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    • Casserole
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Savory Experiments

Almond Extract

When you want the essence of almond flavor, but not actual almond itself, you use almond extract. Think of it as the distilled, heavily concentrated version of the almond.

Blueberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake is an easy coffee cake recipe with three layers of tender cake, silky cream cheese and almond streusel topping.

It is made into a liquid of just three ingredients (if it is pure): alcohol, water, and bitter almond oil. Almond oil is extracted from almonds themselves or from their closely related botanical friends in the drupe family.

Peaches, apricots, cherries, plums and more fall into the drupe category along with almonds. The almond “flavor” we all know and love comes from something called, “benzaldehyde.” Now without getting too scientific, this is a substance found in the kernels or pits of these fruits also known as stone fruits.

While some varieties will have bitter almond oil only, many have a mix of almonds and fruits or only a mix of stone fruits. Crazy!

Here are a few recipes that use almond extract:

  • Blueberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake
  • Flourless Black Bean Brownies
  • Christmas Fudge (Almond Fudge Recipe)
  • Almond Hot Chocolate
  • Cherry Bars

What do you use almond extract for?

If you know what you use vanilla extract for, then you know what you use this for. I think of them as one and the same. This intensely flavored liquid is most often used in baking recipes for things like cookies and cakes and is also used in lots of dessert recipes as well. Just like vanilla extract, a little goes a long way.

Is pure almond extract dangerous?

Long story short, no. While there are amygdalin and cyanide in bitter almonds, those two ingredients are removed from the nut (or pit) during crushing, soaking, and washing process they endure. What’s left is pure benzaldehyde. It would downing a few hundred bottles of extract to give you a lethal dose.

What is the difference between pure almond extract and imitation almond extract?

The answer to this is super simple. Pure almond extract is alcohol, water, and bitter almond oil mixed. The imitation variety is a mix of water, alcohol, and synthetic bitter almond oil or benzaldehyde created in a lab. (Crazy, right?!)

What is the best almond extract?

There is no one correct answer to this question and it is likely based on personal preference. I like to get pure extract when I can versus imitation extract. The folks in the lab have created quite a product, but the pure almond extract is a little more subtle in my opinion.

What does almond extract taste like?

It is very similar to the almond flavor liqueur, amaretto, in terms of flavor if you have ever tasted that. It has a very strong almond taste while being a touch sweet.

            angle view of a stack of funfetti pancakes topped with whipped cream and sprinkles

Funfetti Pancakes

Breakfast
            close up of cherry pie filling

Homemade Cherry Pie Filling Recipe

Fruit Desserts · Pastries, Pies, + Tarts
            sliced butter cake on a platter with blue linens

Gooey Butter Cake

Cakes + Cupcakes
            pile of christmas fudge

Christmas Fudge (Almond Fudge Recipe)

Fudge
            Stack of Flourless Black Bean Brownies with a glass of milk

Flourless Black Bean Brownies

Brownies + Bars
            Almond Hot Chocolate is one of the most delicious white hot chocolate recipes to enjoy on a chilly night. Perfect for serving guests at parties too! #almondhotchocolate #whitehotchocolaterecipes www.savoryexperiments.com

Almond Hot Chocolate

Drinks
            Blueberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake is an easy coffee cake recipe with three layers of tender cake, silky cream cheese and almond streusel topping.

Blueberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

Cakes + Cupcakes
            overhead of cherry dumpling casserole

Cherry Dumpling Casserole

Fruit Desserts
            Dark Chocolate Almond Cream Cheese Cups Recipe

Dark Chocolate Almond Cream Cheese Cups

Candy
            Cherry Pie Bars are the perfect summer dessert for BBQ's, potlucks and parties! Easy to make, easy to transport and easy to devour!

Cherry Bars

Brownies + Bars
            iced pastry ring

Almond Danish Pastry Ring

Breakfast · Pastries, Pies, + Tarts
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Jessica is an author, blog coach, photographer, recipe creator and spokesperson, TV personality, globetrotter and contributor to Parade, Better Homes & Gardens, Mashed and The Daily Meal Food + Travel and more! Let her help you create restaurant quality family meals using the four S's.
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