The 10 Best Almond Flours
Special Honors
Great Value Superfine Blanched Almond Flour Walmart’s brand of almond flour just might provide the best bang for your buck, and it comes in a reclosable bag that keeps it fresh between your baking sessions. It’s low in sugar and contains 3 grams of protein per 2-tablespoon serving, making it a nutritious substitute for white flour. It comes in a 2-pound bag, which equates to 60 servings. On the package you’ll find simple recipes for snacks and desserts like Rosemary Thyme Crackers and Cookies with Cranberries and Coconut. walmart.com
Alldrin Bros. Ultra Fine Coming straight from a multi-generation, family-owned California farm, Alldrin Bros. Ultra Fine is derived from the Carmel varietal, a soft-shell strain that has been blanched and ground extra fine for a smooth texture, light color, and sweet flavor. It's available in bulk amounts of five, ten, and 25 pounds at competitive prices. alldrinalmonds.com
Editor's Notes
October 28, 2020:
When Kate Naturals Premium became unavailable, we wanted to take the opportunity to bring on at least one unblanched version for those who want something with a denser texture. To that end, we added Anthony's California. We also considered the Mandelin brand for its budget-friendly price, but in the end, Anthony's beats it out when it comes to consistency, freshness, and taste. While unblanched almond flour doesn't have an official differentiator from almond meal, the consensus is that you can expect a finer grind than meal but coarser than ultra-fine flour. This in-between state is ideal for particular recipes where heaviness is prized but grittiness is not.
Also coming on board today is Honeyville Super, which claims to have ground their offering into the finest consistency achievable. This makes it especially well suited to bakes where fluffiness is key. This brand goes above and beyond to ensure it's virtually devoid of gluten, even renewing their gluten-free certificate every year. Along with Bob's Red Mill and Anthony's California, this one is batch-tested so those with celiac can safely consume it.
If you have a severe allergy, especially to gluten, be sure to read the fine print before purchase. Options like Nature’s Eats Blanched and Healthworks Superfood may be naturally gluten-free, but there's still the chance of cross-contamination due to their production lines coming into contact with things like soy, milk, peanuts, sesame, and more. Some, like Blue Diamond Finely Sifted, are made in a facility that also produces other types of food but done so in an allergen-controlled environment to ensure there is no cross-contamination. If you're interested in different variations of gluten-free flours, we have a list of those as well.
December 10, 2019:
King Arthur Grain-Free comes on board in this update, and it’s from a well-known name in flour products. In fact, its Vermont-based manufacturer can trace its roots back all the way to 1790. This particular flour is made from 100% blanched almonds and possesses a pleasant nutty flavor. It can add some valuable nutrition to any recipe, since it’s full of protein, fiber, and good fats. Those with gluten allergies can enjoy this one with confidence, since it’s produced in a dedicated gluten-free manufacturing facility, unlike many others.
Also joining the mix is Kate Naturals Premium, which is made with almonds sourced directly from farms in California’s warm Central Valley. Unlike many others, it’s backed by a one-year warranty and is guaranteed to be pure, authentic, and natural. It’s high in Vitamin E, which is good for eye health and immune function, as well as magnesium, which helps support bone and heart health.
Nature’s Eats Blanched is also added to the list today, and like many, it’s packed with protein and fiber, and works well in recipes for gluten-free crackers, cookies, and donuts. It also makes for a nice coating for vegetables, fish, or meats before you roast them.
Like several others on our list, the newly added Healthworks Superfood is sourced from sustainable U.S. farms, and its pleasant, mild flavor makes it perfect for everyday meals as well as desserts. It contains no artificial ingredients and is suitable for anyone on a Paleo or gluten-free diet.
Almond flour is nutritious and easy to work with, but it’s also known for its relatively coarse texture. As someone who frequently cooks and bakes using it (and other alternative flours), I’ve learned that to produce the best results, you often need to blend a number of different flours for any given recipe. For instance, for a gluten-free carrot cake, you’re likely better off combining some almond flour, coconut flour, and tapioca flour for the best results (a ratio of 1 to ½ to ⅛ respectively works well). When baking with almond flour, some people also slightly increase the amount of baking powder or soda for results that are light and fluffy. When you experiment over time, you’ll eventually come up with a recipe that’s both healthy and tastes great.
What Exactly Is Almond Flour?
Be sure to use the pulse function on your food processor as the continuous mode can turn them into paste or almond butter if you don't stop it in time.
Hopefully we're not the first to break this news to you, but almond flour isn't really flour — it's just almonds that are ground up really finely. It's also known as almond meal, almond powder, or just ground almonds, if you prefer to skip the pretense. However, the reason it's most commonly called almond flour is because there are so many situations in which you can use it in a similar manner as you would all-purpose and whole wheat flours.
You can find almond flour in two different forms: natural and blanched. Natural almond flour is just what it sounds like — whole almonds ground up into a fine consistency. But blanched means that the almonds are dropped into boiling water to loosen and remove the skins before they're ground. Most store-bought almond flours are blanched, as the texture and appearance are more appealing, and can produce better results in baked goods.
If you want to make a recipe that calls for almond flour, but find yourself all out, you can always make your own. All you need is some good quality almonds and a food processor. It's best to start with sliced almonds, since they're easier to grind, but you can use whole ones if they're all you have lying around. Be sure to use the pulse function on your food processor as the continuous mode can turn them into paste or almond butter if you don't stop it in time. You can also add up to two tablespoons of sugar or regular flour per cup of almonds to prevent heat from building up and bringing out the nuts' natural oils.
When stored properly, both homemade and store-bought almond flour can last for up to a year. The two biggest threats to its longevity are light and heat, so make sure to lock it up in an airtight container and keep it in a dark cabinet or pantry, or, even better, in the refrigerator. Alternatively, you can just shove it in the freezer and take out as much as you need at a time.
Health Benefits Of Almond Flour
Besides the fact that they're delicious, there are plenty of reasons to love almonds. They're also a great source of protein, which makes them a perfect post-workout snack. Plus, one ounce of these healthy nuts contains around three grams of fiber, which is about 10 percent of how much you should eat in a day.
They're also a great source of protein, which makes them a perfect post-workout snack.
In addition to fiber and protein, almonds are rich in vitamin E and biotin, which are excellent for your hair and skin. And, while almonds are rather high in calories, eating them doesn't typically cause weight gain as long as you don't go nuts on your portion sizes. This is mostly due to the fact that they help you feel full longer, meaning you're less likely to snack later, which helps to reduce your overall caloric intake.
Almonds are also high in monounsaturated fats, which have a whole host of health benefits, from increasing your metabolism to decreasing your risk of breast cancer and heart disease. And, if that's not enough, these healthy fats can also help to control your blood sugar levels, which is especially useful for those who suffer from diabetes.
Plus, if you're following a low-carb or gluten-free diet, almond flour can help you make some of your favorite baked and fried goods fit into your eating plan. By using almond flour instead of regular wheat flour, you can make pancakes, biscuits, tortillas, doughnuts, and even pizza crusts that are compatible with low-carb, ketogenic, and gluten-free diets.
Tips For Cooking And Baking With Almond Flour
While the most well-known use for almond flour is classic French macarons, it's great for almost all types of baked goods, with the exception of breads. It can be used to make low-carb, gluten-free versions of your favorite treats, so that you don't have to give them up just because you have dietary restrictions. But there are a few things to keep in mind when substituting it for regular wheat flour.
You may need to reduce the amounts of liquid ingredients in your recipe or add a few tablespoons of another type of flour to soak up the extra moisture.
First off, know that it's almost impossible to use nothing but almond flour in a recipe that's written using another type of flour — it's much easier to seek out recipes that are specifically written to work with almond flour. But if you plan on substituting, it's usually better to combine two or more types of flour to achieve the texture and flavor you desire. Almond flour holds a lot more moisture than wheat flours, which helps to keep your baked goods from drying out, but it also tends to mess with the ratio between wet and dry ingredients. This means you'll probably need more almond flour than you think when substituting — sometimes even up to twice as much. You may need to reduce the amounts of liquid ingredients in your recipe or add a few tablespoons of another type of flour to soak up the extra moisture. You'll also have to add more yeast, or whichever leavening agent you're using, as almond flour is quite a bit heavier than wheat varieties, which can prevent it from rising properly.
And it's not just good for baking — almond flour works well in many savory dishes as well. If you're craving something crispy, it makes a great low-carb coating for fried meats and vegetables. If you have problems getting it to stick, try beating an egg and dipping the food in it first, then the flour. For a crispy topping on casseroles and other baked dishes, toss some almond flour with a little melted butter and sprinkle it on top before baking. Many meatball and meatloaf recipes call for a bit of flour or breadcrumbs to help hold them together, and almond flour makes an excellent substitute. You can even use it to make your own pasta, though it will need to be mixed with another flour, such as coconut or tapioca, to get the right texture.