Almendrados (Almond-Lemon Macaroons) Recipe (2024)

By Joan Nathan

Almendrados (Almond-Lemon Macaroons) Recipe (1)

Total Time
35 minutes, plus 12 hours’ refrigeration
Rating
5(1,465)
Notes
Read community notes

Almendrados, which date from the 15th century or earlier, are cookies made of ground blanched almonds, lemon zest, egg and sugar. They are left out to dry for a day before baking. (In the recipe given here, I’ve called for 12 hours in the refrigerator.) I have tasted this type of cookie in many guises, and often the dough spreads out too thinly. But with the cookbook author Ana Benarroch de Bensadón’s method it kept its shape perfectly.

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Ingredients

Yield:About 30 cookies

  • 2cups whole blanched almonds, plus about 30 almonds for decoration
  • 1cup granulated sugar
  • 1large egg
  • Finely grated zest of 1 lemon

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (30 servings)

91 calories; 6 grams fat; 0 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 3 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 9 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 7 grams sugars; 3 grams protein; 3 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Almendrados (Almond-Lemon Macaroons) Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Using a food processor equipped with a metal blade, grind 2 cups almonds very finely. Add ¾ cup sugar, the egg and lemon zest, and pulse to make a cohesive dough. Transfer to a medium bowl, cover and refrigerate for at least 12 hours.

  2. Step

    2

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick liner. Place remaining ¼ cup sugar in a small bowl.

  3. Step

    3

    Pinching off pieces of dough about the size of a walnut, roll them first into balls, then into sugar. Gently press an almond point first into top of each cookie, so that half the almond can be seen. Arrange cookies one inch apart on baking sheet.

  4. Step

    4

    Bake until cookies have barest hint of color but still remain soft, 8 to 10 minutes. (Cookies must be soft when removed from oven to avoid excess hardening when they cool.) Cool completely, and store in an airtight container.

Ratings

5

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1,465

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Cooking Notes

KSG

I used Trader Joe's ground almond meal, 1 1/3 cups equals 2 cups blanched almonds no need to grind. This saved time and was still delicious. I doubled the recipe & added grated orange peel and vanilla powder.
I had to bake them for about 12-13 minutes, so keep an eye on them according to your oven. Many of my guests had recipe requests for these treats. Chewy texture like a macaroon & freezes real well. I made the batter two days before I baked them to save time, were perfect!

Donna in CT

1 cup of whole almonds equals approximately 1 1/3 cups of ground almonds (almond meal). 1 cup of ground almonds weighs approximately 5 ounces.

I ground 1 cup of whole almonds to a fine meal in a Cuisinart spice grinder, which took seconds. I then measured the ground almonds by dry cup measure to come to 1 1/3 cups of meal. I then weighed the ground almonds, and they came to a scant 5 ounces. (I think small variations in measures are fine besides inevitable given the antiquity of this recipe)

Cathy

Absolutely delicious. I had to make some changes, and they're still perfect. I used almond meal instead of ground almonds, added a bit of lemon juice in addition to the zest (I might add more next time - I like them a bit more lemony), and only had about 30 minutes to chill the dough (which made them messy to form but they came out perfectly).

They taste almost exactly like pignoli, so I may also try them coated in pine nuts.

Easy and delicious.

SEP

How much almond meal did you use? There isn't a one to one correlation between whole and ground. My rule of thumb has been 2/3 meal to 1 cup almonds, but my cookies came out flat so I don't think it was enough meal.

CurlzNJ

I've been making these for years and just looked at the recipe this morning, as it's one of my go-to desserts for Passover. In the last few years I know I've used almond meal (Trader Joe's sells it) but this time I'm going to do a mix of meal and slivered blanched almonds so I get the nutty pieces in the cookie as well. I also tend to add more lemon zest because I love lemon...

Clk

I know this was asked, but I didn't see an answer, how much almond meal should be used?
Also how far in advance can these be made? Can they be frozen?

Beverly

Have made these several times. Delicious. Added more grated lemon and some lemon juice. I use Almond Meal and used 2 cups. I also rolled them in sanding sugar (as I see in the Times picture).

Sarah

I made these with a bag of raw pistachios from trader Joe's and they were divine - the most gorgeous shade of dusky green. I did not have time to chill for at least 12 hours as the recipe stated - just 6 hours. They were totally fine. A perfect recipe

Carina

One note about the lemon, for those who may not have lemons growing in the yard. Grated lemon rind yields a fine, oily substance that adds perfume to the cookie and a decided lemon flavor. Lemon juice, on the other hand, being a liquid without the oily lemon essence, adds liquid where it's not called for, sourness where it's not wanted, and just a little flavor. Never substitute juice for fresh lemon zest. A good substitute would be lemon oil (different than lemon extract), 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon.

Yolanda

1 cup almonds equals 145 grams2 cups blanched almonds equals 1 1/3 cup

Alicia

I think you've got that turned around ... 1 1/3 cups of whole almonds equal about a cup of ground.

lulu

Substituted 1 and 1/3 cups super-fine almond flour, as someone suggested, and doubled the amount of lemon zest. Baked them for the full 10 minutes. They came out perfectly domed and completely delicious.

susan

Replace: 1 1/3 almond meal equals 2 cups blanched almonds add lemon juice in addition to the peel

Peggy Mason

Baked this at 5,000+ ft in Northern Colorado. Used 2 full C almond flour and baked at 355 for 12 minutes. 10 wasn't quite enough in my oven. They kept their shape and did not spread at all, which is typically a real problem at this altitude. I thought they were too sweet and I do have a sweet tooth - next time will try 1/2 C sugar.

Paul

Cooked a few times. The first batch spread out too much, so after some experimentation, it's best for met to add an extra egg yolk to a double batch (2 eggs plus one yolk), cover the dough with a towel and not plastic wrap while it sits overnight in the fridge, and cook them for 18 minutes in pre-heated oven on insulated baking sheets. Cook times might be shorter if I cooked them a batch at a time, but I just swap racks half-way through, and am done in one set.

CS

Ok but nothing to write home about in flavor. Almond pistachio one much better

Deborah VC

These are so easy and are fabulous. I reduced the sugar to 1/2 c plus 2 T, used 1 1/3 cups almond flour and added about 1/8 t lemon extract. I used what I had and put a raw pistachio on top. I didn’t roll in sugar but did dust them with powered sugar when done. Baked for about 9 minutes. Chewy and lemony.

Molly H.

Subtle. Delicious. Slowly addictive. Roll in turbinado sugar for a richer flavor.

barbara

1 and 1/3 cup almond meal Double lemon zest

jenevra

These spread out in a way that looks pretty different from the picture and taste very plain. I will not be making them again.

RHB

I fear that everyone using almond meal or flour is missing out on the texture of the processed almond. Time is time though, so I get it.These are excellent. Picked up some bulk organic almonds at Whole Foods and they really brought out the best in this cookie. Made exactly as described.

Gyöngyi

A simple and delicious recipe. I added almond extract.

Lady Glitter Sparkle

2 lemons worth of zest per recipe, definitely use almond flour 1 1/3 c

Sue

Delicious and so easy. I used Bob's almond meal - 1-1/3 cups - and it came out great. I only got 18 cookies, not 30! Baked for about 14 minutes. Next time I will double the lemon zest.

Joy M

Instead of refrigerating for 12 hours, just pop in the freezer for 30 minutes!

lisa

Meh. Don’t make again. Or add more lemon?

jude

250g almond meal200g sugar

almond mom

I made this for a kosher Seder dinner and it came out great! It is easy, especially prepping everything and throwing it in the fridge until baking time. This might be my go to dessert anywhere I can serve nutty desserts!(I used almond flour from Costco and based on the weight of whole almonds, I used 294 grams for 2 cups of almonds. Worked great!)

almond mom

I made this for a kosher Seder dinner and it came out great! It is easy, especially prepping everything and throwing it in the fridge until baking time. This might be my go to dessert anywhere I can serve nutty desserts!I used almond flour from Costco and based on the weight of whole almonds, I used 294 grams for 2 cups of almonds. Worked great! I was generous with lemon zest and squeezed some juice as well.

ElizElliott

Wondering if almond flour would work..

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Almendrados (Almond-Lemon Macaroons) Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can I use almond flour instead of ground almonds for macarons? ›

Almond flour is one of the main ingredients in macarons. Anytime you read a macaron recipe, you will see that almond flour or almond meal will be required. The two are commonly used interchangeably.

How to make almond flour for macarons? ›

Making homemade almond flour is very simple! It requires only 1 ingredient, 1 blender, and 5 minutes. Simply add blanched almonds to a blender and blitz until a fine, powdery flour is achieved. You know you've gone too far if it starts turning to almond butter instead.

What is a macaron made of? ›

What Is a Macaron? A macaron is a meringue-based sandwich cookie made with almond flour, egg whites, confectioners' sugar, and food coloring. Common fillings include buttercream, ganache, and fruit-based jam. The meringues have smooth tops, ruffled edges (called the "crown," "foot," or "pied"), and flat bottoms.

What to do with almond meal? ›

This coarse texture means that while almond meal can create delicious baked desserts, it can also be used to substitute breadcrumbs when coating meat, topping vegetables, and making casseroles. Available at many grocery stores, almond meal is usually found in the baking or gluten free section.

Do I have to sift almond flour for macarons? ›

Make Macarons Tip #1: Sift Dry Ingredients Thoroughly

It is also recommended that you use a fine-mesh sieve and sift more than one time to get rid of those tiny clumps.

What kind of almond flour is best for macarons? ›

Blanched almond flour is usually preferred over unblanched flour because the skin has been removed and so it does not have the the speckles in the color. It creates a smoother batter texture and a brighter color for the macarons.

Why are my almond macaroons flat? ›

Start beating the egg whites on full speed once the sugar syrup reaches 117°C, and by the time it reaches 121°C the egg whites should be sufficiently beaten. If your macarons have very small 'flat' feet, it is because they have not been baked long enough.

What does cream of tartar do to macarons? ›

The acidic properties of cream of tartar aid in stabilizing egg whites, making them less prone to overbeating and helping to create a voluminous, airy foam. This is essential for achieving the desired lightness and structure in macarons.

Why are macaroons so expensive? ›

Macarons are typically more expensive than other baked goods due to their labor-intensive preparation, high-quality ingredients, and delicate nature. How long do macarons last? Macarons typically last for 2-3 days at room temperature, or up to a week in the refrigerator.

Why are macarons so pricey? ›

Macaron Ingredients Are Expensive

Unlike most bakery treats, macarons are not made with all-purpose wheat flour, which even a home cook can pick up at the supermarket for less than 50 cents a pound. Instead, they're made with almond flour, which costs more than nine times as much—and that's at Costco.

How unhealthy is a macaron? ›

Made Complete with Sweet, Delicious Fillings

Even with the tasty fillings, macarons are still healthier desserts when compared to other sweets, such as cupcakes. For instance, three macarons have around 210-300 calories compared to a single cupcake with around 400 calories.

What happens if you use almond meal instead of almond flour? ›

Almond meal and almond flour both make exciting additions to lots of baked treats and tasty meals. You can use them interchangeably. But almond meal tends to be better in heartier dishes, since it's slightly bitter and has a coarse consistency. Almond flour is sweeter and has a lighter, fluffier texture.

Can I use almond meal instead of all purpose flour? ›

Almond flour is a little more moist than wheat flour, and doesn't have quite the same binding qualities. You'll do best to substitute 1:1 to begin with, as many recipes respond well to this direct replacement. But be prepared to add more almond flour as you go to compensate for the wetter batter.

Can I use ground almonds instead of almond meal? ›

Ground almonds, on the other hand, are the same thing as almond meal – they're just ground, skin-on, unpeeled almonds. They're therefore darker in colour and often coarser in texture.

What can replace ground almonds in macarons? ›

the whole point of a macaron is that it is a delicate confection of egg whites, sugar and nut flour, usually almond. You can substitute other nut flours, like pistachio or walnut.

What can I use instead of ground almonds in macarons? ›

Sunflower seed flour is an exceptional substitute for almond flour in macaron recipes. It has a similar consistency, making it an excellent alternative for those with nut allergies or nut-free preferences. Sunflower seed flour is also a more affordable alternative to almond flour.

Can I use almond flour in place of ground almonds? ›

Similarly, you can substitute almond flour for almond meal (ground almonds), provided that the almond meal you're replacing is finely ground.

Do you have to use ground almonds in macarons? ›

Almond meal (finely ground almonds) will save you a lot of time, but you can also use regular almonds that you can grind yourself with a food processor. They do not have to be blanched! Other nuts also work… I've made successful macarons using pistachios or hazelnuts to replace almonds entirely.

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