In the past few years, almond flour has gained a lot of popularity among people looking to eliminate grains from their diet.
Almond flour is one of the most commonly used gluten-free substitutes for wheat flour in baking recipes and it gives bread, cakes, and cookies a rich, moist texture.
But not everyone enjoys the taste of almonds or wants to use almond flour specifically. So what can you do if you are looking for an alternative?
The good news is there are other excellent substitutes for almond flour. In this article, I’ll share some of the best substitutes for almond flour and why they make such a great choice.
What is almond flour?
Almond flour is a gluten-free flour that comes from ground almonds. It is not to be confused with almond meal, which is more coarse and often contains the skins of the almonds.
Almond flour is high in protein and fiber, which makes it a favorite among health-conscious home cooks. It is also low in carbohydrates, which makes it great for those following a low-carb diet.
Almond flour can be used in baking and cooking to replace wheat flour or added to smoothies as an extra protein boost. It’s widely available and you can purchase it from many health food stores or order it from online stores.
Almond flour substitutes
1. Almond Meal
This is the most obvious substitute for almond flour. Almond meal, which is ground almonds with skins on, works well in almost every recipe that calls for almond flour.
You can also make your almond meal at home by blending raw almonds in a food processor or blender till it turns into a fine powdery texture.
2. Sunflower seed flour
Sunflower seed flour is similar to almond flour in color and texture but has a slightly different flavor. It has an earthy flavor, so it works best in savory dishes like meatballs or veggie burgers where its rich taste is a great addition.
Sunflower seed flour is also very easy to get. You can buy it at health food stores or online and you can make your own from sunflower seeds.
To make sunflower seed flour at home, process the seeds in a blender until you get a fine powder that has the consistency of cornmeal.
3. All-purpose flour
One of the easiest substitutes for almond flour is an equal amount of all-purpose flour. All-purpose flour works best in recipes where the almond flour adds bulk and texture to a recipe, such as pancakes or cake.
4. White whole-wheat flour
White whole-wheat flour comes from a different variety of wheat and has a sweeter flavor than regular wheat flour. It’s also lighter in color, which makes it easier to substitute into recipes that call for almond flour.
5. Pumpkin seed meal
Pumpkin seed meal has a similar consistency to almond flour but is darker in color and has a sweeter flavor profile. This meal also works well as a substitute for almond flour in sweet and savory recipes.
6. Oat flour
Oat flour is another good substitute for almond flour. It is easy to make, inexpensive, gluten-free, and has a mild flavor that will not overpower your dish. It also contains more fiber than almond flour and has a higher carbohydrate content.
If you don’t have oat flour on hand, you can make it at home by blending rolled oats in a blender or food processor till you get a fine powdery texture.
7. Coconut flour
Coconut flour is one of the most popular substitutes for almond flour. It comes from ground-dried coconut meat, and it is gluten-free, grain-free, and low in carbohydrates.
However, coconut flour absorbs a lot of liquid, which means you need to add more liquid to your recipe. Also, keep in mind that if you use coconut flour in your recipe, the final product will have a coconut flavor.
8. Flaxseed meal
Flaxseed meal has a nutty flavor and is extremely high in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. It will give you a slightly different flavor, but if you are using it in something like muffins, you may not even notice the difference.
9. Pecan flour
You can use pecan flour as a substitute for almond flour. However, baking with it requires a bit of practice because it has a high-fat content that makes it more delicate and prone to overbaking.
When substituting pecan flour for almond flour, it is best to reduce the total fat content of your recipe by 20%. Pecans are also slightly sweeter than almonds, so you may need to adjust the sweetener in the recipe accordingly.
10. Tapioca flour
Tapioca flour is a bit stickier than almond flour, but it’s a great substitute nonetheless. When you bake with tapioca flour, don’t expect a super cakey texture.
It works best in recipes that need a chewy texture and a bit of stretchiness (like pizza crust).
11. Cashew flour
Cashew flour is made from ground cashews and many people have had great success substituting it for almond flour in many recipes. The flavor is milder, but it is a rich and slightly sweet addition to your recipe.
You can purchase cashew flour in health food stores and online or make it at home using a blender or food processor.
12. Peanut flour
Although peanut flour is high in fat, it has less than half the calories of almond flour.
It also has more protein than almond flour, so you can feel good about using this alternative when baking for yourself or others with special dietary needs.
13. Macadamia flour
Macadamia flour is produced from finely milled macadamia nuts. It has a fine sandy texture and a mild nutty flavor that won’t overpower the other flavors in your dish.
Macadamia flour is a good substitute for almond flour, but you’ll have to add more liquids to your recipe when using it.
This is because it absorbs more water than almond flour and will make your baked goods dense if they aren’t properly hydrated.
14. Hazelnut flour
Hazelnut flour has a fine texture and a distinct nutty taste that works well with both sweet and savory recipes. You can use it as a substitute for almond flour at a 1:1 ratio.
Why do you need almond flour substitutes?
You need substitutes for almond flour needs because it is naturally an expensive ingredient and it can be hard to find in some areas.
In addition, some people are allergic to almonds, which means they cannot eat anything made with almond flour.
FAQs
Can you substitute almond flour for white flour?
Yes, you can. Substituting almond flour for white flour is an easy way to cut calories and carbs in your diet.
It has about 30% fewer calories and 50% fewer carbs than traditional white flour, so you can enjoy more food for fewer calories.
Is almond flour good for celiacs?
Yes, it is. Almond flour is good for celiacs and people with gluten intolerance because it’s gluten-free, low in carbohydrates, and high in protein.
Can you use almond flour for breading?
Yes, you can. Breading with almond flour still gives flavorful fried goods without gluten flour.
Almond flour is one of those ingredients that you can use in so many different recipes and ways. You don’t have to limit yourself to just one use; try out other ideas to see what works best for you.
Is almond flour good for weight loss?
Yes, it is. Almond flour is low in carbohydrates, which makes it perfect for weight loss. It is also rich in protein and healthy fats which help in improving metabolism, thereby helping you burn more calories throughout the day.
Additionally, it has a high fiber content that slows down the digestion process and keeps you full for a longer duration.
This means that you will not feel the need to snack between meals as often and you will end up eating fewer calories overall.
Can you use coconut flour instead of almond flour?
Yes, you can. Coconut flour is another healthy alternative to almond flour. It is made from dried coconut meat and offers several health benefits.
Since it is highly absorbent, you need less coconut flour than almond flour when making baked goods.
Conclusion
Many different types of flour can work well in place of almond flour. Depending on what you’re using it for, some of the best substitutes for almond flour include almond meal, all-purpose flour, and coconut flour.
Thanks for reading.
Eating gluten-free? Here’s a list of spelt flour substitutes that are healthy for you.
