Substituting hazelnuts for almonds, baking

Substituting hazelnuts for almonds, baking - Variety of Brown Nuts on Brown Wooden Panel High-angle Photo

I simply prefer hazelnuts to almonds, especially in sweet applications. I've been recently gifted with a pound of very nice bittersweet chocolate so I've decided to do America's Test Kitchen's Sacher Torte, but I'm going to fill with some kind of Frangelico cream cheese or buttercream mixture instead of raspberries or apricots. That I'll just tweak until I like the results, but the cake itself (almost but not quite flourless) really needs to be right the first time. Here is the relevant portion of the recipe: "Process remaining cup almonds until very finely ground, about 45 seconds. Add flour and salt and continue to process until combined, about 15 seconds. Transfer almond-flour mixture to medium bowl. Process eggs in now-empty food processor until lightened in color and almost doubled in volume, about 3 minutes. With processor running, slowly add sugar until thoroughly combined, about 15 seconds. Using whisk, gently fold egg mixture into chocolate mixture until some streaks of egg remain. Sprinkle half almond-flour mixture over chocolate-egg mixture and gently whisk until just combined. Sprinkle in remaining almond-flour mixture and gently whisk until just combined.

Divide batter between cake pans and smooth with rubber spatula. Bake until center is firm and toothpick inserted into center comes out with few moist crumbs attached, 14 to 16 minutes. Transfer cakes to wire rack and cool completely in pan, about 30 minutes."

Is there anything I should know about hazelnuts and almonds before I start? Perhaps a difference in the fat content? Is there anything I need to know about peeling the hazelnuts (I understand that task to be a bit notorious)? I'll buy the hazelnuts raw in the bulk aisle of the grocery. I would think that I should peel and lightly toast them. Can you anticipate any other way that this substitution could be problematic?



Best Answer

According to the Mayo Clinic, hazelnuts are somewhat more fatty than almonds, per ounce by weight (the range is for whether they are roasted or not):

  • Almonds - 14 - 15 g
  • Hazelnuts - 17 - 17.7 g

As might be expected, hazelnuts are slightly lower in starch. These is unlikely to make any practical difference in the recipe, as both are fairly close.

You should be able to use them close to interchangeably in recipes, although their flavors will be deliciously different, of course.

As for peeling hazelnuts, there are many methods. One of the more effective techniques, which will work if you are going to toast them lightly afterwards is to blanch them in a baking soda solution. See, for example, this article from My Baking Addiction with a video of Alice Medrich and Julia Child embedded demonstrating the technique.




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Can I substitute hazelnuts for almonds?

Raw almonds are a fantastic substitute for raw hazelnuts, assuming you're not allergic to them. They have a very similar texture, with a solid crunch followed by a very satisfying chewiness. As an added bonus, raw almonds have a similar sweetness and a fresh, nutty flavor to hazelnuts.

What can I substitute for ground almonds in baking?

The 5 Best Substitutes for Ground Almond
  • 1 \u2013 Ground Rice. Ground rice is an excellent substitute for ground almonds and can be found at most grocery stores. ...
  • 2 \u2013 Breadcrumbs. Another option is to use breadcrumbs as a substitute for ground almonds. ...
  • 3 \u2013 Almond Flour. ...
  • 4 \u2013 Coconut Flour. ...
  • 5 \u2013 Ground Nuts.


What can replace almonds in a recipe?

Substitutes for Almonds Almonds are often used to add crunch and texture as well as flavor. The best stand-ins for almonds that are nuts are hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, and unsalted pistachios. It's best to substitute those with the same sort of texture (such as sliced for sliced, chopped for chopped).

Can I replace ground almonds with ground hazelnuts?

Ground hazelnuts are an ideal gluten-free ingredient for cakes, biscuits, muffins and pastry. Hazelnut flour can be used in a similar fashion to ground almonds in many recipes.



How to Skin \u0026 Toast Hazelnuts (Easy Way!)




Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

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