Almond flour is made from finely ground, blanched almonds. Unlike all-purpose flour and other milled flours, [almond flour](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/almond-flour-recipe) is grain-free, gluten-free, and low in carbohydrates, making it an optimal nut flour option for those with dietary restrictions. While you can't use this low-carb ingredient to bake an airy loaf of [sourdough bread](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-sourdough-bread-recipe-and-tips), almond flour is a popular flour alternative in gluten-free baking and classic dessert recipes like [French macarons](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-macarons-french-macaroons-basic-french-macaron-recipe).

Blanched almond flour is a rich source of calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin E, and monounsaturated fats, which may help lower cholesterol.

Other ground-almond products include almond meal, which has a coarser texture and can be a gluten-free substitute for [breadcrumbs](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-breadcrumbs-recipe), and [almond butter](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-almond-butter), a creamy paste similar to peanut butter. Other gluten-free flours include coconut flour, buckwheat flour, [cassava flour](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-cassava-flour), oat flour, and [cashew flour](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cashew-flour-recipe). 
All-purpose flour is a mild-flavored white flour made from the endosperm of hard and soft wheat varieties. It is rich in grains, carbohydrates, and gluten and has a relatively low protein content (between nine and eleven percent) compared to many other milled flours (like [bread flour](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/bread-flour-guide) and [whole-wheat flour](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/guide-to-wheat-flour)). 

Per its name, all-purpose flour has a wide range of applications. For example, you can use all-purpose flour in nearly any recipe that calls for flour, including layer cakes, chocolate chip cookies, muffins, quick breads, brownies, and [pie crusts](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/perfect-homemade-pie-crust-recipe). Outside of baked goods, all-purpose flour is a popular base for dredging fish and chicken for frying and thickening rich sauces and gravies. 

Similar low-protein flours include [cake flour](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cake-flour-baking-guide), pastry flour, and [self-rising flour](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/self-rising-flour-guide).
All-purpose flour and almond flour have several key differences in the kitchen:

- __Gluten content__: A key difference between AP flour and almond flour is the presence of gluten, a family of proteins found in wheat products. While AP flour is rich in gluten, almond flour doesn’t contain any at all. Thus, almond flour is a popular flour substitute for gluten-intolerant bakers who need to omit the proteins from their diets for health reasons. 
- __Fat content__: AP flour is low in fat, so it doesn’t add much moisture to baked goods. Conversely, almond flour has a high-fat content, which adds extra moisture to recipes and may result in heavy, dense, or greasy-feeling baked goods. 
- __Flavor__: AP flour has a mild flavor that typically fades to the background in cake, bread, and cookie recipes, allowing other flavors to shine. By contrast, almond flour has a stronger, nuttier flavor, which can become prominent if you’re not used to baking with the ingredient. If you’re new to the flour alternative, try a few almond-flour recipes before substituting it for AP flour in a favorite recipe. 
- __Shelf life__: During the milling process for AP flour, manufacturers separate two wheat kernel components—bran and germ—from the endosperm, removing oils that encourage spoilage and making it more shelf-stable than other flours. Therefore, AP flour can last six to eight months on the shelf or up to a year in the fridge. On the other hand, almond flour tends to have a much shorter shelf life than regular flour—a few months on the shelf or up to six months in the fridge. 
In most recipes, you cannot substitute almond flour for all-purpose flour (or other wheat flours) in a simple cup-for-cup replacement because of its lack of gluten and high-fat content. Gluten is an essential binder in wheat-based baked goods, and low-fat flour is key to avoiding greasy or dense results. 

If your recipe calls for all-purpose flour and you want to use a gluten-free substitute, try using a lower amount of almond flour—a ¾ cup for every 1 cup of all-purpose flour—and add a binding agent to act as a glue. (Common gluten-free binders are xanthan gum, guar gum, and psyllium husk). You may need to experiment with ratios several times before you get the perfect combination.
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Almond flour is a popular gluten-free flour that you can use in place of all-purpose flour with a few considerations. Learn the differences between almond flour and all-purpose flour.

Almond flour is a popular gluten-free flour that you can use in place of all-purpose flour with a few considerations. Learn the differences between almond flour and all-purpose flour.

Almond Flour vs. All-Purpose Flour: A Flour Comparison

Almond flour is made from finely ground, blanched almonds. Unlike all-purpose flour and other milled flours, <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/almond-flour-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/almond-flour-recipe","linkCopy":"almond flour","category":null}'>almond flour</a> is grain-free, gluten-free, and low in carbohydrates, making it an optimal nut flour option for those with dietary restrictions. While you can&#39;t use this low-carb ingredient to bake an airy loaf of <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-sourdough-bread-recipe-and-tips' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-sourdough-bread-recipe-and-tips","linkCopy":"sourdough bread","category":null}'>sourdough bread</a>, almond flour is a popular flour alternative in gluten-free baking and classic dessert recipes like <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-macarons-french-macaroons-basic-french-macaron-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-macarons-french-macaroons-basic-french-macaron-recipe","linkCopy":"French macarons","category":null}'>French macarons</a>.Blanched almond flour is a rich source of calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin E, and monounsaturated fats, which may help lower cholesterol.Other ground-almond products include almond meal, which has a coarser texture and can be a gluten-free substitute for <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-breadcrumbs-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-breadcrumbs-recipe","linkCopy":"breadcrumbs","category":null}'>breadcrumbs</a>, and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-almond-butter' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-make-almond-butter","linkCopy":"almond butter","category":null}'>almond butter</a>, a creamy paste similar to peanut butter. Other gluten-free flours include coconut flour, buckwheat flour, <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-cassava-flour' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-cassava-flour","linkCopy":"cassava flour","category":null}'>cassava flour</a>, oat flour, and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cashew-flour-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cashew-flour-recipe","linkCopy":"cashew flour","category":null}'>cashew flour</a>.

What Is Almond Flour?

All-purpose flour is a mild-flavored white flour made from the endosperm of hard and soft wheat varieties. It is rich in grains, carbohydrates, and gluten and has a relatively low protein content (between nine and eleven percent) compared to many other milled flours (like <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/bread-flour-guide' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/bread-flour-guide","linkCopy":"bread flour","category":null}'>bread flour</a> and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/guide-to-wheat-flour' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/guide-to-wheat-flour","linkCopy":"whole-wheat flour","category":null}'>whole-wheat flour</a>). Per its name, all-purpose flour has a wide range of applications. For example, you can use all-purpose flour in nearly any recipe that calls for flour, including layer cakes, chocolate chip cookies, muffins, quick breads, brownies, and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/perfect-homemade-pie-crust-recipe' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/perfect-homemade-pie-crust-recipe","linkCopy":"pie crusts","category":null}'>pie crusts</a>. Outside of baked goods, all-purpose flour is a popular base for dredging fish and chicken for frying and thickening rich sauces and gravies. Similar low-protein flours include <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cake-flour-baking-guide' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/cake-flour-baking-guide","linkCopy":"cake flour","category":null}'>cake flour</a>, pastry flour, and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/self-rising-flour-guide' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/self-rising-flour-guide","linkCopy":"self-rising flour","category":null}'>self-rising flour</a>.

What Is All-Purpose Flour?

All-purpose flour and almond flour have several key differences in the kitchen:<ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Gluten content: A key difference between AP flour and almond flour is the presence of gluten, a family of proteins found in wheat products. While AP flour is rich in gluten, almond flour doesn’t contain any at all. Thus, almond flour is a popular flour substitute for gluten-intolerant bakers who need to omit the proteins from their diets for health reasons. </li><li class="">Fat content: AP flour is low in fat, so it doesn’t add much moisture to baked goods. Conversely, almond flour has a high-fat content, which adds extra moisture to recipes and may result in heavy, dense, or greasy-feeling baked goods. </li><li class="">Flavor: AP flour has a mild flavor that typically fades to the background in cake, bread, and cookie recipes, allowing other flavors to shine. By contrast, almond flour has a stronger, nuttier flavor, which can become prominent if you’re not used to baking with the ingredient. If you’re new to the flour alternative, try a few almond-flour recipes before substituting it for AP flour in a favorite recipe. </li><li class="">Shelf life: During the milling process for AP flour, manufacturers separate two wheat kernel components—bran and germ—from the endosperm, removing oils that encourage spoilage and making it more shelf-stable than other flours. Therefore, AP flour can last six to eight months on the shelf or up to a year in the fridge. On the other hand, almond flour tends to have a much shorter shelf life than regular flour—a few months on the shelf or up to six months in the fridge. </li></ul>

Main Differences Between All-Purpose and Almond Flour

In most recipes, you cannot substitute almond flour for all-purpose flour (or other wheat flours) in a simple cup-for-cup replacement because of its lack of gluten and high-fat content. Gluten is an essential binder in wheat-based baked goods, and low-fat flour is key to avoiding greasy or dense results. If your recipe calls for all-purpose flour and you want to use a gluten-free substitute, try using a lower amount of almond flour—a ¾ cup for every 1 cup of all-purpose flour—and add a binding agent to act as a glue. (Common gluten-free binders are xanthan gum, guar gum, and psyllium husk). You may need to experiment with ratios several times before you get the perfect combination.

Can You Substitute Almond Flour for All-Purpose Flour?

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Almond flour is a popular gluten-free flour that you can use in place of all-purpose flour with a few considerations. Learn the differences between almond flour and all-purpose flour.

Almond flour is a popular gluten-free flour that you can use in place of all-purpose flour with a few considerations. Learn the differences between almond flour and all-purpose flour.
