Flour Power: Almond Flour
Have you ever tried cooking or baking with almond flour? Almond flour is made from finely ground almonds and is a lower-carb and gluten-free alternative to regular flour. Though you may be skeptical, it still makes for delicious baked goods, or can even be used as a substitute for breadcrumbs in savory dishes. Read on to find out why I like using almond flour and for some of my favorite recipes!
Nutrition
1/4 cup almond flour contains:
160 calories
12 grams of fat (all of this is healthy unsaturated fat)
6 grams of carbohydrate
2 grams of fiber
6 grams of protein
Why use almond flour?
Because almond flour is made from only almonds, it is much lower in carbs than traditional flour. It also contains protein and fiber which is more filling and prevents blood sugar spikes. The low-carb content paired with protein and fiber makes this the perfect baking alternative for people with diabetes or anyone wanting to reduce their intake of carbs.
Additionally, almond flour is naturally gluten-free making it an excellent flour for those that are gluten intolerant or have Celiac disease.
Storage
Due to the high-fat content of almonds, almond flour can go bad more quickly than regular flour. It can be stored in the pantry if unopened, but once the package is open, I’d recommend storing it in the fridge or freezer to preserve freshness.
Chocolate walnut muffin tops made with almond flour!
Almond flour can also be used in savory dishes, such as:
A binder for meatballs or turkey burgers
Almond flour is a great low-carb, high-protein, and gluten-free alternative to traditional flour. What are your favorite ways to use almond flour? I’d love to hear about your favorite recipes using almond flour in the comments below.
And stay tuned for future posts about other flour alternatives, next up is coconut flour!
