Blanching Almonds: Only 5 Easy Steps!

Do you have recipes that require blanched almonds? You won’t believe how easy it is to make your own! Today, we will be Blanching Almonds in 5 Easy Steps.

Do you have a hard time finding almond flour to make recipes like Orange Almond Bundt Cake or Cozonac?

If you have whole almonds in your pantry, I would love to share a quick and efficient way to blanch them so you can make your own.

Just in case you are wondering, a blanched almond is an almond without its skin.

Once you realize how easy and economical they are to blanch at home, you will never purchase them again.

What do I need to make blanched almonds?

• Almonds! No surprise here. Make sure they are raw, unsalted and not roasted.
• Water. These nuts need to be boiled in water before attempting to remove the skin. They also need to be submerged and rinsed in cold water to stop the cooking process.

As far as accessories are concerned, we need a medium pot, a colander or strainer, and some clean kitchen tea towels.

The whole blanching process begins with a pot of water. 

Are you ready?

Let’s begin!

Blanching almonds in 5 easy steps

Step 1: The first thing we need to do is to bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil.

Step 2: Set your timer to 60 seconds. Add your raw almonds, all at once, to the boiling water. Start your timer the second they hit the water. Let them boil for EXACTLY 60 seconds.

If you go past the minute mark, they immediately begin to soften. This is not what we are aiming for. So, stay close to your pot and no interruptions for 60 seconds.

Step 3: Remove your pot of boiled almonds from the stove and drain in a colander or strainer. Immediately rinse them under cold water to cool them down and stop the cooking process.

Notice the shriveled and detached skin.

Here comes the fun part!

Step 4: Time to start popping. Here’s how to remove the almond skin: with your fingers, gently squeeze from the base to the point. The skin will quickly slip off. You will be amazed at how far you can pop them out of their skin!

Step 5: Blot with a tea towel. Place your “skinless” almonds in a single layer on a sheet pan, lined with a tea towel and leave to air dry.

You can use the almond skins as compost for garden beds.

Et voilà, you can now transform fresh, perfectly blanched almonds into wonderful baked treats or savory dishes!

Tips

• Make sure to have raw almonds that have not been transformed. They must be unsalted and not roasted.
• Feel free to blanch any amount of almonds required.  
• Submerge completely when boiling them and for the duration of 60 seconds, otherwise, the skin will be harder to peel off.
• Do not boil them for more than 60 seconds as they will begin to cook and soften.
• Remove the almond skins as soon as you rinse them off with water. The longer they sit, the harder it is to remove the skins. 

What is the best way to store blanched almonds? 

If using within two months, place in a mason jar and refrigerate.

Can I freeze blanched almonds?

Yes, once they are perfectly dry, place them in a freezer bag and freeze for up to one year.

Can I make almond flour at home?

Once you have blanched your almonds, it is very easy to make homemade almond flour. Simply place your blanched almonds in a blendar and pulse until they become finely ground and reach the consistency of flour. Do not over process as this will result in almond butter. 

How to dry

If you are not in a rush, leave them to air-dry overnight. If you need to make almond flour within hours of blanching them, it is advisable to remove some of the lingering moisture.

In order to dry freshly made blanched almonds, simply spread them on a cookie sheet and place them in a preheated oven.  Roast on low, 225-250°F (107-121°C) for about 3-5 minutes. Wait for them to cool off before attempting to grind them. 

Is there a difference between almond meal and almond flour? 

Yes, there are two. The first is that almond meal is obtained by processing almonds with the skin still on, whereas almond flour consists of processing blanched almonds. The other difference is the texture; the almond meal is slightly coarser when compared to almond flour.

Almond recipes

As you probably know, blanched almonds make a healthy snack whether eating them on their own, covered with chocolate or dusted with cocoa.

They also make a great ingredient in Italian Christmas cookies. Here are some of our favorites: 

• Brutti ma Buoni
• Almond Biscotti
• Amaretti
• Mostaccioli

What will you make with your skinless almonds?

I would love to hear about it!

THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

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Ciao for now,

Maria 

★★★★★ If you make this method for blanching almonds, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

Recipe

I originally published this post on November 8, 2015, and republished on November 1, 2018, with updated content, photos, and a video. Thanks for watching and sharing!