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You make ground almonds by blending raw almonds into a fine powder, and it’s one of the simplest kitchen tricks you’ll ever learn.
You don’t need any fancy equipment or special ingredients, just almonds and a food processor or blender.
Whether you’re out of almond flour mid-recipe or simply want to save money, learning how to make ground almonds at home is a skill worth having.
Honestly, store-bought ground almonds can be pricey, and homemade versions taste fresher anyway.
In this post, we’ll walk through how do you make ground almonds step by step, the tips that keep them fluffy instead of oily, and how to store your batch so it stays fresh for weeks.
Let’s get into it.
How Do You Make Ground Almonds? Here’s the Simple Process
Learning how do you make ground almonds comes down to three basic stages: prep, grind, and store.
Here’s exactly how ground almonds are made at home:
1. Start With Raw, Unsalted Almonds
The best ground almonds start with plain raw almonds.
Skip the roasted, salted, or flavored varieties because they’ll throw off the taste of whatever you’re baking.
You can use whole almonds with the skin on, or blanched almonds if you want a lighter, whiter result.
If you’re making ground almonds for macarons or delicate pastries, blanched almonds are the way to go.
2. Blanch and Dry Them (Optional)
To make ground almonds without the brown flecks, drop the almonds in boiling water for about a minute, then transfer them to ice water.
The skins will slip right off when you pinch them.
After that, dry them thoroughly on a towel or in a low oven.
Moisture is the enemy when grinding almonds, so don’t skip the drying step.
3. Grind in Short Pulses
Now here’s the part where most people go wrong when they make ground almonds.
Add your almonds to a food processor and pulse in short bursts, about one second each.
Scrape down the sides every few pulses so the almond meal stays even.
You’ll probably need to pulse 20 to 30 times to reach a fine powder.
Resist the urge to run the machine continuously, or you’ll end up with almond butter instead of ground almonds.
4. Sift for a Finer Texture
Once your almonds look powdery, sift the mixture through a fine mesh sieve.
Any larger chunks that remain can go back into the processor for another few pulses.
This step is what separates fluffy ground almonds from gritty ones.
If a recipe calls for almond flour, this sifting step is especially important because almond flour is simply finely ground almonds with the skins removed.
Tips to Get Perfect Ground Almonds Every Time
Making ground almonds is easy, but a few small habits make a big difference.
Here’s what to keep in mind:
1. Freeze the Almonds First
Chilled almonds are less likely to release their natural oils while grinding.
Pop them in the freezer for about 15 minutes before you start, and your ground almonds will come out lighter and less clumpy.
2. Don’t Overfill the Bowl
Work in small batches of about one cup at a time.
When you make ground almonds in large quantities at once, the blades can’t move evenly and the almonds heat up.
Heat is what turns ground almonds into a sticky paste, so keep your batches modest.
3. Use the Right Machine
A food processor gives you the best control when making ground almonds.
A high-speed blender works too, but it’s more aggressive, so use very short pulses.
Avoid coffee grinders for big batches since they tend to overheat quickly.
How to Store Your Ground Almonds
Freshly ground almonds have a shorter shelf life than whole nuts because more surface area is exposed to air.
Store them in an airtight container in a cool, dark spot for up to two weeks.
For longer storage, keep ground almonds in the fridge for up to three months or the freezer for up to six months.
If you notice a bitter or soapy smell, toss them out because that means they’ve gone rancid.
You can also toast ground almonds lightly in a dry pan before using them, which deepens the flavor in baked goods and sauces.
So, How Do You Make Ground Almonds?
You make ground almonds by pulsing raw almonds in a food processor until they turn into a fine, fluffy powder.
The key is to work in small batches, use short pulses, and sift for an even texture.
Making ground almonds at home takes just a few minutes and saves you money while giving you a fresher product than anything from the store.
Hope this post has helped you with exploring how do you make ground almonds and the tips that keep every batch perfect.