Whether they're used whole, ground into flour, or blended with sugar into a smooth, dense paste, almonds are a versatile ingredient in cake, cookie, and pastry recipes from all over the globe.
Simnel Marzipan Bonbons
Marzipan, a sweet paste of almond meal and sugar, is laced with spices, brandy, and lemon juice for these simple treats. Get the recipe for Simnel Marzipan Bonbons »
Cherry Snowball Cookies
These buttery, almond-scented cookies are stuffed with liqueur-soaked Luxardo cherries. Get the recipe for Cherry Snowball Cookies »
Almond Granita
Nutty, sweet almonds are used four ways in this super-simple frozen dessert. Get the recipe for Almond Granita »
Toasted Almond Biscotti
Crunchy, crumbly twice-baked cookies studded with almonds are the perfect complement to a cup of coffee or glass of vin santo.
Chocolate-Glazed Almond Spice Cookies (Lebkuchen)
The recipe for these Christmas cookies come from the bakery Rischart in Munich.
Almond & Marzipan Roulade
Chef Erez Komarovsky’s buttery almond dessert, swirled through with marzipan and toasted nuts, also makes a fine breakfast or afternoon snack.
Apricot-Almond Tart
You can substitute the apricots in this juicy tart for plums, peaches, or even berries.
Chocolate-Almond Cookies (Strazzate)
These traditional crumbly cookies from the Basilicata region of Italy are flavored with Strega, an Italian herbal liqueur, but Galliano, which can be found in most liquor stores, is a fine substitute.
Almond Sticks with Cocoa Nibs
Cocoa nibs add crunch and a subtly bitter note to these biscotti-like cookies adapted from Alice Medrich’s amazing chocolate cookbook, Seriously Bitter Sweet.
Almond Sugar Cookies
These glittering almond squares make a fantastic Christmas cookie on their own, but sandwiched with raspberry jam, they’re even better. Get the recipe for Almond Sugar Cookies »
Rainbow Cookies
Almond pastry filling in place of the almond paste typically used to make these cookies results in a lighter, moister cookie.
