Almond meal vs almond flour: what’s the difference? Can you substitute one for the other? These two almond-based products look very similar. In fact, they’re easy to mistake for one another when you’re shopping! What’s the difference? Here’s a breakdown in definition, flavor, and recipes.
Almond meal vs almond flour: an overview
First up, let’s discuss the definition of each. Almond meal and almond flour are both made of ground almonds. The difference is in both the raw material and the production method:
Almond flour is made from blanched almonds, or almonds with their skins removed. It’s ground very finely, resulting in a fluffy texture in baked goods. Almond meal contains the skins, making it darker brown in color instead of off-white like almond flour. It has a coarser grind than almond flour and results in denser, chewy texture in baked goods.
We’ve experienced these differences in real life: a recipe tester made our Almond Flour Skillet Cookie and complained it was too dense and dry. After some research, she realized she made it with almond meal instead of almond flour! When she made it the correct way using almond flour, and the cookie turned out beautifully. Problem solved! We’ll never forget that lesson.
Can you substitute one for the other?
Well, yes and no. Here’s what to know:
As a rule, don’t substitute almond meal for almond flour. Almond flour has a fluffy texture that’s essential in many baked goods, like cookies, pancakes, quick breads, and muffins. Use almond meal and your recipe will come out much too dense. Are there times you can substitute almond meal? Yes, if you’re making something where there’s a little more flexibility in the final texture. You can use almond meal in fruit crisps and crumbles, or as a breading for fish. Can you substitute almond flour for almond meal? Honestly, there aren’t many recipes that call for almond meal. But you can definitely substitute flour for meal: your recipe may come out fluffier (which is almost never a bad thing).
Recipes with almond meal and almond flour
Most of the recipes on this website that use these products use almond flour, because it’s lighter and fluffier! Almond meal is less of a versatile product, but we have a few uses. Here are some favorite almond meal and almond flour recipes to try:
Almond flour recipes
These Fluffy Almond Flour Pancakes are fluffy and deliciousTry Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies and you’ll never go backMix up a batch of impossibly Fluffy Gluten Free WafflesTry a gluten-free Vegetarian Spinach Quiche with Almond CrustMake a tasty Apple Crumble or Easy Blueberry Crisp
Almond meal recipes
This Strawberry Cornbread Cake is sweet and showyBake up a batch of decadent Chocolate Almond Cakes
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