Almond paste is simply almond powder, sugar and a splash of water. Making almond paste at home is easy and cheaper than buying ready-made. You can also adjust the amount of sugar to suit your taste. Homemade almond paste can be used, for example, as a filling for “laskiaispulla”, as a frosting for cakes or in other baked goods.

What can you do with almond paste?

Homemade almond paste is a versatile ingredient! Here are some ideas:

 

• • Bake almond croissants by filling croissant dough with almond paste and baking until golden brown.

• • Create almond macarons by making an almond paste filling and sandwiching it between two meringue-based cookies.

• • Use the homemade almond paste as a cake frosting. Almond paste can be colored with liquid food coloring.

• • Add a dollop of almond paste to your oatmeal or yogurt for a nutty flavor boost.

• • Use homemade almond paste as a filling for tarts or pies, such as a classic almond frangipane tart.

• • Make almond cookies by mixing almond paste with flour, sugar, and eggs, and baking until golden brown or try these vegan almond paste cookies.

• • Make traditional Finnish buns “laskiaispulla” by filling the bun with homemade almond paste and whipped cream.

How to make almond paste?

Mix almond powder and powdered sugar in a bowl. Add water gradually until the mixture is dough-like. Do not add too much water so that the mixture does not become too loose. Add the almond extract and mix well. Shape the almond mass into the desired shape or use in baking. Store the almond paste in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

Homemade almond paste will keep in the refrigerator in an airtight container for about two weeks, but take it to room temperature before use so that it is easier to shape. If you want to keep the almond paste longer, you can freeze it. Note that freezing may change the texture of the almond paste.

How to make almond powder?

You can also make your own almond powder in case you do not find ready-made from store.

Roast the almonds in a 200 degree oven for about 10 minutes. Cool the roasted almonds.
Grind the almonds until smooth in a blender. This way you get ready-made almond powder, which you can use in making almond paste and baking. The texture and taste of almond powder may vary depending on the almonds used.

Are almond powder and almond flour the same?

Almond powder and almond flour are similar, but not exactly the same. Here’s the difference:

 

• • Almond powder, sometimes referred to as almond meal, includes ground whole almonds with the skin intact, giving it a coarser texture and a darker color. It has a strong almond flavor. It can be used in baking, in macarons or as a breading for meats and vegetables. You can also use it as a nutty addition to smoothies, oatmeal, and yogurt.

• • Almond flour, on the other hand, is made by blanching almonds to remove their skins, and then grinding them into a fine flour. It has a finer and lighter texture compared to almond powder. Almond flour is commonly used in gluten-free and low-carb baking as a substitute for regular flour.

In summary, almond powder and almond flour are both made from almonds, but almond powder has a coarser texture and stronger almond flavor, while almond flour has a finer texture and milder almond flavor.

Is almond paste marzipan?

Almond paste and marzipan are both confections made from almonds and sugar, but they are not the same.

Almond paste typically contains a higher proportion of almonds and is less sweet than marzipan. It has a coarser texture and is used as a filling in baked goods like cookies and cakes.

Marzipan, on the other hand, is smoother, sweeter, and often used for decorative purposes in baking, such as covering cakes or sculpting into shapes. While you can convert almond paste into marzipan by adding more sugar and egg whites, you cannot reverse the process to turn marzipan back into almond paste.