Almond paste is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of desserts, from cookies and cakes to macarons and tarts. It is made from finely ground almonds, sugar, and often some almond extract or other flavorings. The addition of whole almonds to the almond paste adds a crunchy texture and nutty flavor. With its rich, complex flavor and smooth texture, almond paste is a delicious and elegant addition to any dessert.
Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!
ALMOND PASTE
Steps:
- Place the sugar, honey and water in a saucepan and bring to a strong boil. Place the almonds in the food processor and grind until coarse. Remove the boiling sugar from the heat and pour over the coarse almonds. Blend until smooth. This may take 10 minutes or more, depending on the strength of the food processor. Remember, food processors are not usually strong enough to yield the same consistency as the almond paste that you can buy. If your mixture is too thick and the food processor is straining, you can add a little Kirsch or simple syrup to the processor. Add the liquid slowly and stop when the processor is moving more freely. The quality of almond paste is determined by how smooth the consistency is.
- Wrap the almond paste in plastic wrap and allow it to cool. When you are ready to use it, knead in the butter. The butter makes it smooth and not so sticky.
ALMOND PASTE WITH WHOLE ALMONDS
This type of almond paste is best for rustic sweet breads and whole grain pastries.
Provided by nch
Categories Desserts Nut Dessert Recipes Almond Dessert Recipes
Time 10m
Yield 12
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Place almonds and confectioners' sugar in the bowl of a food processor; process to a meal-like consistency, scraping down the sides and over the bottom of the bowl as needed. Don't overprocess it--at this point, the mixture should still be crumbly, not paste-like.
- Add egg white and almond extract; process until it lumps together. If it remains crumbly, add more egg white, a few drops at a time.
- Use a silicone spatula to remove almond paste from the food processor. It not using it right away, wrap it in waxed paper and store in an airtight container to use within a few hours. Or, place the wrapped almond paste in a freezer bag and freeze for up to six months.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 162.5 calories, Carbohydrate 18.5 g, Fat 9 g, Fiber 2.1 g, Protein 4.1 g, SaturatedFat 0.7 g, Sodium 4.9 mg, Sugar 15.6 g
ALMOND PASTE - MAKE YOUR OWN
You can make special varieties with different flavors by replacing all or some of the almonds with hazelnuts, peanuts, or walnuts.
Provided by Kim D.
Categories Dessert
Time 30m
Yield 2 1/4 pounds
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- Place the almonds in a food processor and process until very finely ground.
- Using a wooden spoon, mix the confectioner's sugar with the ground almonds until they are completely blended.
- In a separate bowl, break the eggs and beat until they are frothy.
- Pour them into the sugar and almond mixture.
- Work the mixture using a clean odor-free wooden spoon or a spatula first and then using your hands until it comes away from the sides of the bowl.
- Almond paste can be held for several days when wrapped in plastic film and stored in the refrigerator.
- Notes: The proportion of the ingredients can be modified according to the end result that you wish to achieve; for example, you can use double the amount of sugar in respect to the almonds to obtain a sweeter and denser paste.
- You don't necessarily have to use confectioner's sugar, which makes for a very smooth paste.
- You can use ordinary sugar to obtain a more granular effect.
- Eggs: The function of this ingredient is to bind the sugar and the almonds.
- If you use only egg whites, you will obtain a soft paste, while whole eggs give a more medium-textured paste.
- Almond paste made with egg yolks is thick and compact.
- When you are mixing the almond paste, the egg should be added gradually, with a small amount of orange flower water.
- If you see that the paste is becoming too wet, you can keep back some of the eggs.
- Mixing almond paste: Be careful not to handle the mixture for too long: if almonds get too hot, they tend to give out their oil, and the paste will turn out greasy.
HOMEMADE ALMOND PASTE
When a recipe she wanted to try called for almond paste, Anne Keenan of Nevada City, California decided to make her own. "It saves the expense of the store-bought kind," she says, "and results in a lighter baked product."
Provided by Taste of Home
Time 10m
Yield 1-1/2 cups.
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Place almonds in a food processor; cover and process until smooth. Add the confectioners' sugar, egg white, extract and salt; cover and process until smooth., Divide almond paste into 1/2-cup portions; place in airtight containers. Refrigerate for up to 1 month or freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 84 calories, Fat 5g fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 29mg sodium, Carbohydrate 9g carbohydrate (7g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 2g protein.
ALMOND PASTE
Categories Dessert Low Sodium Almond House & Garden
Yield Makes approximately 1 pound
Number Of Ingredients 3
Steps:
- In a food processor, grind the almonds into a fine powder, approximately 2 minutes. Add the confectioners sugar and blend well. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and with a wooden spoon blend in the egg whites until smooth. On a flat surface lightly dusted with confectioners sugar, roll out the almond paste into a 14" long x 1" round log. Wrap in parchment paper and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- When rested, cut the log in two. On a smooth clean surface, roll out each piece to double its length, approximately 20 inches. Flatten each roll with your fingertips. Using a knife or a metal spatula, score the tops of the logs with crisscross marks. Coil each log and place on a serving plate. Refrigerate until ready to serve. You can store in a closed container in the refrigerator for one week.
Tips:
- Use a powerful food processor or blender to achieve a smooth and creamy texture for your almond paste.
- Blanching the almonds before processing enhances their flavor and makes them easier to peel. To blanch almonds, simply boil them for a minute or two, then transfer them to cold water and peel off the skins.
- If you find that your almond paste is too thick, add a little bit of water or oil until you reach the desired consistency.
- For a sweeter almond paste, add some sugar or honey to taste.
- Almond paste can be used as a filling for pastries, cookies, and cakes. It can also be used as a spread on bread or toast, or as an ingredient in sauces and dips.
Conclusion:
Almond paste is a versatile and delicious ingredient that can be used in a variety of recipes. With its rich, nutty flavor and smooth texture, it's sure to become a favorite in your kitchen. So next time you're looking for a special treat, give almond paste a try. You won't be disappointed.
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