18+ “Foolproof” Almond Flour Recipes For Beginners

Photo by Aysegul Sanford

Originally Posted On: https://foolproofliving.com/almond-flour-recipes/

Whether you are on a low carb diet or just want to bake in a healthier way, almond flour is a great choice to use in baked goods. Check out my 18+ “foolproof” low carb, gluten-free, and naturally sweetened almond flour recipes that are perfect for beginners and those of you who are just looking for recipes with almond meal.

Yields: 12 cookiesPrep Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 14 mins Total: 29 mins

Additionally, below you will find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about cooking and baking with almond flour.

If you have been following Foolproof Living for a while, you know that I have been very intentional about sharing recipes made with unrefined sugars. This was a decision that I made back in 2016, simply because I wanted to learn to bake in a healthier way.

The problem was that I had very little idea about baking without the use of conventional ingredients like all-purpose flour and granulated sugar. So I bought a few cookbooks related to the subject and started baking. Along the way, I have also been introduced to baking with almond flour.

Now after three years of recipe testing, almond flour is one of my favorite flours to bake with. I also think that it is a great alternative to baked goods made with all-purpose flour.

Below, I am sharing a few of my favorite recipes made with almond flour that I make over and over again, and know for sure, that are “foolproof”. Feel free to click on the name of the dish or the photo to get the recipe.

In between the recipes you will also find the answers to some of the questions I had when I first started baking with almond flour. 

I heard from so many of my readers that they would love to healthy baked goods more often using these almond flour recipes, but they found supermarket almond flour to be too expensive to use on a regular basis. As a food blogger, who tests recipes over and over again, I can totally relate.

That is why I wrote a whole post on how to make your own almond flour or meal at home. In that blog post, you will find my two methods to make almond flour cheaper: First method is using a food processor and the second one is using a high powered blender like Vitamix. 

Is Almond Flour Healthy?

Before I answer this question, please know that I am a firm believer that the word “healthy” means different things to different people, so please take my response here with a grain of salt and listen to your doctor’s advice before mine. However, it is a fact that almond flour is low in carbs, high in fiber and plant protein, and it is a gluten-free flour. Additionally, if you are experimenting with Whole30 friendly or paleo baking, it is the perfect flour to use.

Though the reason why I love using it in my baking and think that it is a healthier alternative is because of its high-fat content. Almonds are a rich source of unsaturated fatty acids, which are the good kind.

Due to its high-fat content, in the Almond Flour Chocolate Cake recipe above I was able to omit using any other fat (like butter, coconut oil, EVOO, etc.). The fat that came from the almond flour was enough to substitute any other fat and gave me a chocolatey and moist chocolate cake in the end.

Now, I have to warn you, this formula doesn’t work in every recipe, but I have been playing around with decreasing the amount of fat I use in my recipes and have found success often. If you are into experimenting, I recommend starting with my chocolate cake recipe and then playing around with some of your go-to recipes.

These almond flour cookies are yet another great example of baking with almond flour without the need of adding a lot of oil. Due to its high-fat content, you can easily get away with using only 1/4 cup of oil to make delicious cookies.

Made with only 6-ingredients, these gluten-free almond flour cookies are easy to make. They come together in one bowl and take just about 30 minutes from start to finish. I added some chocolate chips, but you can easily make it without if that is what you prefer.

Need more cookies with almond flour? I thought so.

These Almond Flour Gingerbread Cookies are my favorite Christmas cookies. They are lightly sweetened with coconut sugar and flavored with some warm spices like cinnamon and ginger.

Though I have to warn you. They are addictive so bake them at your own risk.

Come summertime, when fresh zucchini is in season (and is everywhere), I make this paleo zucchini bread with almond flour. It is minimally sweetened with coconut sugar.

It comes together rather quick and freezes well. I usually make a batch over the weekend and enjoy a slice with my morning coffee throughout the week.

What is the difference between almond meal and almond flour? There are two differences between almond meal and almond flour. The first one is its texture. Almond flour is a more coarse grind than almond meal.

The second difference is that almond meal is made with grinding almonds with the skin on, whilst almond flour is made with blanched (skins removed) almonds.

If you are in need of a carrot cake recipe using almond flour (or almond meal) that is paleo-friendly and gluten-free, try this Almond Flour Carrot Cake recipe.

Sweetened with coconut sugar and fresh pineapples, it is perfect for all your spring gatherings. I spread it with vegan cream cheese frosting, but you can also use my maple cream cheese frosting as well.

Can I use almond flour and almond meal interchangeably?

I hate to say it, but it depends on the recipe. While you can use them interchangeably in most recipes, there are some that would not work. A good example is macarons. If you have ever tried your hand in baking macarons, you know that almond flour has to be very coarse, so, therefore, almond meal would not be a substitute. You can read more about my macaron baking experience here in Valentines Macarons {A Cooking Class}.

The best way to know is to read the recipe. Luckily nowadays, most recipe testers specify it in their recipes. The recipe for Honey-Sweetened Ricotta and Almond Polenta Cake is one that you can use either or. And if you need an almond flour cake recipe from scratch, this is a great recipe to start with.

This almond flour bread is a great example of a recipe where you can use almond flour and almond meal interchangeably.

Based on my years of experience of baking with almond flour, I found that (unless otherwise is mentioned in the recipe) you can use almond flour and almond meal interchangeably when baking quick breads and muffins. Like I did with the almond flour banana bread recipe below.

This easy to make gluten-free and refined sugar-free almond flour banana bread recipe is sweetened with coconut sugar and ripened bananas. I topped it off with chocolate chips but it is optional.

It is incredibly moist and deliciously addictive.

What is the best way to store almond flour?

If I am planning to use it right away, I store my almond flour in an airtight jar in my pantry. With that being said, you can freeze almond flour. If there is a sale or promotion going on in the market, I usually buy more than I need and store it in my freezer (up to 4 months). Since it is more expensive then most other flours, it makes it cost-effective to purchase more to use later in my baking.

If you decide to freeze your almond flour, it is best to take it out of the freezer and let it thaw on the counter overnight.

And if you need a vegan almond flour recipe, this Vegan Cranberry Almond tart is the best. Just sayin’.

Can I use almond flour along with other types of flours in my baking?

You sure can. As a matter of fact, most recipes use almond flour along with other healthier flours like coconut and oat flours. The Flourless Blueberry Muffins (Almond Flour Blueberry Muffins Recipe) you see above is one of my favorite muffins of all times and it is made with mixing together almond flour with coconut flour.

These almond flour banana muffins are another good example of using almond flour with another flour in a recipe.

The combination of almond flour mixed in with coconut flour produces a soft and moist muffin recipe that is naturally sweetened with ripe bananas and coconut sugar.

Can I use almond flour interchangeably with other flours like coconut, oat, or all-purpose flours?

Again, it depends on the recipe. Each one of these flours has their own characteristics and it is really hard to give you an exact ratio. I found baking with coconut flour is the hardest as it absorbs liquid more than any other flours, whereas oat flour has been a much easier one to work with.

I have been experimenting with adding/removing and substituting almond flour in my favorite recipes with other flours, and sadly have not been able to find success in a formula that works for every recipe.

I just can’t imagine a better dessert made with almond flour. This Almond Flour Strawberry Cake is my go-to birthday cake. You can easily make it in two 6-inch cake pans or in one 9-inch cake pan.

Most of the time, I use my maple whipped cream on top (and in between) and decorate it with whatever fresh fruit is in season.

Did you know you can make an almond flour pie crust that you can use for your favorite tart recipes? This Strawberry Mascarpone Tart uses an easy to make an almond meal pie crust that you can make both with almond flour and almond meal. It is my go-to almond flour crust recipe I use for all my baking needs.

Have you got 10 minutes, two bowls, and a whisk? If so, these almond flour blueberry muffins will take you to the blueberry muffin heaven.

These delicious Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins with Almond Flour are sweetened with maple syrup and packed with juicy blueberries. The little pockets of warm, fresh blueberries and bright lemon flavor will keep you going back for more.

Did you know you can still make delicious fluffy pancakes using almond flour or almond meal? This almond flour pancakes recipe is simply delicious and so easy to make.

Sweetened with a ripe banana, all of the ingredients come together in a blender and the batter is ready in less than 30 seconds. These delicious gluten and dairy-free almond flour pancakes are so delicious to make on a weekend morning for the whole family!

I hope amongst some of my favorite healthy baked recipes you were able to find some almond flour dessert recipes you can make for your family. I plan on updating this post as I share newer almond flour recipes so feel free to check back to get more inspiration.