10 Tasty Recipes That Use Acorns (2024)

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10 Tasty Recipes That Use Acorns (1)

Did you know that you might have a bountiful and nutritious food source right at your feet this fall? Acorns are much more than something to rake up with your leaves and deposit into your compost pile.

With a little preparation and know-how, you can eat them as you would other nuts, you can use them to make oil, and you can grind them into flour to make a variety of foods.

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For many centuries, cultures from Asia, Europe, and the Americas have gathered and consumed acorns. They are the seeds of oak trees, and acorn varieties are readily available throughout much of the world. As you might expect, different types of oak trees produce different kinds of acorns.

Acorns contain healthy fats, carbohydrates, and protein. They also contain essential amino acids, trace minerals, and Vitamins A and C. Nutritional levels can vary from species to species and so can their level of tannins.

Tannins are what give raw acorns their bitter taste. However, it is possible to remove or greatly reduce the tannin level in acorns through a simple leaching process.

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Shelling and Leaching

The first step to removing the tannins is to gather only ripe, brown acorns. Avoid acorns that appear green or black or show signs of mildew or rotting.

Next, remove the caps and boil the acorns for ten minutes. Strain out the resulting brown water and boil the acorns once again in fresh water. Repeat this process several times until the water looks clear. Then you can shell the acorns.

Another tannin removal method is a flushing procedure that was used by Native Americans in streams and rivers. Remove the caps before placing acorns inside a mesh bag. Then, place the bag under running water for several hours. Frequently remove any water from the bag and continue this rinsing process about four times or so until the water is clear.

After leaching, dry the acorn pieces in single layers on cookie sheets out in the sun (be sure to protect them from animals!) or in a 200-degree oven. You could also use a dehydrator on the low setting.

To make acorn flour, grind your leached acorns in a blender or food processor. Next, dry this meal in a warm oven for a few minutes, or let it air dry for two to three hours. Then grind the meal in the blender or food processor again.

Now you can use your acorn flour in many different recipes. Keep in mind that acorn flour does not contain gluten so it does not bind in the same way as regular flour (wheat, rice, corn or oat). In most acorn baking recipes, you will use half acorn flour and half regular flour so that your food product will hold together well.

To help get you started, here are ten recipes that use acorns.

1. Acorn Bread

10 Tasty Recipes That Use Acorns (2)

This recipe is for a sweet and tasty bread that is not too crumbly. It is a perfect addition to a fall brunch or a Thanksgiving-time treat. Here’s a great acorn bread recipe.

2. Acorn Cookies

10 Tasty Recipes That Use Acorns (3)

Cookies are one of the few goods you can bake with all acorn flour. These crumbly but delicious cookies combine the nutty, sweet taste of acorns with the warm and spicy taste of ginger. Here’s my favorite acorn cookie recipe.

3. Acorn Cake

10 Tasty Recipes That Use Acorns (4)

This delicious and attractive Bundt cake recipe uses acorn flour as well as cinnamon, apple sauce, and coconut oil. Here’s a delicious acorn cake recipe.

4. Acorn Porridge

10 Tasty Recipes That Use Acorns (5)

Flavorful and satisfying on a cool morning, this porridge recipe that incorporates the distinctive taste of acorns. Here’s an acorn porridge recipe.

5. Acorn Pancakes

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These pancakes practically scream “autumn.” These pancakes will appear a bit darker than what they are used to, but they taste yummy. Here’s a tasty acorn pancakes recipe.

6. Acorn Burgers

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If are a vegetarian or have a vegetarian in your family, you may be interested in this burger substitute. You guessed it; it uses acorns! Here’s the best acorn burger recipe.

7. Acorn Tortillas

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You can substitute acorn meal for cornmeal in tortillas using this recipe. Here’s the acorn tortillas recipe, and here is a video that shows how to do it.

8. Acorn Soup

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The taste of acorns and the flavors of porcini mushrooms combine well in this smooth-tasting soup. Add a spoonful of sour cream or creme fraiche on top, serve and enjoy. Here’s a yummy acorn soup recipe.

9. Acorn Brittle

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This recipe is very similar to the standard recipe for peanut brittle; you just use acorns instead of peanuts! Here’s the recipe.

10. Acorn Coffee

To make acorn “coffee,” first peel some ripe, blanched acorns. Then, divide the kernels and place them in an ovenproof dish. Cover the dish and roast the acorns in your oven on low heat. Stir them frequently. When they have roasted, grind the acorns and use them combined with your regular coffee or on their own.

More Ideas

Acorns add a nutty, slightly sweet taste to many dishes and beverages. Some Korean noodle dishes are made of acorn starch, and it is common for Asian grocery markets to sell packaged acorn starch.

Other ways to use blanched acorns in your cooking include:

  • Substituting them in recipes that use chickpeas, peanuts or macadamia nuts.
  • Sprinkling roasted acorn pieces on a garden salad.
  • Making acorn butter instead of peanut or almond butter.
  • Adding acorns to stews as you would add potatoes or beans.

Dried acorns can be stored for up to a year. Acorn flour will keep for several months when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

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You May Also Like:

  • Acorns: How To Harvest, Process, and Eat Them
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  • 6 Wild Edibles You Can Forage In The Middle Of Winter
  • Grandma’s Pancake Recipe: The Best Pancakes EVER!

10 Tasty Recipes That Use Acorns (2024)

FAQs

What can I make with acorns? ›

Acorns can be ground to make flour for bread, pancakes, pastries, cookies and even pasta. If you plan to do this, it's best to leach with cold water to preserve the starch and help the dough hold together better. If you're going to keep your acorns whole, or at least chunky, you can leach them with boiling water.

What can I do with all my acorns? ›

What to Do With Acorns in Your Yard
  1. Use them for arts and crafts and holiday decorations.
  2. Use them to grow an oak tree.
  3. Use them in animal feeders.
  4. Donate them to zoos and wildlife preserves.
Jun 14, 2023

What can I use acorns for? ›

How to Use Acorns. Acorns can be used in a variety of ways. They can be eaten whole, ground up into acorn meal or flour, or made into mush to have their oil extracted. Once you've safely leached the tannins from your raw acorns, you can roast them for 15 to 20 minutes and sprinkle them with salt for a snack.

Are raw acorns edible? ›

Raw acorns are considered unsafe due to their tannins, which are toxic if consumed in high amounts. However, you can remove the tannins by boiling or soaking. Properly prepared acorns are perfectly edible and full of nutrients like iron and manganese. Delicious roasted, they can also be ground into flour.

How long do you have to boil acorns to make them edible? ›

You'll want to leach your acorns to draw out the tannins. Bring two large stockpots to a boil. Pour the acorns into one pot and let it boil until the water turns dark, usually about 15 minutes. Carefully transfer the acorns to the second pot of boiling water and boil the nuts for about 15 minutes.

Is acorns worth the $3 a month? ›

Is Acorns Worth it? Acorns charges monthly membership fees, starting at $3 per month. Even though it is a very easy way to get started investing, if you don't make enough purchases each month to round up and set aside enough money, the monthly fee could outweigh the benefit.

Is it okay to leave acorns on grass? ›

Keeping acorns picked up and off lawns is good garden and yard maintenance. A heavy acorn crop can damage a lawn by smothering tender leaf blades under the nut. Acorns allowed to lay on grass for extended periods of time can kill grass and if left to lie in the garden turns the garden into an oak nursery.

Is acorn butter good? ›

We're kicking off the fall equinox with my creamy Spiced Apple Acorn Butter. This stuff is off the charts delicious and made with little to no sweetener. Honestly, the apples and acorn squash are sweet enough for me, however, feel free to add a small splash of maple syrup if you prefer a little extra sweetness.

Can you make coffee out of acorns? ›

That's right. Coffee made out of acorns. The small catch is that acorn coffee isn't coffee at all, technically speaking. It's made entirely from acorns, looks like coffee, smells a bit like coffee, and the taste—which is quite pleasant—isn't a million miles away from coffee.

Is acorns worth the money? ›

Bottom line. For those who want to invest their money but don't know where to start, Acorns is an approachable platform for beginners. It has a simple interface and a micro-investing feature that goes to work every time you make a purchase. Plus, your investments will be safe in low-cost, diversified funds.

What do acorns taste like? ›

Raw acorns are very bitter and gritty and must be processed prior to eating. Acorns that are leached or roasted are nutty and sweet. For some people, the taste of leached acorns is similar to that of boiled potatoes. While many oak species give bitter-tasting acorns, some produce sweeter nuts like European white oaks.

Can you boil acorns and eat them? ›

Acorns contain bitter-tasting tannins, so you must prepare, treat, and cook the nuts before you eat them. It sounds like a pain, but it's really not that difficult. Start two pots of water boiling. Drop the raw, shell-less acorns into one pot and boil until the water is the color of strong tea.

How long to soak acorns before eating? ›

Now after 12 hours or so, the water will be really dark from the leached tannins. Dump out that water slowly, don't dump out any of your nuts. Then replace the water with fresh cold water. Now let it soak again for 12 hours, and keep repeating the process for 4 to 7 days until the water looks clear after a long soak.

How do you make a lot of money on acorns? ›

How to make money on Acorns
  1. Get started while you're in school. “The best time to start investing was ten years ago. ...
  2. Automate – add small and consistent amounts of money monthly. ...
  3. Boost your round-ups. ...
  4. Use Acorns Earn. ...
  5. Download the Acorns extension. ...
  6. Use Acorns Spend Smart Deposit. ...
  7. Use credit cards with rewards points.

Can you actually make money from acorns? ›

Acorns is not a side hustle or money-making app that pays you. Think of it as a tool to grow the money you already have with consistent saving and investing. Generally, you'll earn money from your investments and by making qualifying purchases if you link your card to the Acorns account.

How do you prepare acorns for eating? ›

One of the easiest ways to cook acorns is to roast them. Place the damp nut chunks on a baking sheet and sprinkle with fine salt. Toast them for 15-20 minutes at 375 degrees in a pre-heated oven, or roll them around in a dry frying pan over the camp fire.

Is acorns worth putting money into? ›

Is Acorns Worth it? Acorns charges monthly membership fees, starting at $3 per month. Even though it is a very easy way to get started investing, if you don't make enough purchases each month to round up and set aside enough money, the monthly fee could outweigh the benefit.

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