If you are looking to make your own Almond Paste from scratch then this is the perfect recipe to add to your list of favourite base recipes.
This is the Dutch version which is called Amandelspijs but it is essentially the same ingredients that are used for many British, American, and other international recipes.
It only uses a few ingredients and is incredibly quick and easy to make. Once you have made your own homemade almond paste I don’t think you will want to go back to using a store-bought version.
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What Is Amandelspijs?
Amandelspijs is the Dutch name for almond paste. It is made from a 1:1 ratio mix of ground almonds to sugar and is used in many recipes such as cookies, cakes, and pastries. It is extremely popular here in the Netherlands and is used in many baked goods and dessert recipes.
You can read more facts, tips, and tricks about Amandelspijs (Dutch Almond Paste) below or if you are in a hurry you can get straight down to business and skip directly to the recipe here: Jump To Recipe
You can also read more about almond paste here: What is Almond Paste?
How To Pronounce Amandelspijs In Dutch
The Dutch word for almond paste is amandelspijs and it is pronounced Ah-man-del-spice
What is Almond Paste Made Of?
The base ingredients of real almond paste are ground almonds and sugar with a one-to-one ratio. The additional ingredients used in homemade recipes can vary a little as sometimes eggs are used and sometimes not.
Also, because almonds can be quite expensive, shop-bought versions can often contain other ingredients such as white beans, apricot, or peach kernels to bulk it up and keep production costs down. This is mostly referred to as Banketbakkersspijs in the Netherlands (or persipan elsewhere).
Almond Paste Vs Marzipan
Now the difference between the two often depends on where you come from.
In the UK the two names are pretty much interchangeable and mean the same thing so if you have a British recipe asking for almond paste it will mostly mean marzipan.
In the US and the rest of Europe however, they are two different things.
As said before almond paste has a ratio of 1:1 almonds to sugar but with marzipan, the sugar content is a lot higher with a ratio of up to 5:1 sugar to almonds.
Marzipan also uses powdered sugar whereas almond paste uses normal sugar.
The higher sugar content and the fact it uses powdered sugar gives the marzipan a much finer texture. This makes it suitable to use as fondant for cake decorating and for confectionery such as bonbons and truffles.
The ready-to-eat confection is also often coloured and made into amazing intricate mini edible works of art. These can be found in many bakeries and shops throughout the Netherlands and across the rest of Europe.
Almond paste, on the other hand, is not quite as sweet as marzipan because the sugar content is lower. Therefore, it is mostly used in baked goods such as cakes, pastries cookies, and sometimes in desserts.
RECIPE FOR DUTCH ALMOND PASTE (AMANDELSPIJS)
This recipe is sure to become one of your favourite basic recipes that you always go back to. It is so simple to make (you can hardly call it a recipe) and because it only has 4 ingredients you never want to buy store-bought paste again.
Ingredients
- 250 g Blanched Almonds
- 250 g Sugar
- 1 egg beaten
- ½ Lemon zest
Instructions
- Put the almonds in a food processor and grind the nuts until they have a fine flour-like consistency
- Add sugar, beaten egg, and lemon zest and mix until it forms a paste
- If the paste feels too hard then you can add a little water or lemon juice (only a few drops otherwise it will become too sticky)\
- Take out of food processor, and press it together to form a roll or block
- Wrap in clingfilm and put in the fridge for at least 24 hours (it needs to ripen so the flavours can develop)
Why Does Almond Paste (Amandelspijs) Need To Ripen?
When given time to ripen in the fridge the flavours combine better and a deeper flavour is developed.
Many people leave it anywhere from 24 hours to a week. With this recipe, for food safety reasons I would personally advise only leaving it in the fridge for a few days as it contains raw egg.
Extra Notes & Tips
Make sure you use blanched almonds (white almonds without the brown outer skin), otherwise the skins do not grind in as easily and it will give the paste a darker colour.
If you do not have a food processor you can use any kind of grinding device or use almond flour instead.
Once the nuts have been ground or if you are adding almond flour then the rest of the steps can be done by hand. Just put the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and used a wooden spoon to mix.
Printed Recipe & Detailed Instructions
Easy Dutch Almond Paste Recipe (Amandelspice)
Ingredients
- 250 g Blanched Almonds
- 250 g Sugar
- 1 egg beaten
- ½ Lemon zest
Instructions
- Add the almonds in a food processor or kitchen aid
- Grind the almonds until you have a fine flour like consistency
- Add the sugar, egg and lemon zest and mix together until it sticks together and it has formed a paste consistency
- If it is very dry you can add a little water or lemon juice (not too much)
- Using your hands knead the paste a little and shape it into a block
- Wrap the block of paste in clingfilm (glad wrap) and place in fridge
- For best results leave in the fridge for at least 24hrs to allow it to ripen and for the flavour to develop
- When you are ready to use the almond paste follow the instructions on the recipe you are using
Notes
Instructions For Making Recipe Without Food Processor
If you do not have a food processor you can use any kind of grinding device or use almond flour instead. Once the nuts have been ground or if you are adding almond flour then the rest of the steps can be done by hand. Just put the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and used a wooden spoon to mix.How Long Can You Keep Almond Paste?
The almond paste can be kept in the fridge for 2 to 4 days or in the freezer for 6 monthsHow To Store Amandelspijs
Amandelspijs is great to make in advance and keep on hand ready for when you need to use it in another recipe. If you are going to use it within a day or two then just keep it in the fridge, otherwise, it is better to freeze it (see storage notes below).
How Long Can Almond Paste Be Kept In The Fridge?
This particular recipe can be kept in the fridge for about 3 to 4 days. Make sure you do not leave it longer than this as it contains raw egg. If you are using an alternative recipe without egg it can be kept for 2 to 3 months.
Can you freeze Almond Paste?
Yes, you can freeze almond paste and it will keep well for about 6 months in the freezer.
To defrost the almond paste leave it overnight in the fridge then take it out of the fridge about half an hour before you want to use it to allow it to come back up to room temperature.
How To Use Almond Paste
Once you have made the basic almond recipe you can store it until you need to use it in another recipe.
Different recipes have different instructions as to how you should use almond paste. Some require that you add an additional egg to make it more pliable and soften it.
So I would advise you to make sure you follow the directions in the recipe that you are using it in.
If you are using it from the freezer then make sure you allow it to defrost first (see defrosting tips above)
Recipes Using Amandelspijs
When you start looking you will be amazed at how many recipes actually use almond paste. There are hundreds of recipes from all over the world that use this as a base.
Here is a list of some of the recipes where you can use this homemade basic recipe.
Dutch Recipes Using Almond Paste
- Gevulde Koek (almond filled cookies) <<< these are soooo delicious! I will post the recipe for these in the next couple of days so be sure to check back again
- Boterkoek (butter cookies)
- Gevuldespeculaas (almond filled speculaas cookies)
- Paasstol met amandelspijs (Dutch Easter stollen/fruit bread filled with almond paste)
- Kerststol met amandelspijs (Dutch Christmas stollen/fruit bread filled with almond paste)
- Banketletter (Dutch letter pastry)
- Banketstaaf (Dutch almond-filled pastry log)
- Rondos
Other International Recipes Using Almond Paste
- French Apple & Almond Galette
- Italian Almond Macaroons
- German Almond Horns
- Almond Cream With Almond Paste
- Danish braided bun with almonds
- Rhubarb frangipane tart
- Swedish Breakfast rolls
- Almond coffee cake ring
You can find more inspiration and recipes containing almond paste (amandelspijs) here: yummly.com/recipes/baking-with-almond-paste
Where To Next? Check Out My Other Easy Recipe Ideas
If you liked this Amandelspijs Recipe, then be sure to check out my other Dutch Recipes, in this section, you will find traditional recipes from the Netherlands such as;
- Dutch Almond Cookies (Gevulde Koek)
- Poffertjes
- Pepernoten (Kruidnoten)
- Dutch Apple Pie (Appeltaart)
- Hangop & Warm Cherry Compte (Creamy Yogurt Dessert)
- Endive Salad
And If you would like to keep up to date with all my new recipes and creative ideas for the home then make sure you sign up for the Happy Home In Holland Newsletter, which will keep you up to date with all my latest news, freebies, and offers.
