All Things Almond

Almonds & Almond Flavoring for Baking, Cooking, Snacking and Mixes

OliveNation offers a wide variety of almond ingredients for baking, cooking, flavoring, and snacking. This classic flavor's delicately nutty taste and aroma is a favorite around the world. Almond is a traditional flavoring for the holidays, but popular year round. From raw whole nuts to chocolate-covered snack mixes to baking flour to liquid flavoring, chefs and bakers reach for this versatile ingredient every day for both sweet and savory recipes.

What is Almond Extract?

Almond extracts, like our certified organic pure almond extract are made by extracting the taste and aroma from either sweet almond oil or oil of bitter almond. These versatile liquids are ideal for adding nutty, creamy, light taste to everything from baked goods like cakes or cupcakes to beverages like lattes, milkshakes, flavored teas, and cocktails.Many people are quite surprised that almond extract tastes nothing like almonds and has a strong, pure, sweet flavor that pairs well with cherry, vanilla, chocolate, and coffee flavors. In fact, some bakers use almond extract instead of vanilla extract in recipes for a lighter, nuttier flavor that takes baked goods and desserts to new levels. Other almond flavorings can be made using natural flavors rather than oil extractives to create authentic, true-to-ingredient taste and aroma.

Uses for Almond Extract

Almond is a signature flavor in a variety of desserts, side dishes, sauces, and savory recipes, including:

• Cookies: Amaretti, Biscotti
• Cakes, Cupcakes, Bread, Muffins
• Fruit Fillings: Cherry Pie, Coconut Cream Pie, Sauces, Glazes
• Creamy Desserts: Custards, Puddings, Ice Cream
• Breakfast Dishes: Pancakes, Waffles, Scones
• Beverages: Lattes, Coffee, Milkshakes, Hot Chocolate, Cocktails, Mocktails
• Frosting: Buttercream, Cream Filling, Icing, Glazes, Drizzles
• Savory Dishes: Rice, Vegetables, Marinades, Dressings, Glazes, Curries

What is Amaretto?

The word amaretto is Italian for "a little bitter." This almond-flavored liqueur was invented by the Lazzaroni family of Saronno and has been produced comercially in Northern Italy since the mid 1850's. Legend has it that the original recipe dates to 1525. While the predominant flavor of Amaretto is almonds, it might not even contain almonds. The traditional base of genuine Amaretto is apricot pits with other spices and flavors. OliveNation's amaretto flavoring captures all the flavors of this popular liqueur. It is famously used in crispy and light amaretti cookies and great in dessert items such as cakes, frostings, fillings, and various desserts.

How to Substitute Almond or Amaretto Liqueur

You can use almond extract to replace almond liqueur or amaretto liqueur in a recipe. OliveNation Almond Extract's flavor is more concentrated than amaretto or almond liqueur. Our recommended substitution ratio is 4 to 8 times liqueur to extract.

Amaretto Substitute / Amaretto Liqueur Substitute

For 2 tablespoons of liqueur, use 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of OliveNation Almond or Amaretto Extract. Use more or less, depending on the flavor you desire. Keep in mind that OliveNation extracts are made with alcohol. They're designed for recipes that will be cooked or baked so that the alcohol evaporates. If you're using Almond Extract in a no-heat application, use a little at a time and taste frequently to avoid any aftertaste.

Almond Liqueur Substitute and Alcohol-Free Amaretto Substitutes:

Almond Extract or Amaretto Extract can be used to replace almond liqueur in recipes. If you want an alcohol-free way to substitute Almond Liqueur, consider PG or glycerin-based extracts as an alternative, or powdered almond flavoring.