Almond paste, pasta di mandorle, and almond pastries, paste di mandorle: the difference is rather imperceptible in the Italian language, but they are not the same food. The former is a paste used for decorating and the latter are cookies. Let's go into detail.
The recipe for almond paste
Similar to marzipan, almond paste is used especially in Sicilian cuisine to decorate desserts or cakes. It is called pasta reale. You can buy it ready-made, but feel free to make it yourself at home. It’s easy! Here’s how:
Grind 2 pounds 3 ounces of blanched almonds very fine, as well as 7 ounces of bitter almonds, the seeds from a vanilla bean, a dash of cinnamon and the zest of 1 lemon.
In a saucepan, cook 2 pounds 3 ounces of sugar with a 1/2 cup water until it forms a syrup, then add the ground almonds.
Mix until the paste is dense and smooth.
Let it rest in the refrigerator, covered with plastic wrap, for a few hours before using it.
You can also add a few drops of almond extract to the paste for a more intense fragrance and flavor.
Why make it at home?
As you can see, homemade almond paste isn’t difficult to prepare, and it’s cheaper, too.Unlike ready-made almond paste, homemade almond paste is softer, smoother and better suited to making desserts, the most famous being cassata.Freeze any leftover almond paste in freezer bags or in plastic wrap. Before using it, allow it to thaw completely in the refrigerator and then warm it to room temperature.
Homemade almond paste
Don’t confuse it with almond pastries
As we said, almond paste and almond pastries both contain a lot of almonds, but the first is a paste used to decorate desserts, while the second are cookies, classics from Southern Italy with a candied cherry or an almond in the center. Try homemade almond pastries, too.
Almond pastries
The recipe for almond pastries
In a blender or food processor, add 9 ounces of blanched almonds and 1 1/4 cup of sugar and blend for several minutes until it forms a fine powder.
Add two egg whites and a few drops of almond extract and blend again to mix everything together.
Place the mixture in a sturdy pastry bag with a ruffled 4 inch tip and pipe rounds 1 inch across and about 3/4 inch high onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Decorate some cookies with candied cherries sliced in half, and other cookies with whole almonds.
Let the cookies rest in the refrigerator for at least 7 hours, then bake on the middle rack of a circulating oven at 350°F for about 15 minutes.
Do not overbake them because the inside is supposed to remain soft.
FAQs
As we said, almond paste and almond pastries both contain a lot of almonds, but the first is a paste used to decorate desserts, while the second are cookies, classics from Southern Italy with a candied cherry or an almond in the center. Try homemade almond pastries, too.
Is almond pastry filling the same as almond paste? ›
The almond paste and almond filling are very different products and should not be used interchangeably in a recipe. The Almond Filling is a jam-like filling for cakes, pastries, and cookies. The Almond Paste is usually mixed or cut into a recipe for an almond flavor, or as a layer in tarts and pies.
Is almond paste sweet? ›
Marzipan is smooth, sweet, and often dyed and molded into shapes. It's also used to cover sweets much like fondant and is sometimes eaten as is. Almond paste, however, is coarser, less sweet, and used as an ingredient or filling for baked goods.
Is marzipan sweeter than almond paste? ›
Compared to almond paste, marzipan has a higher proportion of sugar, which makes it sweeter, smoother, and more pliable—think Play-Doh.
What is the difference between almond paste? ›
Almond paste has twice the amount of almonds in it compared to marzipan, making it coarser in texture and less sweet than its counterpart. Their consistency also differs as marzipan is smooth and pliable, almost clay-like, while almond paste is somewhat gritty and spreadable, almost like a cookie dough.
What is an Italian sweetened almond paste called? ›
Italian almond paste is called "marzipan" in general culinary usage, but specifically in Italy, it's often referred to as "pasta di mandorle." This sweet paste is made from ground almonds mixed with sugar or honey and sometimes augmented with almond oil or extract.
What do you call a sweet filling made from almonds in baking? ›
Frangipane and marzipan are both made from almonds and used in desserts. Marzipan is denser than frangipane and is used more for decorative purposes, on top of cakes, or shaped into forms and baked (such as cookies). Frangipane is used as a filling and must be baked.
Why does almond paste not taste like almonds? ›
The reason why the almonds you eat and commercial almond flavoring taste so different, is because the almonds we eat are domesticated, and are known as sweet almonds. In fact, almonds come in two different kinds – sweet and bitter. Thus, the sweet kind are the ones you buy in grocery stores.
Is almond paste high in sugar? ›
Almond paste is a baking ingredient that you can buy ready-made or make yourself from scratch. Commercially produced almond paste contains around 45% almonds and 16 grams sugar per 2 tablespoons. Homemade almond paste can be made with or without egg white.
What are the benefits of almond paste? ›
Almond paste is a popular ingredient in many desserts, but it also has a number of health benefits. Almond paste is high in healthy fats, protein, and fiber, which can all help promote a healthy weight. Additionally, almond paste is a good source of vitamins and minerals, including calcium, iron, and magnesium.
This bitter taste comes from amygdalin, a chemical compound within the nut that defends the nut from being eaten in the wild. Amygdalin divides into two parts when exposed to moisture: an intense almond flavor that is actually edible, and hydrocyanic acid that makes the nuts deadly.
How do you soften almond paste for baking? ›
Occasionally I end up with a sugar or almond paste "rock." In lieu of tossing it, I have softened it by adding a piece of bread for a day or two, in an airtight container. The moisture in the bread returns the original texture of the item.
What does almond paste do in baking? ›
Just a thin layer adds a nice richness to the dough without adding too much sweetness; unlike marzipan, almond paste has a more concentrated almond flavor that allows you to control the level of sugar in a baked good.
What is another name for almond paste? ›
In the UK marzipan and almond paste are the same product whereas in the US marzipan and almond paste are two different products. The main difference between US/European almond paste and marzipan is the ratio of ground almonds (almond meal) to sugar.
Can you eat straight almond paste? ›
Unlike marzipan, almond paste has a slightly coarse texture. It is not ready to eat. Almond paste can be found in the baking aisle of most grocery stores.
What are other names for almond paste? ›
It can be confusing that recipes sometimes use the terms "almond paste" and "marzipan" interchangeably, as they're actually quite different. Almond paste has a coarser texture but is much softer than marzipan, which allows it to be spread as a filling.
What is a substitute for almond paste? ›
How To Make allergy alternate for almond paste. let cream cheese come to room temp, Cream in sugar until super creamy,gently mix in egg yolk and imitation almond flavoring until smooth. Use in any recipe that calls for almond paste.
What is another name for sweet almond paste? ›
Synonyms for Almond paste
- marzipan. n.
- almond cream.
- meat. n.
- paste of almonds.
- almond.
- almond butter.
- amandine.
- frangipane.
Almond paste can be found in the baking aisle of most grocery stores.
