A popular ingredient in keto and paleo diets, almond flour has always had a special place in the Indian kitchen as well.

Whether it’s to make delicious badam barfi or to bake gluten-free blueberry muffins and even keto bread, almond flour is a nutritious, low-carb, and vegan-friendly choice. This gluten-free nut powder is a great substitute for wheat flour.

Almond flour can be an absurdly expensive ingredient to buy off a market shelf. But thankfully, it’s really easy to make it at home. Read on to learn how to make almond flour at home!

What is Almond Flour and How is It Different from Almond Meal?

Almond flour and almond meal are not the same even though often their names are used interchangeably.

As is evident from its name, almond flour is a powder made from almonds. But during the process, the almond skin is removed to create a finer powder.

Almond meal, on the other hand, is the almond powder made without removing the skin of the almonds used. Even though this tends to be more grainy, it has rich fiber content and is more nutritious than almond flour.

So when making your almond flour at home, you can choose to keep the skin on or to remove it. It’s a personal preference. Do keep in mind that certain recipes require the finer version of almond flour rather than almond meal.

How to Make Almond Flour at Home

Let’s first take a quick look at the process of making almond flour. There are just four simple steps:

  • Soak the almonds
  • Skin the almonds
  • Dry the almonds
  • Grind the almonds into a fine powder

As simple as it sounds, it should be even easier to simply take a handful of almonds and put them in a blender, and give a whirl. Voila! Almond powder is ready! 

Frankly, that’s a quick way to do it and you can use this in your cooking. But there is a very good reason for soaking and drying the almonds first. Read on to find out why these steps are important in making a batch of almond flour that is not just a healthy addition to your diet, but also an ingredient that does not go rancid too quickly.

1. Soak the Almonds Overnight

According to the ancient Indian Ayurvedic traditions, eating a handful of almonds soaked in water is a great way to start your day. We all know almonds are great for our health, but why soak them?

Almonds contain certain antinutrients that block the absorption of important nutrients that are vital for your health. Almonds contain phytic acid that can impair the digestion of minerals such as calcium, iron, etc.

Soaking the almonds overnight neutralizes these toxins and also softens the outer hard covering of these nuts (1). In addition to this, soaking also increases the bioavailability of nutrients.

Therefore, it’s best not to skip the first step of soaking the almonds for about 8 hours at least, if not overnight.

2. Skin the Almonds

If you are planning to skin your almonds, then it’s a good idea to blanch them first. Blanching means you have to put them in hot water for about half a minute and take them out quickly. This makes it much easier to peel off the skin.

I personally recommend leaving the skin on and making almond meal rather than just almond flour. Almond meal has the goodness of the almond skin that is rich in flavonoids, which have very strong antioxidant properties. Studies have identified around 20 different flavonoids present in almond skin. Almond skin also increases the total dietary fiber that aids in digestion.

3. Dry the Almonds

To skin or not is up to you, but it’s very important to allow the soaked almonds to dry out completely. You can towel them dry and keep them out in the sun or even bake them at a low temperature to dry them out.

Make sure the almonds are dried well and completely devoid of moisture as any moisture trapped in them can cause your almond flour to turn rancid soon after you store it.

4. Grind the Dried Almonds

Put your completely dried almonds in the high-speed blender or a food processor. Grind only until they turn into a powder. Grind in small batches and make sure your blender doesn’t heat up.

If you overdo the grinding process or the machine heats up, the almonds start to release oil and you will end up making almond butter instead of almond flour. To get the best results, grind around 8 ounces of almonds at one time. More than that and you may have a coarser or grainier flour.

How to Store your Almond Flour

two glass airtight containers with almond flour

Freshly made almond flour tastes great, but it turns rancid within a few days if not stored properly.

It’s best to make just enough based on your needs, for a couple of weeks. You can store the almond flour in an airtight jar on your kitchen shelf if you are confident it will get used up within that period. Make sure to store in a cool and dark place. Take care not to expose the almond flour to any heat or moisture.

You can also consider keeping it in your fridge if the climate is too warm or humid. If you prefer to make big batches of almond flour for long term use, then put them in ziplock bags and store them in the freezer. It’s quite easy to just take out only the quantity you need as the powder does not clump together and freeze.

There are many recipes for almond flour. It can be used to make healthy-gluten-free desserts such as pancakes, cookies, and loaves of bread. You can make delicious cakes with almond flour. 

Almonds Nutrition Facts: Is Almond Flour Healthy?

It is high in protein, low in carbohydrates, and full of fiber, making it an ideal option for diabetics. In comparison to wheat flour, it is a little sweeter in taste and believed to provide you with the added benefit of fighting inflammation

It is rich in good fats and very high in vitamin E, one of the strongest antioxidants in your body. The high amount of magnesium in almonds helps improve blood sugar control.

Vitamin B6 and zinc in almond supports your immune system and boosts energy. It also contains potassium that helps regulate blood pressure. Almond’s health benefits are numerous.

pregnant woman holding a bowl of whole almonds

Women should have more almonds during pregnancy as this helps meet their increased nutritional needs. Almond’s benefits for skin and hair are well known. If you are wondering how many almonds a day you should have to reap its benefits, the answer is 8-10 soaked almonds a day!

The Final Note

Often mentioned in the cookery shows and adorning the aisle of baking goods in the supermarket, almond flour is gaining popularity by leaps and bounds.

Being soy-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, and totally vegan, almond flour is the answer for many who till recently stayed away from foods that needed wheat flour as one of their core ingredients. 

Almond flour has not only proved itself as a great replacement to wheat flour but also established its worth as a deserving contender. It is extremely versatile and can be incorporated into any diet. 

So wait no more! Get started on making your almond flour right away.