3. Self-Made Almond Flour
Almond flour does not come cheap when you buy it in a store. In fact, it’s probably the most expensive ingredient for your macaron shells, so it would save you some serious bucks if you can prepare it yourself.
Almond flour is made by grinding blanched almonds to a powder. A coffee grinder or food processor may do the job. One important thing to keep in mind is that you need to make sure the almond does not release too much oil while being ground. In fact, if you don’t control the oil in almond flour well, your macaroons will fail. Oily almond flour will prevent your macaroons from fluffing up. One trick is to add a little bit of powdered sugar while you are grinding the nuts.
If you are using a coffee grinder, don’t do long spins as the oil will be released. While you are pulsing them, add a couple tablespoons of confectioner sugar to keep them dry and oil-free.