Get the best almond flour substitution when a recipe calls for it and you are out! Almond meal or almond flour is interchangeably used in gluten-free baking and makes a great substitute alternative with other flours.
Substitutes for almond flour
- sunflower seed flour
- cashew flour
- pecan flour
- macadamia nut flour
- oat flour
- cassava flour
- flaxseed flour
- coconut flour
- gluten-free flour blend
Reasons to find an almond flour substitution may be because you ran out of almond flour, have a nut allergy, or want to create a baked good that is gluten-free. Many nut flours work best as a substitute for almond flour but you can also use other gluten-free flours and seed flour.
We've done the testing to easily provide a list of almond flour substitutions, including gluten-free and non-gluten sensitive alternatives. Nowadays, going gluten-free and grain-free is a more simple diet to maintain since there are so many alternatives to flours like substitutes for potato starch, oat flour, cornstarch, coconut flour, gluten-free flours, whole wheat flour, and white flour. Here we share the best alternatives to use in place of almond flour and how to use them.
Almonds
Almonds (the almond or sweet almonds, Prunus) is a popular nut known for its source of essential nutrients. It contains fatty acids, lipids, amino acids, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals that support a healthy diet [source]. They have a high fat content and are beautiful turned into almond meal, almond flour, almond milk, and almond butter.
What is almond flour
Almond flour is not a flour, but actually ground almonds broken down until it forms a powder or "flour" consistency. Please note that almond flour has a different consistency from other flours and does not perform well in a 1:1 ratio in most recipes, therefore it may need a binding agent such as tapioca starch, coconut flour, or egg.
Almond flour (or meal - depending on how the nut is processed) makes a wonderful substitution for grain flours in baking. This flour is high in fat so many people use an almond flour alternative in keto diets along with coconut flour.
And we love to use this flour to make almond flour cookies and also in many of the recipes in my Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Baking Cookbook!
Check out the book today. Click here!
Almond flour vs. almond meal
Wondering the difference between almond flour vs almond meal? Almond meal is ground almonds with the skins on. Almond flour is ground almonds without the skins. The two are usually interchangeable in baking and provides a slight almond flavor. To make your own almond flour, use a food processor or coffee grinder and grind or blend blanched almond slivers until it it forms a fine powder. Be careful not to overblend as it can turn into almond butter.
9 Best Almond Flour Substitution
When using an alternative to almond flour, we highly suggest using another nut flour first. Nut flours have more oil and absorb other ingredients differently than non nut flours, so the turnout will not be the same simply swapping out almond flour with just coconut flour (for example).
1. Sunflower seed flour
Looking for nut flour alternatives? Sunflowers are a wonderful almond flour substitution, especially for AIP diets or a nut allergy. Sunflower seed flour can be found online or make your own using sunflower seeds that are unsalted. Add them to a coffee grinder or food processor and blend until it forms a flour, but don't overblend or you'll have sunflower seed butter! Use a 1:1 ratio to almond flour.
2. Cashew flour
Cashews can be turned into flour by adding unsalted and raw ones to a coffee grinder or food processor until it forms a light flour. You can also find cashew flour here. Use in a 1:1 ratio for almond flour.
3. Pecan flour
Pecan flour makes a wonderful substitute for almond flour and can be found online. Use in a 1:1 ratio for almond flour.
4. Macadamia nut flour
Macadamia nut flour can be made at home by also grinding the shelled nuts in a food processor or coffee grinder. Use unsalted and unflavored macadamia nuts. These nuts work in a 1:1 ratio to almond flour.
5. Oat flour
It is safe to buy oats and blend them in a food processor and turn them into oat flour. For gluten intolerance, make sure the the oats are "certified gluten-free". Oat flour is slightly lighter than almond flour and makes baked goods light and fluffy.
6. Cassava flour
Cassava flour is a wonderful almond flour substitution and is also a grain-free flour made from the Yucca root. It can be found online and works beautifully in baking to replace almond flour. Cassava flour can be used in a 1:1 ratio to almond flour.
7. Flaxseed Flour or Linseed
Flaxseed flour, also known as linseed, is a wonderful alternative for almond flour. It has a nutty flavor and is also higher in fat. In my experience with flaxseed flour it bakes similar to almond meal where it does not swap well for a gluten-free flour as it may take less liquid like almond meal does. Make it at home using flaxseeds and grind it in a coffee maker or food processor until it becomes a flour.
8. Coconut flour with Tapioca flour
Coconut flour absorbs a lot of liquid and therefore works best with another flour in baking. Commonly, coconut flour is found in recipes combined with almond flour. Use half coconut flour and another flour such as tapioca flour and/or the recipe may need extra egg or liquid for quality texture when substituting for almond flour.
9. Gluten-free flour blend
The rule of thumb for gluten-free flour substitution for almond flour is a 1:2 ratio. For instance, if the recipe calls for 2 cups almond flour, you’ll need about 1 cup of a gluten-free flour blend. This may take some testing as gluten-free flour blend consistencies vary by brand.
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