It’s Zippy Tip Tuesday!
I’m all about saving a buck or 2 when I can.
So when I had to use almond paste for my Blueberry Almond Delight Bites in the Behind the Curtain Dessert Challenge a couple of weeks ago, I was rather surprised by the price of canned almond paste at the grocery store.
I decided to heck with that, I’m making my own. And off I went to my pal Google to find out how to do it. Although there were several renditions of the recipe, I settled on Easy Almond Paste from candy.about.com; because let’s face it, they had me at “Easy”.
All the recipes I found used egg whites, so if you find yourself squeamish, just use the pasteurized egg whites in a carton. (I buy my eggs fresh off the farm, so I never give it a second thought.) And be sure to add a little of the white at a time, because I found the mixture to be a bit sticky. If that happens, just add more powdered sugar till you get the texture you want.
The end result is a fresher, less crumbly, more tasty version than the canned variety. And portion control is another benefit, since you only have to make as much as you need.
Have I got ya sold yet?
- ¾ cup whole blanched almonds
- ¾ cup powdered sugar (sifted)
- ½ egg white, lightly beaten
- Place almonds and ½ of the powdered sugar in a food processor or large chopper fitted with a steel blade. Process until the nuts are finely ground. The sugar helps prevent the nuts from turning into butter, but still be careful not to over-process. Add the rest of the sugar and pulse a few times to combine. Add the egg white and continue to process until the mixture turns into a ball, which only took a few seconds for me. If it’s sticky, add more powdered sugar, a little at a time. Use at once or wrap in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 months. Or put wrapped almond paste in a sealed bag and freeze for up to 6 months.
Watch video here:
Having troubles seeing the video? Watch it here: Homemade Almond Paste
Join Sherry K – Jazzy Gourmet on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter
Mom always said it is nice to share!
Hahahahaa – the dog food. And where the heck were you when I needed you two weeks ago using almond paste in that challenge?? lol LOVE this tip!
Have a great day Sherry,
Claire
Oops, busted! Next time, I’ll be sure to let you know what I’m up to for Dessert Challenge. Speaking of which, are you participating next time? The deadline is sneaking up on us!