Why Almond Flour Is A Good Alternative For Baking

There are many reasons why you may want to substitute almond flour for wheat flour in recipes. Of course, if you have a food allergy to wheat or even gluten intolerance, you will need to find alternative recipes that do not contain wheat or gluten.

Almond flour is also a great choice if you are on a low-carb diet or another diet that does not allow flour, even if allergies are not the reason why you do not eat wheat.

Making or Buying Almond Flour

Most bakers need to do some experimenting with almond flour when they first use it. It is always a good idea to begin with a recipe, but depending on
the grind of your almond flour, your results may be slightly different. Most recipes call for finely ground almond flour. When it is very finely ground, it is more like wheat flour. If you grind it yourself, be aware that there is a fine line between finely ground almond flour and almond butter.

When grinding your almonds in a food processor, you need to stop every few seconds to check the consistency of your almond flour. Blanched almonds, or almonds with the brown skins removed, are used to make almond flour. You can leave the skins on and grind the almonds in their natural state, but there may be a different texture to your finished baked goods when you use this type of ground almonds. This product is called almond meal and not almond flour.

If you are looking to buy almond flour that is ready to use, we recommend Almond Flour & Almond Meal by Barney Butter.

Baked Goods You Can Make with Almond Flour

If you have a sweet tooth, but you are going gluten-free, then using almond flour is definitely worth a try for you. It is possible to make rolled cut-out cookies in shapes like hearts, flowers, Easter eggs, or any other shape that you like. Simply chill the dough, roll, and cut the cookies out with your favorite cookie cutters. It is also possible to make donuts, quick breads, muffins, crackers, brownies, and chocolate cake. You can even make French pastries with almond flour if you have the patience and creativity to try several times before you get it right.

If you have never baked with this type of flour before, it is best to stick with a recipe that has been perfected by someone else. Even though their baked product turned out perfectly, yours may not because of the brand of almond flour that you use. For the very best results, look for recipes printed on the almond flour bag or from the company from which you buy your almond flour.

Added Nutrient Value

When you bake with almond flour, you are adding healthy fats and other nutrients to your baked goods that you would never get with white wheat flour. Almond flour is high in protein, low in carbohydrates, and has fiber that is healthy for you as well. It is much healthier for you than rice flour, which is often substituted for wheat flour for those with a wheat allergy or gluten intolerance. You can use almond flour for baking even if you have a peanut allergy, but you are not allergic to almonds.

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