Almond and Mincemeat Bars by Recipes Made Easy (2024)

FAQs

Are almond flour and almond meal the same thing? ›

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.

As mentioned above, almond flour is made from blanched, peeled almonds that have had their skins removed. It's fairly fine in texture and light in colour, lacking the darker specks from the skins. Ground almonds, on the other hand, are the same thing as almond meal – they're just ground, skin-on, unpeeled almonds.

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.

Almond meal and almond flour both make exciting additions to lots of baked treats and tasty meals. You can use them interchangeably. But almond meal tends to be better in heartier dishes, since it's slightly bitter and has a coarse consistency. Almond flour is sweeter and has a lighter, fluffier texture.

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.

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.

Add almonds to a high-speed blender and blend on high until a fine, powdery flour is achieved.

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!

Almond flour is a popular alternative to traditional wheat flour that's low in carbs, packed with nutrients and has a slightly sweeter taste. Almond flour may also provide more health benefits than traditional wheat flour, such as reducing “bad” LDL cholesterol and insulin resistance ( 1 , 2 ).

Almonds to Almond Flour conversion

1.5 cups almonds yield 2 cups plus one tablespoon of almond flour. To make 1 cup of flour , use 3/4 cup almonds.

Why is an almond not a nut? ›

In botany terms, nuts are strictly a particular kind of dry fruit that has a single seed, a hard shell, and a protective husk. Chestnuts, hazelnuts, pecans and walnuts fit the true definition of a nut. Peanuts and almonds do not meet the botanical definition of a true nut.

She said, that for adults, eating 20-25 almonds a day is a healthy intake of nuts. For children, it limit of around 10 is a decent approach. Ritika explained that almonds are super healthy but one must also keep a check on their consumption.

The most commonly used flour which is the lowest in carbs is coconut flour. Note: Psyllium has the lowest carbs, however, psyllium is generally not used to bake entire cakes or cookies, it's used in smaller quantities to add bulk, fiber, and elasticity.

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.

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.

Sifting the meal into a finer flour is optional. Place a wire sieve over a large bowl. Add 1-2 cups of meal into the sieve then gently shake or stir until the finer grains fall into the bowl. Place the pieces of unmilled almond back in the blender jug, pulse a few times and then sift again.

You must use blanched almond flour, not almond meal. The latter will yield a heavy and dense muffin, much darker in color. Also, choose a good quality almond flour to avoid any grittiness.

Blanched. Almond flour is one of the main ingredients in macarons. Anytime you read a macaron recipe, you will see that almond flour or almond meal will be required. The two are commonly used interchangeably.

Almond meal is a great gluten-free alternative to flour, and it's super-versatile to bake with. From moist cakes and crunchy cookies to bliss balls, take a look at our favourite almond meal recipes.