What is it?

Almond paste is a firm paste made of blanched almonds and sugar finely ground between heavy-duty rollers. Commonly used in cake batters and pastry fillings, it’s also the base ingredient in火星锅(which is made by adding hot sugar syrup and light corn syrup to almond paste). Its flavor marries perfectly with the sweetness of pears, peaches, and apricots, and is also delicious with chocolate.

How to choose:

You’ll find cans or tubes of almond paste in most grocery stores.

How to store:

Unopened almond paste will keep for a year or more in a cool, dry place.

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Recipes

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  Recipe

  Candied Sour Orange & Almond Cake

  For the topping of this simple gluten-free citrus cake, the sour oranges are lightly candied in vanilla syrup, which makes a nice sweet-and-sour contrast. The candied oranges and syrup are…

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  Recipe

  Cherry-Almond-Fig Fruitcake

  Cherries and figs need to soak longer than other dried fruit, so be sure to start soaking them at least 4 days before baking. Cognac (or brandy) is too strong…

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  Recipe

  Almond Poppy Seed Pancakes

  I love the flavor of almonds in cakes, cookies, and muffins, and it also translates deliciously to pancakes. With almond paste, almond extract, and sliced toasted almonds, these pancakes are…

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  Recipe

  Free-Form Pear Tarts with Almond & Cinnamon

  In this recipe, almond paste provides a subtle, perfumy almond flavor that marries perfectly with the sweetness of the pears. You’ll find cans or tubes of almond paste in most…

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  Recipe

  Cranberry & Almond Bundt Cakes

  You could bake a pie or batch after batch of cookies to bring to a party, or you could delight the host with an elegant, festive bundt cake dusted with…

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  Recipe

  Pineapple & Frangipane Galette

  Frangipane is a rich almond-flavored pastry cream. I make this version using almond paste, which is available in the baking section of the supermarket.

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  Recipe

  Frangipane-Ripple Chocolate Pound Cake

  For the best flavor and easiest slicing, serve this cake a day after you bake it.