Skip to content
FriendsPantry

Nuts & seeds · Tree nuts

Almond flour

Finely ground blanched almonds; the base of macarons, gluten-free cakes and frangipane.

Also called: ground almonds, almond meal, blanched almond flour

A kind of almonds

6 recipes with it

What it is

Almond flour is blanched almonds ground to a fine, pale powder; almond meal is usually coarser and may include skins, and 'ground almonds' sits in between. It is not a flour in the wheat sense: it has no gluten and lots of fat, so it gives moist, tender, dense bakes and browns quickly.

How it’s used

  • Macarons and financiers
  • Frangipane and almond cakes
  • Gluten-free and grain-free baking
  • Thickening sauces such as Spanish almond sauce

Characteristics

Taste
Mild, sweet and buttery.
Texture
Fine and slightly moist.
When cooked
Cannot replace wheat flour 1:1; bakes brown fast, so lower the oven slightly or cover.
Sold as
ground
Cooking uses
Suitable for baking, Used for thickening, Used for binding

Storage

Refrigerated. High in oil: keep sealed in the fridge or freezer once opened. A bitter smell means it is rancid.

Diet, allergens and safety

Contains Tree nuts.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Caffeine-free
  • Tree nuts are a major allergen; an allergy to one nut does not rule out others, and nuts are often packed on shared lines, so check 'may contain' warnings.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy
590 kcal
Protein
21.4 g
Carbohydrate
18.67 g
Fat
52.52 g
Fibre
9.9 g
Sugars
4.63 g

USDA FoodData Central: Nuts, almonds, blanched (a close stand-in).

Substitutes

Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.

  • Hazelnuts — Grind finely; stronger flavour and darker crumb.

Related ingredients

Recipes with almond flour

More tree nuts