Cooking with Almond Paste

What Is Almond Paste?

Almond paste is a soft confection made primarily from ground almonds and sugar. It has a rich, nutty flavor and is commonly used in cakes, cookies, pastries, and dessert fillings. It is less sweet and more pliable than marzipan, so the two are not always interchangeable.

How to Use Almond Paste

• Cakes: Blend small pieces into the batter to add moisture and concentrated almond flavor.
• Cookies: Combine it with sugar and egg whites for soft, chewy almond cookies.
• Pastries: Use it as a filling for croissants, turnovers, tarts, and Danish pastries.
• Fruit desserts: Pair it with apples, pears, cherries, apricots, or berries.

Working with Almond Paste

Bring firm almond paste to room temperature before using it. Cut or grate it into small pieces so it blends evenly, then cream it with butter, sugar, or eggs as directed by the recipe. If it feels slightly dry, kneading it briefly can restore a workable texture.

Because almond paste contains sugar, reduce other sweeteners only when adapting a recipe rather than following one written specifically for almond paste.

Simple Homemade Almond Paste

A basic version can be prepared from finely ground blanched almonds, confectioners’ sugar, egg white, and a small amount of almond extract. Process the ingredients until they form a smooth, cohesive paste. Add egg white gradually to avoid making the mixture too wet.

When raw egg white is used, refrigerate the paste promptly and follow appropriate food-safety precautions. Pasteurized egg white offers a safer alternative for preparations that will not be thoroughly baked.

Storage

Wrap almond paste tightly to prevent it from drying out. Store it in the refrigerator for short-term use or freeze it for longer storage. Let chilled or frozen paste soften before incorporating it into a recipe.

Allergen Note

Almond paste contains tree nuts and is unsuitable for anyone with an almond or tree-nut allergy.