17 Sweet Ways to Bake With Almonds

Almond flour, paste, extract, slices—we like it all

By SAVEUR Editors
March 2, 2016

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.

Almond Cheesecake with Macerated Strawberries and Mint

Almond Cheesecake with Macerated Strawberries and Mint

Ground almonds add body and flavor to this creamy Swedish cheesecake, topped with clouds of whipped cream and ripe strawberries macerated with fresh mint.Farideh Sadeghin
Simnel Marzipan Bonbons

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 »Joseph de Leo
Almond-Lemon Cake

Almond-Lemon Cake

While you can drench this with lemon syrup, it's good enough to eat plain.Matt Taylor-Gross
Nian Gao

Sticky Rice and Almond Cake (Nian Gao)

This chewy steamed cake, with flavors of almond and caramel, is traditionally eaten for the Lunar New Year. Eat it warm or let the cake cool completely, then cut into slabs, batter with beaten egg, and fry them until crisp.Matt Taylor-Gross
Cherry Snowball Cookies

Cherry Snowball Cookies

These buttery, almond-scented cookies are stuffed with liqueur-soaked Luxardo cherries. Get the recipe for Cherry Snowball Cookies »Penny De Los Santos
Fried Almond Pastries

Fried Almond Pastries (Samsa Feuille de Brick)

These sticky-sweet fried pastries, drenched in a syrup of honey and orange flower water, are typical of the rustic desserts of Tunisia.Landon Nordeman
Almond Granita

Almond Granita

Nutty, sweet almonds are used four ways in this super-simple frozen dessert.Farideh Sadeghin
Toasted Almond Biscotti

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.James Oseland
Chewy Almond Macaroons

Chewy Almond Macaroons

A crunchy caramelized exterior and a chewy, amaretto-flavored interior combine in these bite-sized cookies made with almond paste. Get the recipe for Chewy Almond Macaroons »Helen Rosner
Chocolate-Glazed Almond Spice Cookies (Lebkuchen)

Chocolate-Glazed Almond Spice Cookies (Lebkuchen)

The recipe for these Christmas cookies come from the bakery Rischart in Munich.Todd Coleman
almond & marzipan roulade

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.Eilon Paz
Apricot-Almond Tart

Apricot-Almond Tart

You can substitute the apricots in this juicy tart for plums, peaches, or even berries.Penny De Los Santos
Almond-Cream Tartlets

Almond-Cream Tartlets

Frozen raspberries or lingonberries top whipped cream and an almond pastry crust for these delicate, bite-sized tartlets.Todd Coleman
Chocolate-Almond Cookies

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.Helen Rosner
Almond Sticks with Cocoa Nibs

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.Helen Rosner
Almond Sugar Cookies

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 »Anders Schonnemann
Rainbow Cookies

Rainbow Cookies

Almond pastry filling in place of the almond paste typically used to make these cookies results in a lighter, moister cookie.Todd Coleman

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