Almond extract is a manufactured food flavoring, derived from ethyl alcohol and bitter almond oil. It is commonly used in desserts, baking, beverages and several other savory dishes. Mentioned in this article are some substitutes for almond extract that are quite feasible.
From almond flavor drinks and bread to pastries and cookies, almost every recipe calls for almond extract.
Almond extract works as a great flavor enhancer for numerous pairings, for instance, chocolate, strawberries, vanilla, peach and other flavors.
It gives off a mildly sweet, aromatic hint. It even works in recipes for sauces and salad dressings.
Almond extract infuses a hint of nuttiness and has a robust flavor. It is excellent for cakes, cookies and brownies, etc. but avoid using it for frosting or ice-cream.
But what if you’re out of almond extract, not a fan of the way it tastes or trying to avoid it due to nut allergy? Worry not, for we’ve got you covered.
4 Quick And Easy Substitutes For Almond Extract
Here we’ve cited some substitutes for almond extract that might already be residing in your cabinet.
Vanilla Essence
For this substitute, you need
- 2 tsp vanilla essence per tsp of almond extract
Use twice as much vanilla extract as almond extract. Vanilla will nicely mix with the other ingredients, but it might cause a slight change in the taste of the final dish.
To obtain the same impact as almond extract, you need to deploy vanilla essence twice as much as of that, as almond extract, in contrast to vanilla essence, has a much more concentrated flavor.
As vanilla essence itself is an extract, only a little amount of it is significant as compared to other replacements.
Though vanilla essence acts identically from the perspective of being an extract. However, you cannot help but notice that it causes a slight change in the taste of the final product.
Vanilla essence, similar to almond extract, is commonly used in baking.
Best for Cakes and brownies
Almond Flavored Liqueur
For this substitute, you need:
- 4-8 tsp of almond flavored liqueur per tsp of almond extract
Almond flavored liqueur or amaretto can be substituted easily for almond extract as they both taste like cherries. Similarly, other fake cherry flavors can be added to the dish to get the taste of the almond extract.
The main thing about almond liqueur here is that you need to use four to eight times as much of liqueur as the extract to attain the same almond flavor in your finished product.
As adding so much of the liqueur will cause a significant bump for the wet ingredients in your recipe, you might want to scale back upon some of the other wet ingredients included in your recipe to maintain the standard texture of the dish and not make it watery.
As extracts only add a bit to the flavor, it will not make much difference to eliminate it.
Best for Cookies and muffins
Chocolate and Mint Extract
For this substitute, you need:
- 2 tsp chocolate extract
- 2 tsp mint extract
As the name suggests, the chocolate extract is a flavoring obtained from soaking cocoa beans in alcohol. The finished product is a liquid having a dark-colored, brownish, pungent extract.
Chocolate extract enhances the flavor of any recipe that deploys chocolate in the ingredients, for instance, cakes, cookies and ice-cream.
The primary purpose of the chocolate extract is to add a sort of depth to the recipes that already use chocolate as an ingredient; however, it can be used as a replacement for chocolate.
The one we are talking about is an original flavoring. But be warned, artificial extracts are also available in the markets.
Mint extract is made using two leading spirits, namely vodka and bourbon. However, it is not very readily accessible in the market.
Therefore, most people prepare it in their homes and store it for up to 2 months.
Best for Pastries and cakes
Homemade Almond Extract
For this substitute, you need:
- A dozen almonds
- Vodka (alcoholic)
- Food-grade Glycerin (non-alcoholic)
Yes, you read it right. You can make your own almond extract with the comfort of home.
It’s as easy as anything. All you require for this extract is a dozen slightly toasted, chopped almonds. Gather them together in a jar. Add vodka in a glass jar and leave it for a couple of months.
Yes, you’d be correct to think that this process requires extended time and might not be of any use to you if you require an immediate measure of your problem. But you can store it for later use. You might need it in the future.
You must be wondering why such a long time? It requires a long period as it needs time to ferment and develop the actual almond flavor.
The best part about making your own almond extract is that you get to decide whether you want an alcoholic or non-alcoholic extract.
For an alcoholic extract, deploy vodka, for it contains a high concentration of alcohol. And use food-grade Glycerin if you want a non-alcoholic extract. Best for Cakes, cookies and other baking recipes.
Conclusion
Whether you agree with these almond extract critics or not, you cannot deny the fact that almond extract works very well in baking recipes for a strong flavor. Its flavor is robust because it is obtained from bitter almond oil and ethyl alcohol, which are known to have vigorous nuance.
The almond extract works as if it defies the boundaries of time, taste, characteristic and flavor. But no wonder that whatever thing has benefits, it has disadvantages also. To overcome these disadvantages, we’ve come up with a solution for you.
Deploy the above-stated substitutes for almond extract in case you are allergic to nuts, or you simply ran out of it. No need to rush to the grocery store because these ingredients already reside in your kitchen cabinet.
Rock your dish with these fantastic substitutes.
FUN FACT: Almond extract can cause your death if used in a large amount.
Have a nice day ahead!
