Almonds are fascinating: they really are seeds not nuts, botanically related to roses and apricots rather than walnuts. They can also be seriously poisonous: bitter almonds contain cyanide! But don’t worry: cultivated sweet almonds have the poison chemical switched off.
They are super-good for you - high in protein and fibre, but the latter provided you eat them whole, with the skin. But they are also rich in fat (albeit monosaturated) and hence calories.
In baking, they are invaluable: ground almonds are a godsend to the gluten-intolerant, used instead of wheat flour. And just take a look at this collection of the most delicious biscuits and bakes made with almonds: from French macarons through Swedish cakes to the Bakewell tart!
Tarta de Santiago is a traditional Galician almond cake. It has only three basic ingredients and is one of the most famous Spanish desserts. This is an authentic Spanish recipe, easy and failproof.
Authentic French macarons are made with almond paste, in fact in France the ready mix of almond flour and icing sugar, tant pour tant, is widely available. But even without it, you can make them at home. With dark chocolate ganache or lemon curd filling, they will be the most exquisite dessert you can possibly make.
Macarons with chocolate ganache
RECIPE
Bakewell tart is the English tea room classic, and deservedly popular. Gorgeous textures and flavours of an almond crust with a smudge of raspberry jam, soft frangipane filling and a cherry on top. I swap the traditional feather icing for almond flakes, for a slightly lower sugar content.
French financier biscuits, aka friands, are similar to madeleines but made with almonds and brown butter. They are deliciously moist, light and tender, and really easy to make. They were invented by Parisian pâtissiers for the employees of the French stock exchange.
The French certainly appreciate their almonds: here’s another popular almond biscuit. ‘Croquant’ means ‘crunchy’ and these cookies are wonderfully brittle, gradually softening a little as they keep.
To Sweden: king Oscar II cake is also known as Swedish almond tart. It's a kind of a giant almond macaron filled with almond buttercream, easy to make and absolutely delightful.
Another Swedish confection, almond caramel cake, Toscakaka. It is a lovely and easy cake, convenient to make ahead. Bake the base in advance, then add caramel topping and blast it under the grill just before serving.
Cardamom cake with a crunchy almond bottom layer which turns into upside down topping, is a delicious, fragrant sponge lifted only with air beaten into the eggs and sugar mix. The sugared almond crunch is to die for.
Cardamom cake with almond crunch
RECIPE
A summery option, almond cake with fresh raspberries, flavoured with cinnamon and lemon zest. It’s flourless, dairy and gluten free, yet wonderfully airy and soft.
Almond cake with raspberries
RECIPE
Frangipane is the magically tasty almond cream usually baked inside cakes or as tart filling. Did you know you could bake frangipane cream without the crust base? Strawberry frangipane is a light and delicious cake studded with fresh berries, a perfect summer dessert.