Wondering what substitutes can be used to replace almond paste?
Then you’re in the right place, here are ten great almond paste substitutes you can explore!
So, without further ado, let’s get rolling.
Outline
10 Best Substitutes for Almond Paste
1. Marzipan
Traditionally made from sugar, honey, and almond meal, marzipan can be easily found in the baking section of your local store.
While the almond paste is mostly almonds and has a little sugar, marzipan is mostly sugar and has little almond flavor. Substitution can be tricky in batters and spreads.
How to Substitute
Reduce the marzipan content to 20-30% of almond paste initially needed to battle the sweetness.
Here’s how to prepare Marzipan at home –
2. Chestnut Paste
Produced by mixing sugar and ground chestnuts, this is a great option to achieve that nutty flavor and texture.
Although chestnut paste is a little expensive and difficult to find, online stores are an easy solution for that.
How to Substitute
Check the package to look for any added flavors like vanilla and insert a few drops of almond extract to achieve a similar flavor. A 1:1 ratio can be used.
Here’s how to cook with Chestnut Paste:
3. Almond Butter
One of the more obvious substitutes is almond butter, made purely from almonds. Its health benefits also contribute to lowering bad cholesterol.
It can be used in any recipe that requires almond paste and has the perfect flavor that you can always rely on as well.
How to Substitute
The 1:1 ratio can be used, however, almond butter usually lacks sugar content. Add in extra sugar to match the effect of almond paste better.
Here’s how to cook with Almond Butter:
4. Almond Flour
Another anticipated substitute is almond flour, also made from pure almonds and a key ingredient in many keto recipes for being gluten-free.
A similar taste can be achieved from this substitute, and it’s relatively easy to find in stores.
How to Substitute
Although the flavor isn’t an issue, the texture is. Some recipes might require additional fats to fulfill the substitution for almond paste well and match its texture.
Here’s how to cook with Almond Flour:
5. Frangipane
Also known as almond filling, frangipane is made from eggs, butter, ground almonds, sugar, and a small amount of flour.
It has a similar paste to almond paste but cannot be used as a spread like almond paste can be.
How to Substitute
In baking recipes, frangipane can replace almond paste in a 1:1 ratio if not used as a filling. It’s tricky, however, because of the egg and butter content that can sometimes mess with your measured recipe.
Here’s how to cook with Frangipane:
6. Almond Extract
A simple, easy, economically effective, and efficient replacement for almond paste is almond extract.
It can only be used for recipes that use almond paste for flavor, not for texture.
Usually, it’s combined with another ingredient of better texture.
How to Substitute
As suggested, a 1:1 ratio cannot be used here. Almond extract can only be used in cakes and other baking recipes that use the almond paste as a flavoring ingredient.
Here’s how to cook with Almond Extract:
7. Almond Filling
Almond filling is the more concentrated and less sweet-processed version of frangipane without butter and eggs.
This is extremely difficult to find because frangipane is the go-to ingredient used. The filling, however, is concentrated and may taste a bit bitter.
How to Substitute
A 1:1 ratio is acceptable here but you need to add other ingredients of choice to battle the bitterness in your baking recipes.
Here’s how to cook with Almond Filling:
8. Pine Nuts
While these may not appear as the most obvious substitute, they can work just as well.
Though they do not have the same taste as almonds, pine nuts still acquire that nutty and toasty flavor that works well in recipes that call for almond paste.
How to Substitute
The best way would be to toast the pine nuts and then grind them into a paste. Then you can switch them out in the same amount.
Here’s how to cook with Pine Nuts:
9. Homemade Paste
This option is irrelevant if you do not have almonds on hand, but it is suitable if you have one.
This is a more economically efficient option, and you can even add flavors more suitable for your specific recipe.
How to Substitute
Just blend some almonds into a food processor until you achieve a smooth texture. Then, you may add salt, sugar, eggs, or butter, depending on the nature of your dish.
10. Persipan Paste
Persipan is another paste made from mostly sugar and peace or apricot cores, making it a lot cheaper than marzipan but also harder to find.
It’s not as flavorful, though, which can easily be remedied by adding a few drops of almond extract.
How to Substitute
A 1:1 ratio can be used to replace persipan with almond paste once the flavor is altered to your liking.
FAQs
Almond paste is commonly used in baking recipes to make tarts, cakes, cookies, and many other almond-flavored desserts. It’s made from grinding almonds with sugar and is coarse but soft in texture.
Preservatives are usually added to make almond paste last longer, along with artificial flavors for enhanced taste. The sugar content also varies from brand to brand, so be sure to read the label. Almond paste has the consistency of a spread but is not usually used as one because of its rawness.
The simple answer is no. Vanilla and almond are two prominently different flavors that cannot be exchanged in recipes that are explicitly almond-flavored or explicitly vanilla flavored. They can, however, replace each other in recipes that can have multiple layers of flavors.
Cakes, for example, can be replaced with vanilla extract if you’re not going for an almond flavor. Same with tarts and cookies because vanilla is a very universal and subtle flavor.
However, if you’re making a recipe that has almonds in its title, try to opt for a substitute like an almond filling, flour, or marzipan instead of vanilla extract.
Yes. The primary difference between almond butter and almond paste is that almond butter is usually made from pure nuts. Almond paste, on the contrary, contains other ingredients like sugar and preservatives.
Almond butter uses toasted almonds and is usually a healthier and more organic option. It can be eaten as it is. Almond paste, on the other hand, is generally not eaten raw or by itself.
Bottom Line
So whether you’re out of almond paste, allergic to almonds, or just looking for a new and exciting flavor profile, I hope this list has given you some ideas for your next recipe!
Be sure to share the article with your friends and family—let them know that they don’t need to miss out on their favorite almond-flavored treats just because they can’t have the real thing.