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.

You may also need to adapt your methodology, as techniques designed to encourage gluten formation are not necessary when baking with ground almonds. Flour: replace 1 cup of flour with 1 1/4 scant cups of ground almonds / replace 100g of flour with 90g of ground almonds.

Simply add raw almonds (with skin on) to a blender and blitz until a fine, powdery flour is achieved. I like to turn the blender on the highest setting for 5-10 seconds, then stop, shake, and hit the sides to see if any clumps have formed. Then blend again until fine and powdery.

Ground almonds is exactly as it sounds: almonds that have been ground fine enough to be used in baked goods. Almond flour though, is almonds that have been blanched, the skins, removed, and then ground into flour. it is much finer.

You can use almond meal and almond flour interchangeably in most recipes. Still, almond meal is typically preferred as a bread crumb substitute or coating element, while almond flour is preferred for baking.

For example, if you're making delicate macarons or a light, airy cake, you'll want to reach for more fine almond flour so baked goods the light texture you're looking for. If your recipe is more forgiving, like quick bread or breaded meat, it likely won't matter much and you can use either one.

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.

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.

Converting from Traditional Flour

When converting almond flour, you can use a 1:1 ratio from traditional flour, however this can vary depending on the recipe. Most recipes will require a little extra flour, though, due to their different properties and composition.

Is almond meal just crushed almonds? ›

Almond meal vs almond flour

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.

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.

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Using a food processor to chop and grind your almonds depends on your recipe and personal preference. If you are confident in your knifework, you can chop almonds by hand, especially if you only need a small amount. However, use a food processor when your recipe calls for several batches of almonds.

Simply add blanched almonds to a blender and blitz until a fine, powdery flour is achieved. You know you've gone too far if it starts turning to almond butter instead. Not only is it simple to make, but homemade almond flour tastes fresher and is usually more cost-effective than storebought.

Generally speaking, almond flour is a better all-around choice for cooking, baking and substitutions. Additionally, almond flour does not add any “almond” flavoring to food, however natural flour or almond meal will add somewhat of a different flavor due to the skin that's left on the product.

Almond flour can be a viable alternative to all-purpose flourin many baked goods such as cookies, cakes, quick breads, and pancakes. However, it may not the best alternative for yeast bread.