Almond paste sweets are almond-based sweets that are part of our Italian tradition and are especially prepared during the Christmas period. These almond cookies are very popular in regions like Puglia and Sicily, although each region has its traditional almond-based recipe.
These delicious and tasty treats are made with just a few simple ingredients: ground almonds or almond flour, egg whites, and sugar. The result is a soft, fragrant treat that melts in your mouth.
In Puglia, as in other regions, almond paste sweets are part of the traditional Christmas sweets. The sweets in this recipe are decorated with powdered sugar, candied fruit, and almonds, but there are also the classic real pastes, the pizzicotti with almonds, the cocoa almond pastes or almond treats. In my area, in the North of Bari, during Christmas, we also prepare calzoncelli with almond filling and the inevitable cartellate.
Preparing these almond cookies is very simple. However, I recommend making the dough in advance and letting it rest in the fridge for a whole day: it will be easier to handle and prepare the almond paste sweets. You can flavor them with lemon, orange, vanilla, or a few drops of bitter almond. They keep well for several days and are so cute that they’re perfect even as gifts.
To prepare them, you will need a food processor or a grinder. If you have a Thermomix, you can use it to prepare the dough. In the recipe, I will also include the procedure for Thermomix almond paste sweets.
Well, let’s move on to the recipe and see together how to prepare these almond sweets. Meanwhile, I’ll also leave you other collection links that can be useful during the Christmas period!
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Medium
- Rest time: 1 Day
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 13 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Regional Italian
- Region: Puglia
- Seasonality: Autumn, Winter, Christmas
- Energy 187.31 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 17.62 (g) of which sugars 16.48 (g)
- Proteins 4.78 (g)
- Fat 10.60 (g) of which saturated 0.00 (g)of which unsaturated 0.00 (g)
- Fibers 1.99 (g)
- Sodium 10.15 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 25 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for Almond Paste Sweets
- 70 g egg whites (about 2)
- 250 g blanched almonds (finely chopped or almond flour)
- 150 g powdered sugar
- 1/2 vial almond flavor (or lemon or orange peel)
- as needed vanilla powdered sugar
- as needed candied cherries
- as needed blanched almonds
Tools
- Chopper
- Small Bowl
Steps to Prepare Almond Paste Sweets
Let’s see together all the steps to prepare almond paste sweets with and without the Thermomix. The procedure is the same whether you use the Thermomix or a regular chopper or mixer. For convenience, I used the Thermomix.
You can use almond flour to speed up the preparation time of almond paste sweets. Alternatively, you can use already blanched almonds.
Place the whole blanched almonds and a part of the sugar (taken from the total) into the bowl.
Chop the almonds in several steps. Chop for a few seconds and stop, then repeat the operation 3-4 times until the almonds are reduced to flour. This method will not heat the almonds, and they will not release their oil.
Add the bitter almond flavor or other flavors of your choice (lemon or orange).
Finally, add the egg white.
Mix for 20-30 seconds until all the ingredients blend together. The dough will seem a little soft, but that’s normal. Place it in a container and let it rest in the fridge for a whole day. With rest, the dough will firm up, making it easier to form the treats.
To make them all uniform, take about 25 g of dough, create a ball and roll it in a bowl with powdered sugar.
Place them on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Once you have finished all the almond pastes, decorate them with candied cherries and blanched almonds.
Bake in a preheated static oven at 350°F for about 12-13 minutes. When they are ready, take them out of the oven and do not touch them. Let them cool before removing them from the tray.
Storage and Tips:
– Almond paste sweets stay fresh for several days. The important thing is to keep them in a well-sealed container or a tin box.
– If you use the Thermomix and decide to flavor them with orange or lemon peel, you can chop the orange or lemon peels when chopping the almonds.
– You can also decorate them by covering them with brown sugar or almond flakes.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Can I use almonds with skin?
In theory, yes, but the almond paste sweets will be darker. If you have almonds with skin, you can easily peel them using this method. Put them in a bowl full of water and place them in the microwave for 5 minutes on high power. After that, let them rest in the water for a few minutes. Then drain them and let them cool. The skin will come off easily.
Can I use granulated sugar instead of powdered sugar?
Yes, but you will have a slightly more rustic texture.
Are almond paste sweets gluten-free and lactose-free?
Yes, no dairy products are used, and almonds are gluten-free. Make sure that the other ingredients used also bear the “gluten free” symbol.
