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This Almond Paste is so easy and can be used for anything from pastry filling, to edible decorations like these little almond paste pinecones! It is naturally gluten free and made with just 4 ingredients plus a little salt for a unique and sweet little sweet treat! Check out the recipe and video below for step by step instructions!
These little pinecones are almost too pretty to eat...! ALMOST...! They are the perfect, flavorful and gorgeous addition to any birthday cake, breakfast or dessert board and are so much easier than they may seem!
Almond Paste Ingredients- Click links to see on Amazon
- Almond Flour
- Powdered Sugar
- Egg White
- Almond Extract
- Sea Salt
Decoration Ingredients
- Sliced Almonds
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
How to make Almond Paste
A food processor like this one that I use is a great tool to use in easily making this almond paste. If you don't have one of these, you can use a hand mixer, or stand mixer and achieve the same thing!
Start by mixing together the almond flour and powdered sugar. If you are using a food processor, pulse it a few times to get it evenly combined. You can also simply sift the almond flour and powdered sugar together. Just make sure that they are combined.
Next, add the egg white, almond flavoring and salt and run the food processor, or mixer until it forms a big lump. If it feels too sticky, add a tablespoon of powdered sugar and then mix for a few more seconds. It should be the consistency of sugar cookie dough. When you have this, you are done!
If you are ready to use it right away, then go ahead. However, if you are not using it immediately, simply wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and set aside, or refrigerate it until you are ready to use it. It can also be frozen for up to 6 months!
How to form the Pinecones
These little edible pinecones look so tricky but are actually incredibly easy to make.
Start by taking about 2 tablespoons of almond paste and roll it in your hands until it forms a ball. Then, use your fingers to pinch one end of the ball, so that the ball takes on a teardrop shape.
Now, take your almond slices and starting at the pointy tip of the almond paste teardrop, insert the round end of an almond slice into the point of the almond paste.
Next, below that almond, insert a row of almonds so that the tips overlap the part of the first almond slice that went into the almond paste. Does that make sense? Clear as mud? I think you get it. I am making it complicated, but it is really easy.
What's the difference between Almond Paste and Marzipan?
The main ingredient difference is very simple. There is much less sugar in Almond Paste than Marzipan.
The real main difference is in the texture and how it can be used. Almond Paste is more like the consistency of sugar cookie dough. It is soft and a little grainy, but will hold it's shape like a rolled cookie. It is delicious used as a breakfast pastry, or cake filling, or even on its own as with these almond paste pinecones!
The texture of marzipan is more like play dough, or silly putty. Although it is edible, it is generally used for decoration. It is clay like and can be used much like play dough to create little decorative flowers an fruits, or rolled out to thinly cover cakes, creating those beautifully smooth cakes we often see.
What do you do with Almond Paste?
Almond paste is a decadent and flavorful filling for breakfast pastries, or cakes. But it can also be molded to create delicious decorations for cakes, or on a dessert or breakfast board!
You could also create an edible wreath that looks just like this beautiful DIY Pinecone Wreath! It would be such a beautiful and delicious conversation piece at a fall or winter wedding, or dinner party! Get creative, and have fun! The options are sweet and endless!
Other Beautiful and Delicious Treats
If you are looking for an easy and beautiful breakfast or dessert sweet treat, check out this yummy Citrus Glazed Orange Cardamom Cake, or these amazing Brownies with Salted Tahini Buttercream.
If you are in the mood to get creative, with a unique appetizer, how about these sweet little Ladybug Caprese!
For beautiful beverages, look at this Chocolate Creamsicle Martini, or the viral Snow Globe Cocktail!
And finally, for a just plain decadent, yet super easy one pot dinner, check out this Rigatoni with Creamy Mushroom Marsala. I promise, you won't be sorry!
I hope you have fun with this Almond paste recipe! Did you make these little Pinecones? I would love to hear from you in the comments at the very bottom. How did you use yours? Enjoy and thank you for visiting Mollie in Montana~*!
๐ Recipe
Almond Paste Pinecones
Ingredients
Method
- Mix together almond flour and powdered sugar in a food processor by pulsing a few times.
- Add in egg white, almond extract and salt and process until it comes together in a big lump. If it seems too sticky, add a teaspoon at a time of confectioners sugar. The consistency should be soft and stick together like chocolate chip cookie dough.
- Immediately wrap almond paste tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate until you are ready to use it. You may freeze any unused almond paste, wrapped tightly, for up to 6 months.
- Roll about 2 tablespoons of almond paste into a ball, then pinch one end slightly so that it creates a form similar to a pinecone shape.
- Starting with the top (pointed end), slide an almond slice (pointed end out) into the almond paste. This will make the top point of your pinecone.
- Now, right below your pinecone tip, start a row of almond slivers, sliding them into the almond paste next to each other so that their tops overlap the bottom of the previously placed row of almond slices.
- Continue creating rows below each precious row until you've reached the bottom of the almond paste cone.
- Use a sifter to lightly dust the pinecones with a little cocoa powder.
- Lightly dust pinecones with powdered sugar.
- Serve, or wrap and refrigerate until you are ready to use them!
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