These Almond Flour Dessert Recipes are indulgent, mostly healthy and naturally gluten free. From our mega popular 3 ingredient almond flour cake, cookies, and brownies to no-bake treats, these are a naturally healthier way to satisfy your sweet cravings.
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What is almond flour?
Almond flour is a fine flour made from grinding blanched almonds. It is delicious, nutritious, with a slightly sweet and nutty flavor, and is a versatile ingredient to make pancakes, waffles, cookies, brownies and cakes.
The popularity of almond flour has surged in recent years as it is commonly used as a gluten-free alternative to wheat flour in baking like almond flour biscuits. It is widely available in all major grocery stores and online. I usually pick up a big bag from Costco and store it in the refrigerator for a long shelf life.
Is Almond flour healthy?
Almond flour is a popular choice for those following a gluten-free or low-carb diet, as it is naturally gluten-free and lower in carbohydrates than traditional wheat flour.
It is a good source of essential nutrients, including healthy fats, protein, dietary fiber, vitamin E, magnesium, and other vitamins and minerals (refer more details in Medical News Today).
It is also naturally gluten-free, lower in carbohydrates and has a lower glycemic index than wheat flour, making it a safe option for individuals with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease.
However, it's essential also to remember it is naturally calorie-dense and may not be suitable for individuals with nut allergies.
Difference between almond meal and almond flour
There are two main types of almond flour: blanched almond flour and almond meal. Blanched almond flour is made from almonds with their skins removed, resulting in a lighter color and finer texture and can be used seamlessly in baking recipes.
Almond meal, on the other hand, is made from almonds with their skins intact, giving it a coarser texture and a slightly darker color with a more pronounced flavor and is better suited in crumb coating meats or seafood dishes.
However, the choice between the two depends on the specific texture and flavor you want in your final dish.
It's essential to note that the terms "almond flour" and "almond meal" are sometimes used interchangeably in recipes and by manufacturers, which can lead to some confusion. So it's a good idea to check the label for the processing method and texture to ensure it matches your intended use.
In general, almond flour is often preferred for recipes that require a finer, more consistent texture like in healthy pumpkin pancakes, while almond meal is chosen for recipes where a coarser texture is acceptable or even desired.
Recipe FAQs
lt is great substitute for all purpose flour in many baking recipes for it's nutrition and also a naturally gluten-free alternative.
However, it can also add more moisture, due to it's higher fat content and also can cause your baked goods heavy or dense and often needs binding ingredients like eggs, along with leavening agents.
So, if unless your recipe calls for all almond flour, it is a good idea to replace about 50% regular flour with almond flour. I like to adopt this method in my buttermilk waffles recipe to add a nutrition boost.
Additionally, almond flour can burn more easily than wheat flour, so be mindful of baking times and temperatures.
Get creative and try using almond flour in your favorite dessert recipes to create new flavors, textures along with added nutrition.
To make homemade almond flour, simply add blanched almonds into a high speed blender and process until ground into a fine powder. Blanched almonds are almonds that have had their skins removed, resulting in a smoother texture. You can buy them pre-blanched or blanch them at home.
To blanch almonds, start by bringing a pot of water to a vigorous boil. Add the raw almonds into the boiling water and leave them for 2 to 3 minutes. Next, drain and rinse the almonds with cold water to cool them down. Carefully rub the almonds between your fingers to peel off the skins, which should come off easily. Afterward, pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel to remove all moisture. Lastly, spread them on a large baking sheet and allow them to air dry for a few hours.
Place them in a food processor or a high powered blender like Vitamix and pulse in short bursts, stopping to scrape down the sides of the container as needed. Continue processing until the almonds become a fine, powdery texture resembling flour. I like to refer to the detailed recipe to make your almond flour by Minimalistbaker.
Transfer the freshly made homemade almond flour to an airtight container, and store it in a cool, dry place or in the refrigerator to keep it fresh.
Storing almond flour properly is essential to maintain its freshness and prevent it from going rancid.
Here's how to store almond flour and information on its shelf life:
Transfer the almond flour to an airtight container or a resealable bag and seal well to prevent air and moisture from getting in.
Label the container with the date you opened the almond flour, so you can keep track of its freshness.
Store it in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight, heat, near the stove, oven or humidity.
While it's not required, storing almond flour in the refrigerator or freezer can help extend its shelf life.
The shelf life of almond flour depends on several factors, including how it's stored and the quality of the almond flour.
When stored in a cool, dry place at room temperature, almond flour can typically last fresh for up to 6 months.
If stored in the refrigerator, it can last longer, typically up to 1 year. It's important to note that almond flour is susceptible to absorbing odors and moisture, so it's essential to keep it well-sealed and protected.
If you want to store almond flour for an extended period, you can freeze it. Properly sealed almond flour can last in the freezer for up to 2 years. Freezing can help maintain the flour's quality, but ensure it's in an airtight container to prevent freezer burn.
If you notice any signs of spoilage, such as a rancid smell or an unusual color, it's best to discard it and obtain a fresh batch.
Almond flour cannot be used as a 1:1 substitute for all-purpose flour in most recipes due to several key differences between the two flours.
Almond flour has a slightly coarser texture and consistency than all-purpose flour and doesn't provide the same structure and rise in baked goods.
All-purpose flour contains gluten, a protein that provides elasticity and structure to baked goods. Almond flour is gluten-free, so it can't provide the same structure and rise as all-purpose flour, making it less suitable for recipes like bread.
It also tends to be more absorbent than all-purpose flour. You may need to adjust the moisture content in your recipes to prevent the final product from becoming too dry. This could mean adding more liquid ingredients like eggs, milk, or oil.
It works well in recipes for cakes, cookies, muffins, pancakes, and some types of quick bread. In these cases, you can often replace a portion of the all-purpose flour with almond flour to add a nutty flavor and a moist texture.
If you want to create a gluten-free or lower-carb recipe, it's often best to start with one designed for almond flour instead of trying to replace all-purpose flour in a regular recipe. Still, some trial and error might be needed to get the results you want."
Almond flour is naturally gluten-free, as it is made from ground almonds without any added wheat or grains. Recipes that specifically call for almond flour as the primary flour are often gluten-free. This makes it a popular choice for individuals who need to avoid gluten due to celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
However, it's essential to remember that the overall recipe can still contain gluten if other ingredients used in the recipe, such as baking powder, certain flavorings, or mix-ins, contain gluten. To ensure a recipe is entirely gluten-free, you need to carefully select all the ingredients and confirm that they do not contain gluten or are labeled as gluten-free.
However, you should still exercise caution and read ingredient labels to ensure that all components of the recipe are free from gluten. If you need to maintain a strict gluten-free diet, consider using certified gluten-free ingredients to reduce the risk of cross-contamination.
Almond flour cookies
You can substitute almond flour for all or part of the wheat flour in your favorite homemade cookie recipes. It adds a nutty flavor with a tender and crumbly texture.
1. Single serving chocolate chip cookie
It has crisp golden brown edges, a soft middle, and is not overly sweet. It is decadent yet healthy and eggless, so there's no dividing one egg - A simple stir, shape, and bake recipe!
2.Almond flour peanut butter cookies
These cookies are absolutely delicious with a tender crumb, high in protein, low carb and loaded with chocolate chips.
3.Almond flour shortbread cookies
These are outrageously good and is a mega popular cookie recipe! They are buttery without any butter, crisp yet tender, mildly sweet, and are made with only 3 ingredients.
4. Almond flour lemon cookies
Almond Flour Lemon Cookies are tender, buttery, crisp and mildly sweet when plain or soft and sweet when decorated.
5. Black sesame cookies
These are made using 5 healthy ingredients. It is a simple stir-and-shape recipe and results in nutty, toasty, crisp cookies with a chewy middle and is mildly sweet. Highly addictive!
6. Almond flour chocolate chip cookies
Best chocolate chip cookies ever - Soft, Chewy, naturally gluten free and grain free. Made with almond butter instead of regular butter, these cookies taste amazing!
7. Almond flour thumbprint cookies
Eggless gluten free thumbprint cookies made with almond flour. They are naturally vegan, healthy, flourless and dairy free!
Almond Flour Cakes
Almond flour can be used to make moist and flavorful cakes. You can use it as the primary flour in recipes like almond flour cake, or you can use a combination of almond flour and other wheat flours in your favorite cake recipes.
1.Almond Flour Cake
It is ultra soft, light and fluffy with a moist crumb. Made with just 4 ingredients, it is mildly sweet and is delicious plain or made into a layer cake.
2. Almond flour mug cake
It is simple, light and has the perfect texture - It is the easiest single serve cake, high in protein and cooks in under 2 minutes.
3. Almond flour chocolate muffins
These chocolate muffins are very chocolatey, rich, tender and not overly sweet. Made with both melted chocolate and cocoa, and then topped off with more chocolate chips, this one is sure to satisfying your chocolate cravings!
4. Almond flour chocolate cake
Fudgy almond flour chocolate cake is rich and decadent! A cross between moist cake and a fudgy brownie this is delicious as is, served with whipped cream or topped with your favorite butter cream.
Almond Flour Treats
Almond flour can be used to make gluten-free brownies that are just as rich and fudgy as traditional ones. It can also be used to make crumbly toppings for fruit crumbles or cobblers like healthy apple crumble or peach crumble, when combined with butter or coconut oil and sweetener.
- Almond flour brownies
Fudgy brownies are rich, chewy, decadent, and hard to believe that it is made without flour! They are better than any box brownies and are naturally gluten-free and healthier.
2. Nutella brownies
These are one of the easiest brownie recipes that you will ever make!!! Fudgy, moist, and an incredible 4-ingredient brownie recipe that is insanely decadent.
3. Almond flour halwa
It is a delicious Indian dessert flavored with saffron and ground cardamom. There is no peeling or grinding almonds - An instant badam halwa recipe that is rich and luxurious.
4. Air fryer apple crisp
This apple crisp is made with a cinnamon-laced apple filling, covered in a perfectly crispy, crumbly, nutty oat-almond topping, and serves two - Utterly delicious with vanilla ice cream!
No bake almond flour treats
Almond flour also makes a versatile and nutritious choice for no-bake treats, allowing you to enjoy lower-carb and gluten-free options with a delightful nutty flavor, enhancing their taste.
It helps retain moisture in no-bake recipes, preventing them from becoming too dry help create treats that are more satisfying, helping you feel full and satisfied with smaller portions.
1.Peanut butter balls
This is a healthier twist to the popular buckeye candy! They are no-bake, small batch, made with almond flour, coconut oil and maple syrup.
2. Almond flour cookie dough
This will satisfy any cookie dough fix. It is no-bake, eggless, flourless, rich, sweet, chocolatey, decadent with a hint of salt and is a safe way for your family to indulge in raw cookie dough. Make into bites if desired!
3. No bake brownie bites
These are made with 5 wholesome ingredients and are irresistibly decadent guilt free treat!
4. Almond butter balls
These are shockingly easy to make using natural, wholesome ingredients. With satisfying textures, this raw, no-bake bite is ready in under 10 minutes and stored in the refrigerator for a guilt-free treat anytime!
5. Almond bars
These bars are made with real ingredients like almond flour, almond butter, sliced almonds, maple syrup, coconut oil, dried cranberries, chocolate chips and coconut. It is the perfect treat when you are craving for something sweet yet guilt free.
Whether you're seeking a low-carb option or aiming for a satisfying dessert, almond flour provides the foundation for delicious and wholesome treats. It is a go-to ingredient for creating delectable, gluten-free, and nutritionally-rich desserts that are healthier and decedent.
Did you make any of these recipes? I’d love your feedback! Please let me know by leaving a comment or review below or snap a photo and share on Instagram.
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