods. In like manner, it blends well into sweet and savory baked foods.
6. Oats flour
Oat flour is a whole-grain flour made from rolled oats. Make it at home by grinding the rolled oats in a high-speed grinder.
Ground oats are incredibly nutritious, gluten-free, and have several health benefits. When baked, it has a nuttiness like ground almonds.
Oatmeal is a healthy substitute for almond flour in pancakes, muffins, cornbread cakes, and cookies. Interchange them in the same ratio.
7. All-purpose flour
All-purpose or whole wheat flour, also known as refined flour, is made from wheat grains after removing the brown covering.
Of course, wheat flour isn’t an ideal substitute for nut flour. When you don’t have nut flour, all-purpose flour is an acceptable alternative to almond flour. Use it in a 1:1 ratio.
What about making almond flour?
Like every other nut, the almond has a high oil content and will go rancid quickly. Therefore, making a fresh and new batch of flour for your recipe is perfect.
Take 1 cup of sliced almonds and place about 1/4 cup at a time in the food processor (or coffee grinder). Pulse it until you achieve a flour-like consistency; sift the flour into a container. Load the remaining chunk of almonds again into the grinder and pulse. You may use the flour soon or store it in the refrigerator.
It should be noted that it’s hard to get a perfectly refined texture because nuts don’t grind very evenly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is almond flour the same as ground almonds?
Ground almond is made with whole or blanched almonds. The texture of ground almonds is not as fine as that of flour.
Are almond meals and almond flour the same?
Almond flour is usually made with blanched almonds, whereas almond meal is made with whole or blanched almonds. Almond meal is coarser than flour. Almond meal is just another name for ground almonds.
Can you substitute regular wheat flour for almond flour and vice versa?
Of course, you can. But it isn’t easy to get almond flour substitutions right every time without a few additions to the recipe. For example, adding an egg to almond flour may become necessary to achieve the consistency of regular flour.
Can I use sunflower seed flour in place of almond flour?
You can use sunflower seed flour to substitute almond flour in some recipes, but there are some factors to consider. It has a different flavor, a higher fat content, and a darker color than its almond counterpart. It contains no gluten. The differences in taste, texture, and appearance affect the final output. It may require some experimentation to get the best results.
Can I use cassava flour instead of almond flour?
Cassava flour is made from ground cassava root and has a neutral flavor. It’s also grain-free, nut-free, and gluten-free flour, making it a good option for those with allergies or dietary restrictions. However, it has a different texture than almond flour and may not work as well in certain recipes. Also, it’s denser and more absorbent than ground almonds. Additionally, cassava flour has a slightly gritty texture that may not be ideal for some baked goods.
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