These easy instructions for How to Toast Flaked Almonds will help you to add a depth of flavour and crunch to your sliced almonds. This is essential when using them as a decoration for unbaked desserts like trifle or ice cream sundaes.
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Although you can buy ready toasted almonds, the untoasted version are often more readily available and sometimes cheaper. Just like with sesame seems and other nuts or spices, toasting them yourself at home is ridiculously easy and only takes a few minutes.
I’ve included a few hints and tips to help you make sure that you get it right first time. It’s quite easy to over toast the sliced almonds but I’ve got your back to make sure that doesn’t happen.
Ways to Use Toasted Flaked Almonds
There are many ways to use flaked almonds – often as a topping for classic desserts such as trifle. I’ve suggested them as an option for my Cheat’s Coronation Trifle or the Individual version. You can also use in place of the sprinkles on my No-Bake Sherry Trifle Cheesecake.
Add them to my Cheat’s Microwave Christmas Pudding or Easy Chocolate Chip Flapjacks.
Sprinkle over ice creams like this No Churn Mango Coconut version or build up layers with cake and cream to make ice cream sundaes.
You can use them in savoury dishes too. Toss some though my Buttery Lemon & Garlic Green Beans for a really classic flavour combination or use in place of pine nuts for a twist on homemade pesto.
What Are Flaked Almonds?
Flaked almonds are simply finely sliced whole almonds which have been blanched and skinned. This makes them much softer to eat than if you were to try and bite into a whole nut.
Flaked almonds are called sliced almonds in the US – they’re exactly they same thing. The US also uses slivered almonds which are like small chips of the almonds. You can toast slivered almonds in exactly the same way.
You can buy different grades and sizes of flaked almonds. For the most part the more you spend the bigger and more whole the flakes will be.
I used the cheapest flakes I could find (Aldi in February 2023) and you can see that they’re a little broken and uneven. I’ve fine with this, it adds interest and texture.
Equipment Needed to Toast Flaked Almonds
All you need to toast flaked almonds is a good frying or saucepan. A heavy bottomed one will give you a more controlled and even heat. I like to use frying pans with high sides – in the region of a sauté pan. This creates the least mess!
A comprehensive list of the equipment used to make this recipe is included in the main recipe card below. Click on any item to see an example. There are no hard and fast rules so many items can be sensibly substituted to achieve the same results.
How to Store Toasted Flaked Almonds
Once toasted the almonds will keep for months. But you absolutely must make sure that they are 100% cold before adding to an airtight container.
If you put them in a jar or tub warm, this will create steam and that moisture will cause the almonds to become damp and then mouldy.
There is no need to keep in the fridge or freezer. In fact this could again add extra unnecessary moisture which can affect their lifespan, taste and texture.
Top Tips for Toasting Flaked Almonds
Rule number one is to never ever take your eye off or walk away from the pan. The second you do this, the nuts will catch and burn.
Don’t be tempted to add any oil to the pan – we are toasting not frying.
Make sure to keep moving the almonds in the pan. Again this is to prevent any of them from catching and burning, especially if there are any hot spots in the pan.
Don’t skip my advice to take the pan off the heat when they only look part toasted. You’ll be surprised how quickly the residual heat will finish the toasting. Worse case scenario you can put the pan back on the heat.
If you want to toast the almonds darker than I have then please do. I’ve aimed for a mid-way toast similar to the level of toasty that you can buy.
Don’t forget to let me know in the comments if you try making this recipe – I want to know what you think and if you made any substitutions, how did it turn out?
Still Have Questions?
Simple! Just contact me and I will do my best to help as quickly as I am able. Head over to my Contact Me page, any of my social media channels or post a comment at the bottom of this page and I’ll see what I can do.
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The Recipe
How to Toast Flaked Almonds
Equipment
Ingredients
- Flaked Almonds
Instructions
- Place Flaked Almonds into a heavy based frying pan.
- Place the pan over a medium-high heat for 30 seconds or so just to get the pan warm quickly. Keep moving the nuts – swirl the pan or use a spatula but either way, be gentle.
- Turn the heat down to medium-low and continue cooking the nuts for around 1 to 2 minutes until they start turning a very light golden brown. Again keep the nuts moving. Adjust the heat as your instinct tells you. If you are more nervous stick to a lower heat. If you are more confident you can go a little hotter but try not too rush or you risk over toasting.
- Remove the pan from the heat and continue moving the nuts for another 30 seconds to a minute until the almonds look nicely golden and toasted.
- Tip the toasted almonds onto a plate and allow to cool. Don't let them sit in the pan to cool or they will continue toasting and become bitter.
Cat says
Great tips. I love adding toasted almonds to ice cream for added texture and deliciousness!
Sisley White - Sew White says
Toasting almonds is so easy and I have to admit that I ate a few of them straight from the pan.
Janice says
Such a handy guide to toasting almonds. They are so delicious on desserts and give a really nice texture.