With the rise in popularity of gluten-free and keto diets, almond flour has become increasingly popular. It offers a delicious, low-carb, nutritious alternative to traditional flours, but not all almond flours are created equal.
To help you navigate through the sea of almond flour options, I’ve done my research and selected the top almond flour brands available on the market today.
Types of almond flour
First, let’s take a look at the different types of almond flour available:
Blanched vs unblanched almond flour
Almond flour is either blanched or unblanched. Blanched almond flour is made from blanched almonds, meaning the skins have been removed, resulting in a lighter texture and milder flavor.
Unblanched almond flour, on the other hand, will have a slightly darker color due to the presence of the almond skins and provides a nuttier flavor.
Almond flour vs almond meal
Almond flour is made from blanched almonds with the skins removed, resulting in a finer and lighter texture. Almond meal, on the other hand, is made from almonds with the skins intact, which gives it a coarser texture and slightly nuttier flavor.
Finely ground almond flour is more versatile for baking a range of recipes and is ideal for delicate baked goods like macarons or cakes.
Almond meal, with its coarser texture, is suitable for recipes like crusts, pancakes, or as a breadcrumb substitute.
Almond flour characteristics
Almond flour is well-loved for its baking flexibility and its compatibility with various diets – almond flour is naturally gluten-free, and because it’s low in carbs (and high in healthy fats), it’s one of the best paleo flours and one of the best Keto flours, too.
Because of that high fat content (12 grams per 1/4 cup serving), almond flour is naturally filling and has a healthy dose of calories, too. This makes it a great flour for people who are trying to cut carbs and still stay full.
This same high-fat content can make almond flour a little tricky to bake with – it can yield a greasy bake if the recipe isn’t properly balanced. Generally speaking, I recommend starting off by making recipes designed with almond flour in mind instead of substituting almond flour in with a different recipe. A couple good recipes you could start with – this delicious almond flour banana bread or these two-ingredient almond flour cookies. (If you’re going to substitute anyway, you can do so with a 1:1 ratio vs all-purpose flour, but I’d recommend starting by just replacing 1/4 of the all-purpose flour and adjusting over time as you get more comfortable with it.)
How to choose the best almond flour
To choose the best almond flour, look for a finely ground, blanched variety made from high-quality almonds without any additives or preservatives.
6 out of the 7 flours below meet this criteria – Nature’s Eats Ultimate Almond Flour is the only with additives (xanthan gum), which means you can replace all-purpose flour in gluten-free recipes without having to include xanthan gum or other ingredients to replicate the binding power of gluten.
Here’s the exact criteria I used to rank the brands below:
- Ingredients: I gave priority to brands with the fewest and highest-quality ingredients. I avoided brands with preservatives and artificial ingredients – just pure, blanched almonds.
- Consumer feedback: I took into account my personal experience, as well as online reviews, to gauge consumer satisfaction with each brand. Positive feedback from fellow baking enthusiasts is always a good sign!
- Nutrition: The most nutritious almond flour is minimally processed, has no added sugar or sodium, and provides healthy fats.
- Track record: I took the brand’s reputation, availability, and any awards or recognition into account. Brands with a long-standing reputation and widespread availability were given preference.
- Price: While quality is essential, I understand that price plays a role in decision-making. I compared prices among different brands, selecting options that provide affordability without compromising quality.
Top 7 almond flour brands
Now, without further ado, here are the top 7 almond flour brands that made the list:
Overall Rank | Brand | Best for |
1 | Blue Diamond Almond Flour | Best overall |
2 | Bob’s Red Mill Super-Fine Almond Flour | Best quality |
3 | King Arthur Almond Flour | Gluten-free |
4 | Anthony’s Organic Almond Flour | Extra-fine texture |
5 | 365 by Whole Foods Market Almond Flour | Budget-friendly option |
6 | Terrasoul Superfoods Almond Flour | Organic |
7 | Nature’s Eats Ultimate Almond Flour + | 1:1 replacement for regular flour |
#1 Best Overall: Blue Diamond Almond Flour
Coming in at the top spot is Blue Diamond Almond Flour. Finely sifted and made with California-grown almonds, this flour adds a nutty flavor and fluffy texture to your recipes. It was also ranked the best almond flour of the year (2023) by Mashed.
It’s hard to beat Bob’s Red Mill and King Arthur for flour in general, but for almond flour in particular, Blue Diamond’s focus helps it win out. As it says on its website: “Almonds are all we do.”
Ingredients: Blanched Almonds
#2: Runner-Up: Bob’s Red Mill Super-Fine Almond Flour
If quality is your top priority, Bob’s Red Mill Super-Fine Almond Flour won’t disappoint. Made from the highest quality California-grown whole almonds, this super-fine flour is perfect for all your baking needs and guarantees an exceptional taste.
Ingredients: Blanched Almonds
#3 Best Gluten-Free: King Arthur Almond Flour
King Arthur is known for its rigorous quality control and commitment to sourcing high-quality ingredients, making their almond flour a reliable and trustworthy choice for gluten-free baking. It’s produced in a dedicated gluten-free facility, reducing the risk of cross-contamination.
Ingredients: Blanched Almonds
#4 Best Extra-Fine: Anthony’s Organic Almond Flour
Anthony’s Organic Almond Flour is made from steam-pasteurized almonds without any preservatives or artificial ingredients. It is USDA certified organic and batch tested for gluten-free verification. The super-fine milling of the flour ensures a smooth texture in your baked goods.
Ingredients: Organic Blanched Almonds.
#5 Best Budget-Friendly Option: 365 by Whole Foods Market Almond Flour
Whole Foods is known for its commitment to providing natural and wholesome products, so I had to include their almond flour. Made from 100% blanched almonds, it’s a popular choice for gluten-free and paleo baking. It’s also competitively priced compared to other almond flour brands which can be pretty pricey, making it an affordable option without compromising on quality.
Ingredients: Blanched Almond Flour
#6 Best Organic: Terrasoul Superfoods Almond Flour
Terrasoul Superfoods Almond Flour is made from the highest-quality, USDA-certified organic, Spanish almonds. The almonds are gently blanched, skinned, and milled into a fine flour that is perfect for all your baking needs.
Ingredients: Organic Blanched Almond Flour (Tree Nut)
#7 Best 1:1 Replacement for Regular Flour: Nature’s Eats Ultimate Almond Flour +
This blend of almond flour, coconut flour, arrowroot powder, tapioca flour, and xanthan gum rises better than traditional almond flour. But the best part? It’s an easy 1:1 replacement that allows you to convert your favorite recipes to gluten-free with ease.
Ingredients: Blanched Almond Flour, Coconut Flour, Arrowroot Powder, Tapioca Flour, Xanthan Gum
Comparing almond flour brands nutrition facts
Here’s a comparison of each of the flours’ nutrition facts, straight from their labels.
You’ll notice that the serving sizes vary from brand to brand. When you do the math to make the serving sizes equivalent, you’ll notice that all the almond flours are pretty comparable (as you’d expect). The slight exception is the Nature’s Eats Ultimate Almond Flour + because it blends almond flour with three other flours.
Calories | Fat (g) | Sodium (mg) | Carbohydrates (g) | Sugar (g) | Protein (g) | |
Blue Diamond Almond Flour per ¼ cup (28g) | 170 | 15 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 6 |
Bob’s Red Mill Super-Fine Almond Flour per 2 tbsp (13 g) | 80 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
King Arthur Almond Flour per ⅛ cup (16 g) | 90 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
Anthony’s Organic Almond Flour per ¼ cup (28g) | 160 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 6 |
365 by Whole Foods Market Almond Flour per 2 tbsp (15g) | 90 | 8 | 0 | 3 | <1 | 3 |
Terrasoul Superfoods Almond Flour per ¼ cup (28g) | 160 | 15 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 6 |
Nature’s Eats Almond Flour Plus, Almond + per 3 tbsp (15g) | 70 | 2.5 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 2 |