Almond Paste: What It Is, How to Make It, and Best Recipes

Almond paste has been around for centuries. In fact, the exact origins of this delicious dessert sweetener have been lost. Some say it first appeared around 1100, others suggest the Romans used to enjoy it. One thing is clear: today it is recognised as a traditional Sicilian food product.

It has certainly become a popular ingredient across Italy and the world. Let’s find out a little more about it.

What Is Almond Paste?

Almond paste usually contains the same amount of almonds as sugar. This ensures it is both sweet and has the distinctive aroma of almonds. The two main ingredients are held together with a little heavy cream, eggs, or cooking oil. The paste is often used inside pastries, creating a beautiful flavour. However, it can also be used inside chocolates. In Italy, it has been used to make martorana fruit, a delightfully rich and sweet dessert.

Almond Paste vs. Marzipan: What’s the Difference?

Marzipan is also made with almonds and is a surprisingly common ingredient across Europe. However, while they both contain almonds, sugar, and eggs, and have a similar taste, the two products are not the same. If your recipe states almond paste, don’t be tempted to swap it for marzipan. The first thing to know is that marzipan is a type of almond paste. Perhaps the biggest difference is that marzipan doesn’t have a 50/50 mix of almonds and sugar. It has more sugar, making it sweeter.

In contrast, almond paste is sweet but has a subtle yet decisive almond flavour.

It is possible to add sugar to almond paste to make a marzipan substitute. It doesn’t work the other way around.

How Almond Paste Is Used in Baking

Almond paste is commonly used in desserts, especially pastries. You’ll find it as a filling in various well-known delicacies, such as classic almond lemon biscuits and almond paste cookies. It’s worth noting that, sometimes, almond paste is made using almond flour instead of almonds. This can make it easier to bake with, as the almond flour paste can be used in the same way as flour.

You can even adopt this approach to make almond flour pasta, which gives your pasta dish a delicious nuttiness.

Best Almond Paste Recipes to Try

There are a lot of different recipes that contain almond paste. That’s simply a testimony to how good the paste is as an ingredient in almost any dish. However, if you want the authentic Italian taste, we suggest you try one of the following recipes.

Classic Almond Paste Cookies

We recommend you make almond cookies with almond paste. They’re chewy, sweet, and nutty. They are also an excellent choice for any special occasion. All you need is:

• 200g of almond flour

• 200g of sugar

• 2 large eggs – whites only

• A large handful of crushed almonds

Blend the flour with the sugar in one bowl. Separately, whisk the egg whites until they have soft peaks. When ready, mix the wet and dry ingredients together and mix thoroughly. All you have to do now is make one-inch dough balls, roll them in icing sugar, and place them on a tray (preferably one lined with greaseproof paper). Cook for approximately 15 minutes with your oven set to 325°F.

Italian Almond Paste Cookies: A Traditional Delight

Italian almond paste cookies are very similar to the classic version. The big difference is that they use almond paste instead of almond flour. Coincidentally, this makes them gluten-free. For this recipe, put all your ingredients in a food processor and mix. Then, leave the dough in the refrigerator for at least an hour. It makes it easier to handle. These are cooked at 350°F for 15 minutes.

You’ll need:

• 200g almond paste

• 200g sugar

• 2 large egg whites

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• 1 tsp almond extract
  

Almond Cake with Almond Paste: A Moist and Rich Dessert

It could be argued that there is no better way to enjoy almonds than with this sweet, slightly nutty, and delightfully moist cake.

You’ll need:

• 100g almond paste

• 100g sugar

• 100g butter

• 3 large eggs

• 1 tsp almond extract

• 100g flour

• Pinch of salt

• ½ tsp baking powder

Start by preheating your oven to 350°F. While the oven warms, place all the ingredients in a food processor and blend at a slow speed. Once it’s thoroughly mixed, pour it into your 8-inch cake pan and tap the pan several times on the side to remove air bubbles.

Add sliced almonds to the top if desired and cook for around 25 minutes.

Conclusion

Almond paste is delicious. It’s also very versatile, which is why it has been around for centuries.

If you haven’t tried cooking with it, we recommend you do. It can change your world. Or, if you’re not ready to spend that much time in the kitchen, try some of our delicious almond desserts today.