Homemade Almond flour

I was thinking to post a recipe using almond flour.  But, then I realized, that not everybody know about this awesome, multi-use, super healthy goodness! And, most of all, that you can make your own!

Let's start with what it is.  To make almond flour, the almonds are blanched (the skin is removed in a water bath). Then, they are cut into sliced or diced almonds. The result of this process ( a sort of almond sawdust), become almond flour.  We are not done yet!!  At this point, the texture is still coarse, so the flour is put through a screen with tiny holes to ensure a very smooth, uniform and fine consistency. Now, in stores you will find also the Almond Meal.  Almond Meal are whole, ground almonds that still have the skin on them.

Many people say that if a recipe calls for blanched almond flour and you use instead the almonds that still have the skin, the recipe won't work.  In my personal experience, I use sliced almonds with the skin on, and I never had any problem! The only thing that I would recommend, (for personal experience again!) is to use a coffee grinder, instead the food processor. I will show you why:

With the coffee grinder.....

and with the food processor!

As you can see, the grinder makes a finer flour, which is much better to get a lighter texture in your baked goods!  I did read somewhere, that is nearly as smooth as the flour made using the super expensive ( still awesome!!) Vitamix! The only "problem", is that the grinder can only handle 1/2 cup of almonds at a time, but, if you are not in hurry, this is definitely a super alternative! :)