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Photo:
Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Whether they’re lending their rich, buttery crunch on top of
oven-baked casseroles
and side dishes or flavoring desserts in the form of ground flour or extract, almonds improve any dish they’re added to. These tree nuts enhance the flavor of savory green beans, make a crunchy crust for meats or muffins, and add a nutty sweetness to cakes and cookies. The following almond recipes are just a few of our favorite ways to use these crunchy little flavor bombs.
01
of 20
Raspberry- Almond Muffins With Honey Butter
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Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis
Almond flour gives these muffins an especially tender crumb, as well as that signature almond-y sweetness.
02
of 20
Baked Almond French Toast With Maple-Blackberry Syrup
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Photographer: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Missie Neville Crawford
Is it breakfast or dessert? You decide! A hint of almond extract and crunchy almonds on top make this baked French toast a hit.
03
of 20
Coconut-Almond Cream Cake
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Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Rose Nguyen
Almonds team up with coconut to flavor this cake from top to bottom, and inside-out.
04
of 20
Almond Snowballs
Ground toasted almonds give these powdery confections the most lovely, crumbly texture.
05
of 20
Chocolate Icebox Cake
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Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke
Layered with ladyfingers that soak up the chocolate and almond-flavored filling, this dessert reminds us of
Italian tiramisu
.
06
of 20
Christmas Wreath Pastry
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Southern Living
Also sold as marzipan, almond paste packs this gorgeous pastry wreath with an almondy punch.
07
of 20
Lemon Meringue Cheesecake
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Almonds add body to this stunning cheesecake’s cookie crumb crust.
08
of 20
Cranberry-Almond Cookies
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Ralph Anderson; Styling: Mary Lyn Hill
Calling all almond lovers—these festive cookies are just what you’re looking for.
09
of 20
Herbed Chicken-And-Rice Salad
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ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; FOOD STYLING: ALI RAMEE; PROP STYLING: CHRISTINE KEELY
Toss almonds into this easy
rotisserie chicken recipe
to make a weeknight dinner feel a little bit fancy.
10
of 20
Chicken And Wild Rice Casserole
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Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Almonds aren’t just for dessert! Here, they dress up a classic, comforting casserole for company.
11
of 20
Two-Layer Pimiento-And-Cheese Dip With Smoked Almonds
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Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Micah Morton; Prop Stylist: Ginny Branch
The crunch and nutty flavor of almonds in this dip adds a nice contrast to its Cheddar and cream cheese base.
12
of 20
Hot Chicken Salad
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
When it comes to creamy casseroles, almonds are the perfect way to add a contrasting crunch.
13
of 20
Green Bean Almondine
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Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Karen Rankin
Like
trout almondine
minus the fish, this side dish is one of our favorite ways to eat green beans.
14
of 20
Stovetop Rice Pudding
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Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn
Rice pudding is one of the creamiest, most comforting desserts out there. Buttery toasted almonds provide a lovely crunch.
15
of 20
Quick And Easy Cream Cheese Danish
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Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist Christine Keely
A sprinkle of toasted almonds gives these easy homemade pastries a bakery-style look; stir a drop of almond extract into the glaze for an extra punch.
16
of 20
Farro Salad
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Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Costen King, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
Smoked almonds stand out without stealing the show in this farro salad filled with grains.
17
of 20
Fruitcake
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Slivered almonds and pecan halves add a nice crunch and toothsome chew to this
classic fruitcake recipe
.
18
of 20
Million Dollar Dip
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Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
Almonds add just the right texture to this delicious deconstructed cheese ball. Serve alongside crackers or crostini for the ultimate almond appetizer.
19
of 20
Million Dollar Chicken
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Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
In keeping with the million-dollar theme, this chicken dish is rich and decadent. We add almonds in the cream cheese and bacon topping and garnish with more after baking.
20
of 20
Oven-Roasted Asparagus
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Slivered almonds instantly transform a sleepy side into a company-worthy dish.