Almond Flour Pancakes Almond Flour Pancakes

How to Make Perfect Almond Flour Pancakes: 3 Easy Ways

Pancakes have been on the breakfast menu for decades now, and they are quite an easy, healthy way to start our day. But while pancakes are good, almond flour pancakes are the way to go if you want to make them healthier.

You can always make them with tons of different types of toppings and syrup choices to make them fun as well as delicious.

Pancakes are flat and thin cakes usually made with batter on a hot pan by frying on both sides. They are generally eaten for breakfast with some savory or sweet dish on the side.

Pancakes are usually made from a batter that is a mixture of flour, milk, eggs, and butter.

Almond Flour Pancakes
Source: Pexels

The traditional pancake recipe uses regular flour, like all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour, but since people have been looking for healthier options, there are plenty of other types as well.

Some of them are coconut flour and gluten-free flour, but the most famous is almond flour.

1. Why Almond Flour Pancakes?

Flour is used as a common ingredient in making a lot of foods like bread, cookies, and pasta, among many others.

While all of them are delicious and healthy, some people can’t eat anything because of regular whole wheat flour because they are maybe allergic or also because of their dietary choice because of gluten.

That’s why a much healthier alternative is almond flour because it is gluten-free and delicious as well. Grounding almonds results in super fine almond flour, which is fit to be an alternative to any flour.

The best thing about making almond flour is while it is available in stores and supermarkets, it can also be made at home and stored in a tight container.

Almond Flour Pancakes
Source: Pexels

Some of the nutrition easily available in almond flour are:

  • Vitamin E
  • Manganese
  • Calcium
  • Magnesium
  • Iron
  • Phosphorous
  • Copper

2. Health Benefits of Using Almond Flour:

Almonds are known for the health benefits they carry, and the same goes for almond flour, which you can make and add to your smoothies as a little protein boost.

Almond flour contains manganese, which helps in breaking down cholesterol and carbohydrates. It also contains magnesium, which helps control blood sugar levels.

Almond flour is filled with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats that help provide many health benefits. It helps reduce the risks of serious health conditions like heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes.

Almond Flour Pancakes
Source: Pexels

2.1. Healthy Heart:

Reducing the risk of heart disease has to start with maintaining cholesterol. You can do that by taking almond flour because it is rich in monounsaturated fats, which helps keep cholesterol under control.

2.2. Controlling Diabetes:

Almond flour is known to contain a lower glycemic index. It includes fewer sugars and carbohydrates than regular flour, which will help manage sugar levels that benefit people with diabetes.

2.3. Digestion:

Another health benefit of using almond flour is that it contains a lot of prebiotic dietary fiber. So when your body gets enough Prebiotic dietary fiber, it’ll help you have a good digestive system.

Decoding Almond Flour: Exploring Health Benefits, Drawbacks, and Versatility in Baking

Trista Best, a Registered Dietitian at Balance One Supplements, discusses the health benefits, impact on well-being, and drawbacks of Almond flour vs. Other flour types:

“Almond flour, made from finely ground almonds, offers several benefits. It is a nutrient-dense alternative to traditional wheat flour, providing healthy fats, protein, and a lower carbohydrate content.

Almond flour is also naturally gluten-free, making it suitable for those with gluten sensitivities or celiac disease. Additionally, its mild, slightly sweet flavor can enhance the taste of baked goods.

However, drawbacks include its higher calorie density due to the fat content, potentially contributing to excess calorie intake if not monitored. Almond flour lacks gluten, affecting the texture of certain recipes, and may require additional binding agents.

Cost can be another consideration [as] almond flour is often more expensive than traditional flour types. Despite these drawbacks, many appreciate almond flour [for its] nutritional profile and versatility in gluten-free and low-carb cooking.”

Trista Best
Trista Best

3. Ingredients To Make Almond Flour Pancakes:

Now that you know why we are alternating regular flour with almond flour and all of its health benefits, here are some of the vital ingredients for an entirely gluten-free recipe to make perfectly fluffy pancakes.

3.1. Almond Flour:

The important ingredient to make these pancakes is almond flour that is finely ground so that when you mix the batter, it will have a fine, silky, and soft texture.

If you make almond flour from home, then make sure it doesn’t have any lumps, which will not be good while you’re mixing the batter.

Also, make sure that if you are buying almond flour, it’s not an almond meal because you might get confused.

Almond flour and almond are both made from ground almonds, but while almond flour is made from blanched almonds with the skin peeled off, almond meal is made with the skin on. So, be sure to use blanched almond flour.

3.2. Baking Powder Or Baking Soda:

Baking powder or even baking soda is another important ingredient that you should add to your pancake batter because only this will make sure that the batter will rise, producing good, fluffy pancakes.

3.3. Eggs:

Usually, a regular pancake batter needs just one egg, but it needs at least two eggs because they are gluten-free, so the egg will help bind them together. But it doesn’t have to be eggs; you can also use an egg substitute.

3.4. Milk:

You can use any type of milk of your choice, for example, almond milk, coconut milk, or maybe just regular dairy milk if you want.

3.5. Vanilla Extract:

If you want to add more flavor to your pancakes, add just a dab of vanilla.

3.6. Salt and Oil:

If you want your almond flour pancake to be even softer, add a few drops of oil of your choice. If you’re feeling a little fancy, some of the best oils for pancakes are coconut, olive, and avocado.

Finally, add a pinch of salt to your fluffy almond flour pancake batter for a bit of taste.

4. How to Make Almond Flour Pancakes:

There are more pancake recipes that you can always switch up as you like; you can go dairy-free with it, or you can add a lot of different toppings as you wish. Almond flour is all gluten-free pancakes, so you can enjoy it without guilt.

Almond Flour Pancakes
Source: Pexels

First, you will see the three different types of pancakes according to your dietary and taste choices. You will see the traditional pancakes recipe, the vegan pancake recipe, and finally, the keto almond flour pancake recipe.

After all the recipes are demonstrated, you will find alternative toppings that you can try and enjoy.

4.1 Almond Flour Pancake:

This lovely recipe is a basic almond flour pancakes recipe that you must know before diving into the various types of other almond pancakes.

This traditional pancake recipe combines five main ingredients: blanched almond flour, eggs, baking powder, milk, and vanilla extract.

This pancake batter, which is both gluten-free and low-carb, makes the perfect and healthy breakfast that leaves you full and satisfied.

Almond Flour Pancakes
Source: Pexels
Wet ingredients:
  • Milk, ¼ cup
  • 2 Eggs
  • Vanilla extract, one teaspoon
Dry ingredients:
  • Blanched almond flour, 1⅓ cup
  • Baking powder, 1 teaspoon
  • Salt, ¼ teaspoon
Other ingredients:
  • Butter or oil
  • Maple syrup, 1 teaspoon
Recipe notes:
  • To make the almond flour pancake, take a medium-sized bowl and add the dry ingredients in it, almond flour, baking powder, and salt, and mix it well.
  • Take another bowl, a little smaller than the first one, and add the milk, eggs, and vanilla extract, and whisk all of the wet ingredients thoroughly.
  • Next, little by little, add the mixed ingredients to the dry ingredients. You have to transfer them little by little so that you don’t make a mess in the place and also because you have to look out for lumps that form, and if they do, you can stir them up till they come together as a smooth batter. And if your battery isn’t soft and thick, add a dash of milk to it till the texture is attained.
  • After it is done, let the batter sit for fifteen minutes before using it to make regular pancakes.
  • Place your medium-sized skillet on medium flame and wait till it heats up. First, pour a little butter; it can either be melted butter or not. If you don’t want to add butter, you can add coconut oil, olive oil, or avocado oil.
  • When your butter or oil is heated, take a ¼ cup and scoop the almond flour pancake batter in it. The measurement isn’t exactly necessary but it is safe because almond flour is delicate. The batter can break, so it is important to make small pancakes.
  • Heat the pancakes on each side for about a couple of minutes until golden brown. Be sure to keep the flame on medium or even low then and there so that the middle cooks without burning the edges. Almond flour pancake recipes tend to burn faster than regular pancake recipes, so lowering the heat will help prevent that.
  • Use the remaining batter to make as many pancakes as you want and place them on your plate.
  • Before serving, drizzle some maple syrup on top to finish off your light and fluffy pancakes.

This almond flour pancake recipe has always gotten 5 stars because of its deliciousness and also because of its health benefits.

Tips from a Dietician for Lighter Texture and Consistency

Catherine Rall, Registered Dietitian at Happy V, offers tips on combating challenges with almond flour in pancakes—texture and consistency:

“Almond flour tends to produce pancakes [that] are much heavier and denser than traditional pancakes.

Adding an egg and a bit more baking powder to your pancakes can help to counteract [this a bit], but you’ll still get a final product that’s more “cakey” and less fluffy.

You may also want to dial back your use of fat in your pancake recipe since almond flour is so fatty. Try using [a bit] less butter and sub in skim milk for your usual milk choice.”

Catherine Rall
Catherine Rall

4.2 Vegan Almond Flour Pancakes:

They are the most flexible pancake recipes because you can switch the ingredients to your dietary choice. They can be made as regular pancakes, but they can also be cooked as vegan or even keto pancakes.

This is a great recipe to eat for breakfast for a person with a vegan and gluten-free diet.

But you don’t have to be vegan to enjoy vegan pancakes. If you’re craving pancakes, then this is a delicious recipe to try out.

Wet ingredients:
  • Milk, ¼ cup
  • Banana, 1 peeled
  • Almond extract, 1 teaspoon
Dry ingredients:
  • Blanched almond flour, 1⅓ cup
  • Baking soda, 1 teaspoon
  • Salt, ¼ teaspoon
  • Cinnamon powder, ½ teaspoon
Other ingredients:
Recipe notes:
  • This almond flour pancake recipe has a different start than the other recipes. First, take a medium-sized bowl and peel off a banana. The banana can be overripe or ripe because you are going to mash it up with a fork. Once you have your mashed banana add your dairy-free milk, some of the options can be almond milk or unsweetened coconut milk. Then add the almond extract to add more taste to it.
  • Next to this great recipe, take a medium-sized bowl and add the dry ingredients in it, almond flour, baking soda, cinnamon powder, and salt, and mix it well.
  • Next, add the mixed ingredients to the dry ingredients little by little. You have to transfer them little by little so that you don’t make a mess in the place and also because you have to look out for lumps that form and if they do, you can stir it up till it comes together as a smooth batter. And if your batter isn’t soft and thick, add more almond milk to it till the texture is attained.
  • After it is done, let the batter sit for fifteen minutes before using it to make regular pancakes.
  • Place your medium-sized skillet on medium flame and wait till it heats up. Pour oil onto your skillet, and when the oil is heated, take a ¼ cup and scoop the almond flour pancake batter in it. Let the pancakes cook for about a couple of minutes on each side till they are golden brown.
  • Transfer your hot vegan fluffy pancakes to a plate and top it off by drizzling some maple syrup, or sugar-free syrup.
Almond Flour Pancakes
Source: Pexels

These vegan and fluffy pancakes also win 5 stars because they are still delicious despite using bananas as a substitute for eggs.

4.3 Keto Almond Flour Pancakes:

Another type of almond flour pancake that can be modified per your dietary choice is keto almond flour pancakes. They are pancakes that give you a good egg alternative because you will be using flax eggs instead of eggs.

Wet ingredients:
  • Milk, ¼ cup
  • Flax meal, 2 tablespoon
  • Water, 5 tablespoon
  • Almond extract, 1 teaspoon
Dry ingredients:
  • Blanched almond flour, 1⅓ cup
  • Baking soda, 1 teaspoon
  • Salt, ¼ teaspoon
Other ingredients:
  • Coconut oil or Olive oil
  • Maple syrup, 1 teaspoon
Recipe:
  • This great recipe is also different from the traditional pancake recipe but it is just as tasty because we first start with making flax egg. Take a small bowl, pour the flax and water, and let it sit overnight or for at least fifteen minutes. If you let it sit overnight, it will produce an egg-like texture.
  • Once you have your flax egg ready, take a medium-sized bowl and add your dairy-free milk. Some of the options can be almond milk or unsweetened coconut milk. Then add the almond extract to add more taste to it.
  • Take a medium-sized bowl and add the dry ingredients in it, almond flour, baking soda, and salt, and mix it well.
  • Next, add the mixed ingredients to the dry ingredients little by little. You have to transfer them little by little so that you don’t make a mess in the place and also because you have to look out for lumps that form and if they do, you can stir it up till it comes together as a smooth batter. And if your batter isn’t soft and thick, add more almond milk to it till the texture is attained.
  • After it is done, let the batter sit for fifteen minutes before using it to make the keto pancakes.
  • Place your medium-sized skillet on medium flame and wait till it heats up. Pour oil onto your skillet, and when the oil is heated, take a ¼ cup and scoop the keto almond flour pancake batter in it. Let the keto pancakes cook for about a couple of minutes on each side till they are golden brown.
  • Transfer your hot, fluffy keto pancakes to a plate and top it off by drizzling some maple syrup or sugar-free syrup.
Almond Flour Pancakes
Source: Pexels

These keto pancakes are equally as healthy as the other recipes.

These fluffy pancakes are a favorite among many who aren’t even following the keto diet, so be sure to try this because it also carries 5 stars.

4.4 Extra Toppings:

1. Chocolate Chips:

Chocolate Chips are the all-time favorite toppings, and chocolate lovers love adding a handful. You can also add dark chocolate chips if you want a little bitter taste in your pancakes.

2. Fresh Fruit:

Another favorite almond flour pancake topping is fresh fruit. Here you can switch it up using sliced fruits like apples, bananas, figs, strawberries, and many more.

The best are blueberries; you can mix some blueberries in your almond flour pancake batter to make blueberry pancakes and top the pancakes off with some blueberries as well.

Almond Flour Pancakes
Source: Pexels

3. Almond Butter:

Well, it goes without saying that topping with almond butter should be an inevitable choice.

They make the pancakes even more nutty and tasty. But if you don’t have it, then you can switch it for some peanut butter as well.

4. Greek Yogurt:

Greek yogurt is a great addition to your pancakes to switch it up. Greek yogurt is a great source of protein, calcium, potassium, and iodine, and eating it with pancakes adds more to the healthy side.

And if you don’t have any Greek yogurt left in your refrigerator, then you can alternate it with some coconut cream.

5. Syrup:

The syrup is the traditional topping in any almond flour pancake recipe, and mostly maple syrup is suggested, but it doesn’t have to be just maple syrup always. Here are some syrups you can always switch with it.

You can try to make sugar syrup, but if you don’t want sugar, then there are sugar-free syrups available in the market. Another alternative is honey. Honey is a great syrup alternative that is as tasty and good as the others.

6. Coconut Sugar:

Finally, adding powdered sugar to your pancakes is a great sweetener choice and also looks great as well. But if you want to make it healthy then coconut sugar is an amazing choice.

Almond Flour Pancakes
Source: Pexels

4.5 Tips for Almond Flour Pancakes:

Here are some tips and tricks to store and heat your pancakes so all you have to do is heat them before heading for breakfast or whenever you are craving pancakes.

1. Freezing

The best thing about making pancakes is that you can freeze the leftover pancakes in the refrigerator. If you freeze pancakes, they will stay fresh to eat for almost a week, but you have to store them in a tight container before storing them in the refrigerator.

These gluten-free pancakes can also be stored in the freezer, and in this way, you can extend their expiry date to almost a month and a half.

Transfer the cooked pancakes to an airtight container or a freezer bag before keeping them in the freezer. But before transferring it to the freezer, try to take out air as much as you can from the freezer bag.

You can separate each pancake using a piece of parchment paper so that they don’t stick to each other. This is great meal prep for people who are busy in the mornings.

And if you don’t want to freeze your pancakes, then you can just store your pancake batter in the refrigerator and take it out the next morning to make the pancakes.

2. Heating

If you have stored your pancakes in the freezer or the refrigerator, you can microwave them or heat them using the oven.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, then lay the pancakes flat on the baking sheet and cover them with foil. Place the baking tray in the oven for at least 10-15 minutes till they are warm enough.

And if you are reheating your pancakes using a microwave, leave them covered for 30-60 minutes until they’ve heated enough.

Chef’s Expert Insight on Almond Flour vs. Traditional in Pancakes

Jessica Randhawa, the head chef, recipe creator, photographer, and writer behind The Forked Spoon, suggests personal tips on achieving the delightfully light and fluffy texture of pancakes:

“My family loves Almond flour pancakes for their delightfully light and fluffy texture and great taste, which many find a pleasant surprise given their gluten-free nature.

They differ slightly from traditional flour-based pancakes in terms of taste and texture.

Almond flour brings a subtly sweet, nutty flavor that’s quite distinctive, and its texture can be more dense and moist than regular pancakes’ classic airy and sponge-like texture.

[To] achieve the perfect balance when making almond flour pancakes, it’s important to remember that almond flour is heavier than traditional flour. It often benefits from adding a leavening agent like baking powder to help it rise.

Additionally, since almond flour does not contain gluten, be mindful not to overmix the batter, which can lead to dense pancakes. Gently folding wet ingredients into the dry helps maintain a lightness in the batter.

For a genuinely delightful pancake experience, add a bit of vanilla extract or cinnamon for extra flavor.

With these tips in mind, almond flour pancakes can be a delicious and nutritious alternative perfect for those seeking a gluten-free option or [just looking] to try something new in their pancake repertoire.”

Jessica Randhawa
Jessica Randhawa

Final Note

Toast is a great breakfast option, but almond flour pancakes are another great way to start your day because they are healthy and leave you full for longer, so you don’t feel hungry before lunch. They have so many varieties you can always try.

Guest Author: Saket Kumar

Last Updated on by Sathi Chakraborty, MSc Biology

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