Almond and Mincemeat Bars by Recipes Made Easy (2024)

FAQs

Can I use almond flour instead of almond meal? ›

Because almond flour is by definition as fine as you can get (without transforming the blanched almonds all the way into almond butter), it's important that you only use it in place of almond meal if the bake requires a finely ground almond product.

Semolina can make the recipe slightly drier and it has a courser texture, but is usually a perfectly acceptable alternative. Ground rice, which isn't as finely ground as rice flour, also has a reasonably similar texture to ground almonds and is worth a try.

Almond meal and flour are both made from ground almonds. However, almond meal is made from unpeeled almonds, while the flour is made from blanched ones. The main differences between the two are the grain size, as well as that almond skin is present in almond meal.

Almond meal is ground-up almonds with their shells on, while some almond flour recipes call for blended blanched almonds (which are just almonds with their shells removed). However, the distinction is small since the meal and flour are practically interchangeable aside from the texture and color.

Both are made from ground almonds, though almond flour and almond meal have two subtle differences that set them apart. Almond flour is typically made from blanched almonds which have had the skins removed, and is ground more finely than almond meal, which typically still contains the skins and has a more coarse grind.

Almond flour is a little more moist than wheat flour, and doesn't have quite the same binding qualities. You'll do best to substitute 1:1 to begin with, as many recipes respond well to this direct replacement. But be prepared to add more almond flour as you go to compensate for the wetter batter.

The difference between them is pretty straightforward. Whilst almond meal is made from whole almonds, almond flour is made from peeled blanched almonds. Commercially bought ground almonds may be labelled as almond meal, almond flour, or just ground almonds.

Step 3: Chop and grind your almonds

For finer ground almonds, select “puree” if available, then pulse as before. If your food processor does not have settings, simply pulse for coarse chopped nuts and process on high for ground results.

Substitutes for Almonds

Almonds are often used to add crunch and texture as well as flavor. The best stand-ins for almonds that are nuts are hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, and unsalted pistachios. It's best to substitute those with the same sort of texture (such as sliced for sliced, chopped for chopped).

Almond flour is a low glycemic index food. Compared to wheat flour, almond flour has fewer sugars and carbohydrates. Switching to almond flour can help people with diabetes manage their blood sugar levels more effectively. Almond flour contains a lot of prebiotic dietary fiber.

Is almond flour good for cholesterol? ›

Almond flour has a number of health benefits, including lowering cholesterol and reducing the risk of heart disease. Its uses include being a gluten-free alternative to wheat flour. Almond flour comes from ground almonds.

When used as the main ingredient, an identifiable almond note will no doubt come through. Unlike flour milled from grains, it's okay to eat almond flour raw, so go ahead and taste a bit of it if you're interested.

Since baking powder contains baking soda, baking powder cannot be used in almond flour baking. Instead, eggs (or applesauce or bananas) can be used as the leavening agent to help baked goods rise and achieve a light and fluffy texture.

Not only is it simple to make, but homemade almond flour tastes fresher and is usually more cost-effective than storebought.

Our chef prefers to add a little xanthan gum or cornstarch to the almond flour to help with the texture, though it is not entirely necessary to do so. Almond flour is pretty forgiving in that regard. Some use arrowroot powder to achieve a similar effect in their bread recipes.

Additionally, since almond meal has a coarser texture, it may require more moisture in the recipe to produce a similar texture to almond flour. In most cases, you can substitute almond meal for almond flour in a recipe at a 1:1 ratio, but it is recommended to adjust the recipe as needed.

Can you Substitute Almond Flour for Regular Flour? Almond flour can be substituted for regular flour at a 1:1 ratio. It is important to note that almond flour may require more egg to bind the flour. Check out our almond flour recipe book here for more information on a specific recipe!