15+ Popular Almond Extract Substitutes

Almond extract is a common baking ingredient, but how many almond extract substitutes are there in the world? Can you guess it? In case you’re looking for the answer, then consider scrolling down and read this whole article! It may provide you with something helpful!

The flavor of the almond extract can be replaced by some other flavors coming from many baking ingredients! If you don’t have almond extract in hand, you should know about these replacements! Want to know what they are? Stay and read more!

What Is Almond Extract, Exactly?

Almond extract is a typical baking ingredient and flavor enhancer that can join in various dishes. Its strong, nutty flavor is quite distinctive but can be replaced by some similar liquids. Almond extract is often added to recipes, including vanilla, coffee, chocolate.

There are two types of almond extract that you can use in most dishes: natural and pure almond extract. The natural one is made of cassia bark. It tastes strong, sweet, but pungent. The pure almond extract is more common and has a sweet, fruity aroma to tell.

Almond extract is actually easy to find in any grocery store near your house since it is a well-known ingredient. But in some emergencies, when you can’t find it in your kitchen, you should use other available alternatives to save your dish!

You can even make almond extract from peach pits! How cool is that?

17 Almond Extract Substitutes That You May Not Realize

Here is a brief almond extract alternative table with a recommended ratio for you to see! More specific information about them is coming right up below the table.

1. Vanilla Extract

Vanilla extract may be considered the closest one in taste to that of almond extract! It’s even more common than almond extract when it comes to baking ingredients. I’m sure that most of you can probably have vanilla extract in your pantry.

Compared to almond extract, vanilla extract has a milder taste, not a powerful one. However, it also provides warmth and a pleasant, sweet smell like almond extract. They can be used interchangeably in most recipes with a suitable ratio.

Vanilla extract is safe for nut-allergic individuals. If you aren’t really into the strong taste of almond extract, vanilla extract is a great choice! Because of its mildness, you should use more of it to stand in for almond extract.

With every 3 drops of almond extract, you can replace it with a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Or you can also use twice as much vanilla extract as the almond extract called for in the recipe.

2. Cinnamon

Cinnamon, especially ground cinnamon, is a popular aromatic spice. It has a signature flavor and warmth that is usually used in baking pies or cakes. Apple pie from America is one of the most well-known pies that includes cinnamon.

As an almond extract alternative, cinnamon best suits non-fruity desserts because its taste may overpower the natural flavors of fruits in a recipe.

Cinnamon may not remind you of almond extract for the appearance or taste at first, but it will bring a nutty and spicy flavor like almond extract when being mixed with some other components.

The recommended ratio of cinnamon as an almond extract replacement is half a teaspoon of cinnamon in place of 2 almond extract drops. I suggest that you mix cinnamon with some vanilla extract for a better result with an aromatic smell.

3. Almond-Flavored Liqueur

Almond-flavored liqueurs are liqueurs made of almonds, apricot pits, or sometimes both of them. It is apparently made of almond too, just like almond extract. Therefore, their taste is somehow similar. One typical kind of almond-flavored liqueur is Amaretto.

In fact, almond-flavored liqueur shares the same characteristics with almond extract, but it has higher alcohol content. Don’t worry, the alcohol will be eliminated during the cooking process. The outcome will be safe for your kids to eat.

You should not add too much almond-flavored liqueur in a recipe, since overusing it may cause an unpleasant smell and a quite bitter flavor to your dish. Also, try to modify the amount of other liquids so that your fillings, sauces or batters won’t water down.

When using almond-flavored liqueur to replace almond extract, you can use the 1:1 ratio, but be aware that its bitter aftertaste may be a bit overwhelming. In some cases, you can substitute 1 teaspoon of almond extract with 4-8 teaspoons of almond-flavored liqueur.

Want to make yourself some amaretto? Check this out!

4. Spiced Liquor

If your house happens to have some classic liquor like rum or bourbon, you can make use of them to stand in for almond extract in certain dishes. The spiced liquor is effective and provides your dish with some aromatic and distinctive flavors.

For the substitution, you may want to replace 1 teaspoon of almond extract with 2 or 3 teaspoons of spiced liquor. You can also modify the amount of spiced liquor by your preference. The final dish will surely amaze you and your family!

5. Orange Zest

Orange zest can be made use of from the oranges you have just eaten. Both fresh or dried orange zest will do. The citrusy, fruity, and natural sour aroma with some bitter zest notes make it perfect for a baked recipe, especially in place of almond extract!

Orange zest can easily pair with muffins, cupcakes, pies, and many more baked recipes as an almond extract equivalent. Unlike cinnamon, it is a highlight when being added to fruity cakes since it basically comes from citrus fruit. Icing and filling recipes are also included.

For the substitution, with every 2 to 3 drops of almond extract, you should add 1 teaspoon of orange zest to the baking dish. Using the cheese grater may help you a lot.

6. Imitation Almond Extract

Imitation almond extract is one of the best almond extract equivalents, which you can see right from the name! However, it is made of an artificial ingredient called benzaldehyde, not almond oil. ⁽¹⁾ It is a synthetic version of the pure one, so their tastes are exactly the same.

Imitation almond extract is also a safe replacement for those who can’t consume nuts in general. You may use this extract in some recipes that need natural or pure almond extract. Nevertheless, this ingredient is a bit hard to find in regular grocery stores.

You can use 1 teaspoon of imitation almond extract to replace 1 teaspoon of almond extract called for in the recipe. You may also want to use half a teaspoon of imitation almond extract to replace a full teaspoon of the required almond extract.

7. Almond Milk

If your recipes call for both almond extract and milk, just replace them with almond milk! You can easily buy or make almond milk at home. You should cook the milk at low heat to eliminate some water before using to get a more concentrated liquid.

Almond milk can surely bring the nutty almond flavor to your dish, which almond extract does. Use almond milk to replace almond extract (and milk) with a 1:1 ratio and your dish is good to go!

Almond milk is super simple to make at home! Try this recipe now!

8. Maraschino Cherry Juice

Have you ever tasted cherry juice? If yes, do you find its taste like that of almonds? Cherry and almonds can be used interchangeably in some recipes. Maraschino cherries originate from Croatian and are usually used to make maraschino liqueur. ⁽²⁾

Maraschino cherry juice may be odd to some of you, but it can be a great substitute for almond extract. With 1 teaspoon of almond extract, you can replace it with 4 teaspoons of maraschino cherry juice or just add as much as you like.

9. Hazelnut Extract

Besides almond extract, hazelnut is also a wonderful nut extract! The warm, nutty aroma and taste of hazelnut extract resemble almond extract’s flavor. It is also easy to purchase at supermarkets or baking stores.

Hazel extract brings more flavors to your cakes, ice cream, coffee, cookies, frosting, fillings that may surprise you! Both hazelnut and almond extracts are from nuts, so of course, hazelnut extract may not be an ideal replacement for nut-allergic consumers.

You can use hazelnut extract in the way you use almond extract since their form and texture is exactly the same. Therefore, the usual 1:1 ratio can easily be applied in this case.

10. Pecan Extract

Just like hazelnut extract, pecan extract is also a wonderful extract to use in place of almond extract in most baking recipes. Like other nut extracts, it gives off a nutty, aromatic, warm flavor in your desserts.

If you happen to have some pecan extract on hand, don’t hesitate to use it to replace almond extract in the dish that you’re cooking at the moment! It will guarantee the nutty taste very well. Like hazelnut extract, you can substitute almond extract with pecan extract 1 to 1.

11. Walnut Extract

Once again, the best way to replace a nut extract is to find another one to stand in! This is also applied to walnut extract – the third nut extract in this list. Like the last two extracts, the walnut extract also provides a warm, tasty, nutty flavor to the dish.

In most baking recipes calling for almond extract, you can use 1 teaspoon of walnut extract to replace 1 teaspoon of almond extract. Walnut extract can work really well with cookies, pies, cakes, cupcakes, and some beverages.

12. Homemade Vanilla Bean Paste

Vanilla bean paste is also a great product that includes vanilla. Its flavor profile is rich with a strong vanilla taste that is just like the vanilla extract. However, you should notice that some real bean dark specks will appear in your light-colored dish.

When using vanilla bean paste as an almond extract replacement, you should double the amount of bean paste to maintain the taste of almond extract, which means that you can replace 1 teaspoon of almond extract with 2 teaspoons of vanilla bean paste.

13. Mint Extract

Mint extract is a nut-free extract, so allergic individuals can use it freely. If you have tasted mint, you will remember its distinctive taste: fresh, herby, and somehow spicy. In baking, it goes best with chocolate recipes since mint chocolate is a very famous flavor.

Because it is also in extract form, mint extract can easily replace almond extract with 1:1 substitution. The nutty taste may be off, but the fresh flavor helps enhance other ingredients pretty well! Try this equivalent if you are cooking something with chocolate!

14. Homemade Chocolate Extract

Chocolate extract tastes really strongly of chocolate aroma. It is usually used in cookies, muffins, some specific pies, and many more chocolate-based desserts. A common beverage that uses chocolate extract to enhance the original taste is hot chocolate.

Chocolate extract is also a nut-free extract so it’s friendly with those who are allergic to nuts. It goes pretty well with tart and citrus fruits, so you should consider adding it to the dishes that include these fruits.

Like other extracts, chocolate extract can also be used as an effective almond extract equivalent with the golden 1:1 ratio! However, the strong chocolate taste may be somehow overpowering, so you should keep this in mind and taste your dish regularly to adjust.

If you happen to have both chocolate and mint extract in your pantry, how about mixing them together? 2 teaspoons of chocolate extract plus 2 teaspoons of mint extract can easily stand in for 2 to 3 drops of almond extract in a baking recipe.

15. Diluted Almond Essential Oil

Do you know that almond essential oil is used in the beauty industry? This oil is usually used to make soaps, lotions, and other cosmetics. For culinary purposes, almond essential oil must be diluted before using.

You should only use a tiny amount to substitute diluted almond essential oil for almond extract because it tastes much more robust than the extract version. Add a few drops in your dish and taste your dish regularly to adjust to your likings.

You can learn the right way to dilute essential oil here!

16. Cherry Pit Syrup

Cherry pit syrup is another product from cherry that can stand in for almond extract! It consists of a subtle almond flavor with a fruity aftertaste, resembling the almond extract. This syrup is used in so many desserts and sweet dishes without being too dominant in taste.

Cherry pit syrup works really well with stone-fruit desserts, such as apricot tart or cherry cake. Since the taste of this syrup is much milder than that of almond extract, you should add more of them to a recipe to maintain the taste.

With every teaspoon of almond extract, you should add 4 teaspoons of cherry pit syrup to replace. Follow this ratio or adjust to your likings to suit your taste buds!

17. Homemade Almond Extract

Can’t find any almond extract alternative? Do it yourself! Almond extract is actually very simple to do at home, but it may take you some time, about a few months, to develop the right taste of almond extract from fresh almonds.

If you do it right, the DIY version can be as good as the original one! Just do it and store it in your pantry to save for the upcoming dish if you have some spare time. You just need two ingredients: raw nuts and a liqueur, with some simple steps.

With a teaspoon of original almond extract, you can replace it with 1 teaspoon of your homemade almond extract. Enjoy your excellent DIY work!

FAQs

Some frequently asked questions about almond extract substitutes have been collected and answered by me! Hope you can find something useful for yourself in this section! If you happen to have more questions, feel free to ask me at the end of this post.

Have You Found The Best Almond Extract Substitute?

As you can see, the almond extract substitutes listed above are the easiest to find and may already appear in your kitchen! In the worst case where you don’t have any of them, just don’t add anything else if the recipe includes other strong flavors like vanilla or butter.

Hope that you find this article helpful to yourself, your family, and friends! Don’t wait for any second longer to share it with them if they are struggling to find some almond extract replacements for their dishes! If more questions pop up in your head, just ask me below!

References

1. En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Benzaldehyde – Wikipedia.
2. En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Maraschino cherry – Wikipedia.