Why Almonds Deserve a Place in Your Pantry
Is there a nut more versatile than the almond? Whether you’re reaching for almond flour to bake with, blending whole almonds into drinks, or topping a piece of fish with toasty slivered almonds, there’s no denying the oblong nut makes its way around every meal. From a raspberry skillet cake with almond flour to spicy almond-butter green beans and your new favorite snack mix, these 23 almond recipes from Bon Appétit cover just about every moment of the day.
Including elegant cakes, chewy cookies, creamy sauces, crunchy snacks, refreshing drinks, and even a few savory dinners, this collection has an ideal use for whatever you have in the pantry—be it whole almonds, sliced almonds, slivered almonds, almond paste, almond extract, almond flour, or almond butter.
Sweet Almond Recipes: Cakes, Cookies, and More
Almond Flour Cakes and Pastries
- Every baker needs this quintessential almond paste recipe in their repertoire—it yields a rich, nutty flavor and incredibly tender crumb with very little effort.
- Almond flour keeps this gluten-free carrot cake exceptionally moist beneath swoops of tangy cream cheese frosting.
- Made with whipped egg whites, these flourless almond cookies have crisp edges and a chewy center.
- Almond flour gives this easy skillet cake a tender chew, while brown butter and juicy raspberries make it a dessert you’ll return to all summer.
- This flourless chocolate coconut cake gets extra crunch and nutty depth from a shower of toasted almonds.
- This beloved Spanish almond pie gets an extra-fudgy texture from almond flour. Make it a day ahead—the filling firms as it cools and slices beautifully.
- Everything you love about an almond croissant—flaky pastry and sliced almonds—in an easier free-form version.
- An easy crust supports silky pastry cream and piles of fresh fruit in this make-ahead-worthy dessert.
- A layer of almond filling transforms this cozy apple pastry into a bakery-worthy brunch or dessert that’s especially good warm with ice cream.
- Ground almonds enrich the buttery pastry in this rustic crostata, perfectly complementing the jammy apricot filling.
Cookies, Fudge, and Frozen Treats
- You’ll blend homemade almond praline right into the dough to give these chocolate-chunk cookies an intensely nutty, caramelized flavor.
- Avocado and dark chocolate create an impossibly creamy dairy-free, gluten-free fudge studded with crunchy almonds.
- Almond butter enriches this tender breakfast loaf while jam and crunchy sliced almonds create an irresistible bakery-style finish.
- With the help of an electric mixer, you’re a freeze away from this whimsically swirled no-churn ice cream. Less is more here—a simple topping is all you need to elevate the recipe’s marzipan-sweetness.
Savory Almond Recipes for Dinner
- Finely chopped almonds create a crisp, golden crust that keeps delicate trout moist while adding satisfying crunch.
- Inspired by Japanese and French green bean preparations, these green beans are tossed in a creamy almond butter sauce and finished with toasted almonds.
- A silky almond purée stands in for sour cream, creating a rich, dairy-free starter perfect for crackers and crudités.
- Slivered almonds blend into olive oil and garlic to create a creamy, egg-free sauce that’s equally at home alongside vegetables, seafood, or grilled meat.
Almond Snacks, Drinks, and Pantry Boosters
- Roasted almonds and rice blend into an exceptionally creamy homemade horchata with warm cinnamon notes.
- Fresh raspberries and ground almonds combine in this lightly creamy, refreshing homemade soda.
- Maple syrup and warm spices coat roasted mixed nuts—including plenty of almonds—for an irresistible sweet-and-savory snack.
- Upgrade store-bought almond butter with toasted seeds, maple syrup, and Aleppo-style pepper for a crunchy spread you’ll want on everything.
- Brining raw nuts before roasting them ensures every bite of this snacky almond recipe is deeply seasoned with rosemary and smoky chile heat.
About the Author
Rochelle is a Senior Associate Web Editor at Bon Appétit. When she’s not torturing herself by grinding coffee beans by hand and making her own butter, she writes about cooking techniques and seasonal eating for bonappetit.com. She comes to BA by way of a small farm in Central New York, where she worked as a farmhand.