24 almond paste recipes

A healthy version of a common breakfast staple, it provides steady-release energy through the day and delivers important nutrients such as iron, selenium and calcium, among others. Easy to make ahead and pack for a day at the office.

French-style almond macaroons piped from almond paste, filled with rum-spiked chocolate ganache, and dipped in a semisweet chocolate glaze. An elegant three-part cookie.

Italian rainbow cookies (seven layer cookies): three almond paste sponge layers tinted red, green, and yellow, stacked with raspberry jam, and coated in chocolate. A classic holiday bakery tradition.

Almond paste macaroons with cornmeal for a subtle Southern grit and honey for floral sweetness. Piped, flattened, and baked on parchment until golden with chewy centers.

A luxurious almond cake made with real almond paste, sour cream, and a full cup of butter for an ultra-moist, tender crumb. Golden on top, dusted with powdered sugar, and worth every indulgent bite.

Pignoli cookies (pine nut macaroons): the chewy almond-paste Italian classic studded with toasted pine nuts and dusted with powdered sugar. Naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and totally addictive.

Chewy coconut almond macaroons made with homemade almond paste, ground coconut, and egg whites. Naturally gluten-free, crisp on the outside, soft in the middle. Makes 3 to 4 dozen.

Italian rainbow cookies with almond paste, three colored layers, apricot jam filling, and chocolate coating. Overnight-pressed cookies that slice into beautiful tricolor squares.

Fresh spinach wok-tossed with toasted almonds, ginger, and a savory miso-soy drizzle. This 20-minute vegetarian side dish is nutty, earthy, and packed with iron-rich greens.

Mandelbreit is a Jewish almond bread sliced twice-baked style with three fillings: cocoa, walnuts, and candied fruit. Aging the rolls in foil for a week deepens the flavor.

Pear and apricot tart layers fanned pears and apricot halves over almond paste filling in a buttery almond pastry, then glazes with apple jelly. A bakery-worthy fruit tart for special occasions.

Delicately flavored orange cookie cups, topped with an orange, almond-paste filling.

A New Orleans-style charlotte: chocolate sponge rolled with almond paste, sliced and pressed into a springform, filled with amaretto-soaked chocolate mousse. A Mardi Gras showstopper.

Wholesome layered bar cookies with a tahini-oat-almond crumb crust and a cocoa filling made from tofu, ricotta, and maple syrup. Sweetened naturally and full of fiber.

Moroccan lamb stew with chickpeas, sweet raisins, slivered almonds, and warm spices (cinnamon, allspice, cayenne). Tender lamb simmered to spoon-soft over fluffy couscous.

Try this spicy and scrumptious chicken dish that just might have you drooling when it's done cooking!