Authentic home cooking from France, with US measurements.

Originally published on Cookpad France as #cuisine orientale : Pommes à la pâte d'amande

Algerian Almond Paste Apples

Name: Algerian Almond Paste Apples
Yield: Serves 14 servings
Ingredients: 1 small sponge cake, crumbled; 7 tablespoons (100 g) buttercream; 2 cups (200 g) finely ground almonds; 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar; 1 teaspoon softened butter; Green food coloring; Red food coloring; Apple flavoring; 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar; 1 cup (240 ml) water

Fouzia Touraret @cook_13298725

Constantine Algerie

This is an Algerian almond-based pastry recipe that reminds me of my childhood, when my mother would prepare all kinds of fruit-shaped treats for celebrations and Eid. When I became a mother myself, I often made this recipe with my daughters, and it was a huge hit at my eldest daughter's wedding.

Fouzia Touraret @cook_13298725

Saved

Ingredients

Serves 14 servings

1small sponge cake, crumbled
7 tablespoons (100 g)buttercream
For the almond paste:
2 cups (200 g)finely ground almonds
1 cup (200 g)granulated sugar
1 teaspoonsoftened butter
Green food coloring
Red food coloring
Apple flavoring
Syrup:
1 cup (200 g)granulated sugar
1 cup (240 ml)water

Saved

Steps

1

Gradually mix the buttercream into the crumbled sponge cake and form 15 g balls.
2

To make the syrup: Combine the sugar and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
3

For the almond paste: Mix the ground almonds with the sugar and sift together.
4

Gradually add the cooled syrup to the almond-sugar mixture until you get a dough that is neither too soft nor too firm.
5

Mix in the teaspoon of butter to the almond paste.
6

Add a few drops of green food coloring.
7

Add the apple flavoring.
8

Form 35 g balls of almond paste.
9

Flatten each almond paste ball in your palm using the fingers of your other hand.
10

Place a ball of the sponge cake and buttercream mixture in the center of the flattened almond paste and close it up to form a ball.
11

Shape the ball into an apple.
12

Using a brush, paint one side of the apple red, freehand, as shown in the photo.
13

Shape a leaf from the almond paste and place it on the apple.
14

Lightly dust with powdered sugar and place in paper cups.
15

You can also shape pears by coloring the almond paste yellow and flavoring it with pear extract. Paint one side red and add a green leaf.
16

You can make figs by using green almond paste flavored with fig extract.
17

You can also make peaches by leaving the almond paste white and flavoring it with peach extract. Paint the formed peach red on one side and add a leaf.
18

For lemons, color the almond paste yellow and flavor with lemon extract, then top with a green leaf. You can use this method to create any fruit you like.
19