Almond Extract is a popular baking ingredient that resembles a nutty aroma and flavor. It works as a flavor enhancer in a recipe that brings out other tastes as well. You just only need some drops of Almond Extract to enhance the flavor of your recipe. If you don’t have it on hand, you can substitute its warm and aromatic flavor. Using an Almond Extract substitute in a recipe not only gives a similar flavor and aroma but also saves your recipe from being ruined.
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What is Almond Extract?
Almond Extract is made by combining almond oil with ethyl alcohol. It works as a flavor enhancer in baked goods as well as other desserts. You always find almond extract to be used in cherry, apricot, and peach desserts.
Nutrient Profile of Almond Extract:
- Calories: 119
- Total fat: 13.5 grams
- Saturated fat: 1.1 grams
- Monounsaturated fat: 9.4 grams
- Polyunsaturated fat: 2.3 grams
- Vitamin E: 26% of the RDI
- Phytosterols: 35.9 mg
Health Benefits of Almond Extract:
- Almond Extract is high in antioxidants.
- It may be beneficial for blood sugar control.
- Adding Almond Extract to a less-calorie diet may reduce weight.
- Vitamin E helps to protect from sun damage.
What can I substitute for Almond Extract?
Not having the main ingredient at the moment makes you anxious about how your recipe will perform. Don’t worry! Not having an ingredient doesn’t mean your recipe/dish is ruined. You can use its substitutes to get a similar flavor to the original one. Here, we have a huge list of the best substitute for Almond Extract for you. Let’s check this out.
1. Disaronno Amaretto Almond Liqueur:
Disaronno Amaretto is made with apricot kernels. We are specifying the brand here because we can find the ingredients. Using Disaronno Amaretto as an Almond Extract replacement is a good option to choose. Almond Extract has a concentrated flavor, you will need to take it about 4 times. As you know it’s alcohol, it evaporates when it’s being cooked. That’s why it’s safe to consume for children.
2. Vanilla Extract:
Vanilla Extract is a very useful ingredient and is always available in every household kitchen/pantry. Vanilla Extract has a sweet aroma with a slight caramel taste. It is used for many purposes such as enhancing the flavor of yogurt, smoothies, chocolate desserts, etc. Vanilla Extract not only enhances the flavor of sweet dishes/recipes but also enhances the flavor of savory dishes/recipes such as glazes, marinades, spice rubs, sauces, etc. You can use 3 drops of Vanilla Extract as a good Almond Extract alternative in place of 1 teaspoon of Almond Extract.
3. Cinnamon:
Cinnamon doesn’t mimic the flavor of Almond Extract in any way. If you are looking for a spicy and nutty aroma that resembles the aroma of Almond Extract. If you are allergic to nuts, it would be a great sub for Almond Extract for you. For bread and pastries, you can never be wrong using Cinnamon. It’s perfect for non-fruity desserts. Taking a half teaspoon of Cinnamon is perfect to replace 2 drops of Almond Extract.
4. Orange Zest:
If you are running out of Almond Extract, Orange Zest will be a perfect Almond Extract replacement for cakes, pies, cookies, muffins, and other baking goods. It works pretty well with fruit bases desserts such as pastries. You just need to grate the outer wall of the Orange to replace the string Almond Extract flavor. You can also add 2 teaspoons of orange juice to your recipe. A teaspoon of Orange Zest is enough to use in place of 2-3 drops of Almond Extract.
5. Imitation Almond Extract:
Imitation Almond Extract is the synthetic version of the original one. It provides the exact flavor and aroma of Almond Extract without containing any traces of almonds. It’s made from synthetic benzaldehyde, not the original almonds. This substitute is perfect for those who are allergic to nuts. It may not be easily available in stores.
6. Vanilla Bean:
Vanilla Bean is a suitable Almond Extract substitute that can be used in baking recipes/dishes. If your batter is light in color, you may see dark flecks of Vanilla in your resulting recipe. So, it’s better to use vanilla bean paste in place of it. You should use double the amount of vanilla as a perfect sub for Almond Extract in a recipe/dish.
7. Walnut Extract:
If you are looking for a nut-based Extract rather than Almond Extract, Walnut Extract would be a great option to choose. The great nutty flavor of Walnut Extract works perfectly with baked goods. You can simply use it as a substitute for Almond Extract in a ratio of 1:1.
8. Pecan Extract:
Pecan Extract is another nutty Almond Extract replacement you can use in your baked recipe. You can use it as an Almond Extract alternative in the same ratio of 1:1.
9. Hazelnut Extract:
This is the third nut-based extract we have listed here. The great warm, nutty flavor of Hazelnut works perfectly with baked goods and beverages. You can also substitute in the same way of walnuts with maintaining the ratio of 1:1.
10. Diluted Almond Essential Oil:
Essential Oil is mostly used in cosmetics and other skincare products. It can be used for culinary applications when diluted. Essential Oils are highly concentrated that’s why they should be used in small amounts. To get the perfect nutty aroma and flavor of Almond Extract, you can definitely use Diluted Almond Essential Oil.
11. Mint Extract:
Mint Extract is a refreshing and nut-free extract. This can also be used as an Almond Extract alternative in recipes/dishes. Mint works perfectly with chocolate recipes in place of Almond Extract. Make sure you like the taste before making the switch. You can swap it with the same ratio of 1:1.
12. Chocolate Extract:
If you are making a chocolate recipe, using its extract would be a great choice to replace Almond Extract if you don’t have it around. It doesn’t matter, the recipe could be anything like a certain pie that contains chocolate, cakes, cooking, and some beverages such as hot chocolate.
13. Cherry Pit Syrup:
Cherry Pit has a mild aroma and almond flavor with a fruity undertone. This syrup is subtle and can easily replace Almond Extract. Almond Extract has a strong aroma that’s why we need to add more Cheery Pit Syrup to get the same taste in a recipe. It pairs well with cheery cheesecake and apricot tart. You can substitute Almond Extract in a ratio of 1:4 where 1 refers to the Almond Extract quantity and 4 refers to the Cherry Pit Syrup quantity.
14. Leave it out!:
If your recipe doesn’t rely on almond flavor and added some vanilla and butter already, you can simply exclude Almond Extract. Your recipe may not get the flavor of almonds still, but it’ll be delicious.
FAQ:-
How do you make Almond Extract without alcohol?
You just need to take 3 parts of liquid glycerine with 1 part of water. Stir well with these ingredients until both are combined. Now, it's ready to use in a recipe that calls for Almond Extract.
Does Almond Extract have sugar?
Almond Extract doesn't contain any artificial color, no GMOs, no imitation flavors, and no sugar. You get the true sweet almond flavor and aroma that come from pure almond essence.
Now, you know the best Almond Extract Substitute. You can choose according to what you have in the kitchen or you can also buy from amazon. Please! comment down below your questions, and let us know how much informative is this article for you. 🙂
