What Is Almond extract and How Can I Use It?

Wondering what to do with almond extract? This guide covers how to pick it, cook it, store it, and swap it — with 722 recipes to put it to work.

What is almond extract?

Almond extract is a flavoring ingredient commonly used in baking both sweet and savory dishes, as well as in certain stovetop cooking applications. It is made by combining the natural oils in almonds with ethyl alcohol, such as vodka, and allowing the flavors to blend and mingle until the almond flavor becomes strong and pronounced.

Though imitation versions can often be found in grocery stores, the flavor of the imitation products is typically not as strong or true as that found in non-imitation extracts. Almond extract is typically used in making common baked goods like amaretto cookies, as well as marzipan, pancakes, and even meat stews.

For many people, the most common uses for almond extract are in sweet baked dishes such as cookies, cakes, and marzipan, but it is also frequently used in savory dishes as well. Since the extract is made using the oil of bitter almonds, the sweetness found in sweet almonds does not come through as strongly and makes the flavor of the extract perfect for numerous applications.