100 Crazy Good Recipes Using Almonds

fw-Smoked-Almond Butter with Crispy Rosemary

If you thought almonds were just a simple stir-in for salads, you've woefully underestimated them. We're going nuts over these almond recipes. With recipes from dips to casseroles to streusel toppings to desserrts, pretty much everything is better with almonds. You can buy them bagged in slivers and store them in the freezer to keep the fresh so that you always have a handful around when you need it.

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Almond-crusted Chicken

Photo: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Dan Becker

Almond-crusted Chicken Recipe
Coast strips of chicken breast with sliced almonds for this almond-crusted chicken dinner that delivers great flavor and satisfying crunch.

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Raspberry-Almond Streusel Muffins

Photo: David Prince; Styling: Linda Hirst

Raspberry-Almond Streusel Muffins Recipe
Raspberry-Almond Streusel Muffins get an update with slivered almonds for a nutty crunch.

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Spiced Banana-Almond Smoothie

Photo: Travis Rathbone

Spiced Banana-Almond Smoothie Recipe
Thanks to almond milk and almond butter, you get a double dose of the good stuff in Spiced Banana-Almond Smoothie. This smoothie satisfies as a breakfast or snack beverage.

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Smoky Almond-Parsley Pesto

Photo: Victor Prado

Smoky Almond-Parsley Pesto Recipe
A base of smoked almonds helps to create a rich, earthy pesto.

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Almond Toffee Popcorn

Almond Toffee Popcorn Recipe
Dress up your popcorn with the perfectly paired flavors of almond and toffee.

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Cranberry-Almond Coleslaw

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Amy Burke

Cranberry-Almond Coleslaw Recipe
Smoked almonds and dried cranberries give this sideline favorite just the right amount of flavor.

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Almond-Crusted Trout with Dill

Photo: Jennifer Causey

Almond-Crusted Trout with Dill Recipe

Trout gets an extra-crispy crust from the almonds. You could sub flounder for the trout and pecans or walnuts for the almonds.

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Blackberry Cobbler with Almond-Ginger Biscuits

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Blackberry Cobbler with Almond-Ginger Biscuits Recipe

Pockets of spicy crystallized ginger and sweet almonds are a surprising addition to this biscuit topping.

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Fresh Fig Galette

Photo: James Ransom; Styling: Claire Spollen

Fresh Fig Galette Recipe

Almond meal is nothing more than finely ground almonds; it adds a rich, crumbly texture and nutty flavor to the crust of this free-form tart.

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Marcona-Rosemary Ice Cream Sandwiches

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Marcona-Rosemary Ice Cream Sandwiches Recipe

Salt is essential in desserts; here it enhances all the herby-nutty flavors. If you can't find Marcona almonds, use toasted blanched almonds.

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Chocolate-Almond Fondue

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Kristen Shelton Fielder

Chocolate-Almond Fondue Recipe
Decadent Chocolate-Almond Fondue can be whipped up in one pot. Once ready, dunk your favorite chocolate vehicles, from pound cake to marshmallows and more, into the almond liqueur-laced fondue.

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Grapefruit and Avocado Salad

James Carrier

Grapefruit and Avocado Salad Recipe
Havilah Stewart puts smoked almonds in this salad for a salty, complex note. If smoked almonds are unavailable, substitute roasted salted almonds.

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Chocolate Almond Cupcakes

James Baigrie

Chocolate Almond Cupcakes Recipe
These rich chocolate cupcakes start from a package of cake mix and get a triple hit of almond flavor from almond paste, sliced almonds, and almond extract in the glaze.

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Pesto and Almond Farfalle

Photo: Colin Clark; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Pesto and Almond Farfalle Recipe
Fresh-cut greens beans and almonds add extra flair to this side dish of Pesto and Almond Farfalle.

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Chocolate-Almond Ice Cream with Coconut

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Cindy Barr

Chocolate-Almond Ice Cream with Coconut Recipe
Dark cocoa, roasted almonds and shaved coconut are added to this no-cook frozen dessert of Chocolate-Almond Ice Cream with Coconut.

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Almond Green Beans

Photo: Randy Mayor; Stylist: Cindy Barr

Almond Green Beans Recipe
This simple side dish of Almond Green Beans comes together easily and quickly. Toasted almonds add extra flavor and crunch to this fresh side.

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Watercress Salad with Verjus Vinaigrette

Photo: Anson Smart

Watercress Salad with Verjus Vinaigrette Recipe
At Benu, chef Corey Lee fries almonds and peels grapes for his compelling salad. At home, use roasted marcona almonds and unpeeled green grapes.

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Buttermilk Peach-Almond Cake

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams

Buttermilk Peach-Almond Cake Recipe
Buttermilk Peach-Almond Cake is a lightly sweet, very moist and simply delightful treat. The ground almonds give this cake pizzaz.

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Salted Candied Almonds

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Linda Hirst

Salted Candied Almonds Recipe

These salty and sweet almond treats are easy to make ahead.

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Smoked Trout-Celery Root Salad

David Prince

Smoked Trout-Celery Root Salad Recipe
Roxanne Chan garnishes this delicious fall salad with chopped smoked almonds. We liked it with plain toasted almonds too.

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Peachy Almond Shortcakes

Photo: Johnny Miller; Styling: Sarah Smart

Peachy Almond Shortcakes Recipe
Peachy Almond Shortcakes make a divine dessert when using ripe, locally gorwn peaches.

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Coconut-Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies

Photo: Kate Sears; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Coconut-Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
These tiny Coconut-Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies pack a lot of flavor!

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Almond-Graham Crust

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Linda Hirst

Almond-Graham Crust Recipe
Almond-Graham Crust serves as the tasty base for Key Lime Pie with Raspberry Sauce. We pump up the flavor to this graham cracker crust by adding chopped sliced almonds to the mixture.

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Linzer Muffins

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Linzer Muffins Recipe

Tender almond cake surrounds a raspberry filling in this playful riff on classic linzer torte.

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Peanut-Almond Snack Bars

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr

Peanut-Almond Snack Bars Recipe
Peanut-Almond Snack Bars feature pretzels, marshmallows, peanut butter, almonds, and even a little hint of chocolate. Is there any snack attack this bar can't beat?

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Almond Torte with Grilled Figs

Photo: Thomas J. Story

Almond Torte with Grilled Figs Recipe

From Erin Scott, creator of the blog (and cookbook) Yummy Supper, comes this lovely, not-too-sweet torte. It's equally good for dessert, a late-afternoon treat, or even breakfast. Almond flour gives it a rich, buttery texture; almond extract and sliced almonds heighten the flavor.

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Toasted Almond and Pecorino Snap Peas

Photo: Johnny Autry; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Toasted Almond and Pecorino Snap Peas Recipe
Toasted almonds and shaved pecorino Romano cheese heighten the flavor of these sugar snap peas. Serve this quick side of Toasted Almond and Pecorino Snap Peas to complement your favorite entree.

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Apricot-Almond Cobbler

Oxmoor House

Apricot-Almond Cobbler Recipe
Almonds and a sweet batter turn canned fruit into a decadent dessert.

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Chocolate-Dipped Cannoli with Pistachios

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Cindy Barr

Chocolate-Dipped Cannoli with Pistachios Recipe
Budget tip: You can substitute chopped peanuts or almonds for the pistachios.

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Pecan-Chocolate Chip Snack Cake

Photo: Karry Hosford

Pecan-Chocolate Chip Snack Cake Recipe
You can substitute chopped walnuts, almonds, or cashews for the pecans.

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Smoky Chipotle Snack Mix

Photo: Thomas J. Story; Styling: Randy Mon

Smoky Chipotle Snack Mix Recipe
This fun snack mix features corn cereal, slivered almonds, raisins, and ground chipotle chiles!

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Supercharged Cherry-Almond Cookies

Photo: Plamen Petkov

Supercharged Cherry-Almond Cookies Recipe
Fruits and nuts give this cookie nutritional cred: Almonds provide vitamin E, calcium, and magnesium; tart cherries contribute disease-fighting anthocyanins and sleep-regulating melatonin. Find almond flour in your supermarket's natural foods section, or pulse 1 cup almonds in a food processor.

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Raspberry-Almond Torte with Chocolate Ganache

Photography: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Lydia DeGaris-Pursell

Raspberry-Almond Torte with Chocolate Ganache Recipe
A torte is a cake enriched with nuts and often layered with jam. Almond paste is a mixture of ground almonds and sugar. Look for it in the baking aisle of most supermarkets.

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Strawberry-Almond Salad with Basil-Balsamic Vinaigrette

Oxmoor House

Strawberry-Almond Salad with Basil-Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe
The vinaigrette used to dress this salad adds a tang and sweetness to the crunchy almonds and juicy strawberries.

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Almond-Saffron Cake

Photo: Rick Lew; Styling: Ana Kelley

Almond-Saffron Cake Recipe

This delicious Almond-Saffron Cake delicately combines the flavors of orange zest, almond paste, and saffron - a costly spice derived from the saffron crocus flower.

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Apricot-Thyme Galette

Photo: Gentl & Hyers; Styling: Kendra Smoot

Apricot-Thyme Galette Recipe
A little bit of almond flour (also labeled almond meal) makes the dough more tender. Look for it on the baking aisle or in the gluten-free section.

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Baked Camembert with Pears

Photo: Christina Holmes

Baked Camembert with Pears Recipe
A splash of pear brandy plus maple syrup and Spanish almonds put a modern spin on baked Brie.

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Maple-Pecan Sundaes with Cinnamon Crisps

Photo: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Cindy Barr

Maple-Pecan Sundaes with Cinnamon Crisps Recipe
Vary the nuts to your kids' preferences--walnuts or almonds would be equally tasty.

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Banana-Caramel Sundaes

Photo: Oxmoor House

Banana-Caramel Sundaes Recipe
Candy-coated almonds give this superfast, simple ice-cream sundae a little something extra special. For variety, try substituting your favorite sugared or candied nut for the almonds.

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Spiced Honey Almonds

Oxmoor House

Spiced Honey Almonds Recipe
Intensify the flavor and add extra crunch to your almonds by toasting them first. The spicy-sweet coating tastes delicious on almonds or any nut such as pecans, peanuts, or cashews.

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Almond Brittle

Photo: Romulo Yanes; Styling: Paige Hicks

Almond Brittle Recipe

Substitute pecans, walnuts, peanuts, or pine nuts for almonds, if you prefer.

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Wasabi Peas & Almonds Coating

Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Wasabi Peas & Almonds Coating Recipe
Wasabi Peas & Almonds Coating takes you beyond the basic breadrumb topping for your favorite pork or chicken cutlet.

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Fried Brown Rice with Red Pepper and Almond

Photo: Justin Walker; Styling: Cindy Barr

Fried Brown Rice with Red Pepper and Almond Recipe
Thinly slice the pepper and onion so they cook quickly. You can sub cashews for the almonds.

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Chocolate-Dipped Almond Shortbread

Photo: Theresa Raffetto; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Chocolate-Dipped Almond Shortbread Recipe
Satisfy your sweet and salty cravings in one bite with these Chocolate-Dipped Almond Shortbread treats.

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Olive-Almond Green Beans

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Olive-Almond Green Beans Recipe
Move over plain green beans for a side serving of Olive-Almond Green Beans. The kalamata olives give these beans its saltiness, toasted almonds a bit of crunch, and a touch of citrus thanks to lemon rind.

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Chocolate-Nut Bars

Photo: Oxmoor House

Chocolate-Nut Bars Recipe
Flaxseed meal adds to the nuttiness of the walnuts and almonds in these delicious chocolate bar cookies.

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Cranberry-Almond Shortbread

Photo: Julie Bidwell; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Cranberry-Almond Shortbread Recipe
Teatime calls for Cranberry-Almond Shortbread. Vary this shortbread by using lemon zest instead of orange, walnuts instead of almonds, or currants instead of cranberries.

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Glazed Chicken with Almond Quinoa

Photo: Jason Wallis; Styling: Cindy Barr

Glazed Chicken with Almond Quinoa Recipe
We love the flavor combination of Glazed Chicken with Almond Quinoa. The almonds give the quinoa a nice crunch, and the glaze on the chicken is slightly sweet with a punch.

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Almendrados (Flourless Almond Cookies)

Photo: Johnny Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr

Almendrados (Flourless Almond Cookies) Recipe
Very little wheat is grown in Alicante, Spain, but almond trees abound, so a number of traditional desserts in the region use ground almonds in place of—or to supplement—precious flour. The almond base gives these flourless cookies a wonderfully nutty flavor.

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Oatmeal Toffee Cookies

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr, Jan Gautro

Oatmeal Toffee Cookies Recipe
Brown sugar and butter underscore the tawny sweetness of the almond toffee bits in these oatmeal toffee cookies.

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Stone Fruit Salad with Toasted Almonds

Stone Fruit Salad with Toasted Almonds Recipe
Almond oil adds subtle nutty flavor to the dressing. You can use olive oil, if you prefer.

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Chocolate-Amaretto Semifreddo

Iain Bagwell

Chocolate-Amaretto Semifreddo Recipe
Studded with dark cherries and toasted almonds, this creamy frozen dessert is a cinch to make.

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Chocolate-Almond Hearts

Chocolate-Almond Hearts Recipe
Blanched almonds are pretty white nuts with no brown skin coating. You can buy them at the supermarket.

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Double Chocolate-Raspberry Sundaes

Double Chocolate-Raspberry Sundaes Recipe
Get your chocolate fix with this chocolate ice cream sundae topped with chocolate shavings and sprinkled with toasted almonds.

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Sichuan Strawberry Slaw

Christina Schmidhofer

Sichuan Strawberry Slaw Recipe
Roxanne Chan livens up her green salad with strawberries, almonds, and a dressing with a chile kick.

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Cranberry Chutney

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Jan Gautro

Cranberry Chutney Recipe
Slivered almonds add crunch to Mary's favorite chutney, which she serves with shrimp or chicken.

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Amaretto Apple Streusel Cupcakes

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Cindy Barr

Amaretto Apple Streusel Cupcakes Recipe
Top tender apple cupcakes with a sweet and crunchy topping of brown sugar and almonds, then drizzle with a powdered sugar glaze. The amaretto adds an even more distinct almond flavor to the cupcakes, but if you don't have it, you can use almond extract instead.

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Broccoli-Grape Salad

Broccoli-Grape Salad Recipe
For transporting, pack bacon and almonds separately in zip-top plastic bags to keep crunchy.

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Sparkling Ornament Cookies

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Sparkling Ornament Cookies Recipe

These richly colored vanilla and almond-flavored cookies are perfect for little hands--the more sprinkles, the better!

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Almond Joy Blondies

Photo: Jessica Colyer

Almond Joy Blondies Recipe

If you're a fan of Almond Joy, the classic chocolate, almond, and coconut bars, you're going to fall head over heels for these blondies. This easy dessert lets actual Almond Joy bars become the centerpiece as they form swirls and chunks of delicious candy goodness. If you find yourself with a bag of leftover Halloween candy, save the Almond Joys for these sweet treats right here.

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Roasted Asparagus with Almonds

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Roasted Asparagus with Almonds Recipe

Roasted asparagus picks up a bit of crisp texture from the oven, but gets even more of it when topped with earthy almonds.

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Orange and Almond Salad

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Orange and Almond Salad Recipe

The Orange and Almond Salad, weighs in at less than 100 calories. A guilt-free lunch has never tasted better.

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Quinoa Salad with Apples, Almonds and Dried Cranberries

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Quinoa Salad with Apples, Almonds and Dried Cranberries Recipe

Toss quinoa with diced apples, toasted almonds, and dried cranberries and serve with a large lettuce leaf.

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Fettuccine with Squash & Pistachio Pesto

Photo: Annabelle Breakey; Styling: Randy Mon

Fettuccine with Squash & Pistachio Pesto Recipe

Cooking with store-bought cubed squash saves time on weeknights. You can sub in almonds or walnuts for the pistachios.

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Scandinavian Almond Cake

Photo: Oxmoor House

Scandinavian Almond Cake Recipe
Claimed by both the Norwegians and the Danes, this sugary almond-topped cake is a favorite for all.

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Arugula, Tomato, and Almond Salad

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Arugula, Tomato, and Almond Salad Recipe
Simple but delicious is the way one reader describes Arugula, Tomato, and Almond Salad. We think you will, too.

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Almond Lace

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Almond Lace Recipe
Almond Lace pairs deliciously with an afternoon cup of tea. These crisp, crunchy cookies will leave you pining for more.

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Halibut and Peach Salad with Lemon-Mint Vinaigrette

Photo: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Halibut and Peach Salad with Lemon-Mint Vinaigrette Recipe
You can substitute another sustainable white fish (such as tilapia or striped bass) for the halibut, and pecans or hazelnuts for the almonds.

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Sautéed Almond Green Beans

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Sautéed Almond Green Beans Recipe

Sprinkle almonds, salt, and pepper over sauteed green beans to prepare this simple side dish.

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Sweet Potato and Apple Casserole

Photo: Travis Rathbone; Styling: Megan Hedgpeth

Sweet Potato and Apple Casserole Recipe

Apples and sliced almonds make a glorious addition to classic sweet potato casserole.

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Almond-Lime Zesties

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Linda Hirst

Almond-Lime Zesties Recipe
With only five ingredients, Almond-Lime Zesties are straightforward and make a delectable afternoon (or anytime!) snack.

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Milk Chocolate Almond Shake

Oxmoor House

Milk Chocolate Almond Shake Recipe
This creamy shake is the perfect remedy for a hot summer afternoon. Cool off with the sweet flavors of almond milk ice cream and cocoa.

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Baby Lettuces with Feta, Strawberries and Almonds

Photo: Peden + Munk

Baby Lettuces with Feta, Strawberries and Almonds Recipe
This salad is an extraordinary combination of ingredients that wouldn't seem to go together: feta, strawberries and almonds.

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Chocolate-Chip-Pecan Cookie Bars

Photo: Con Poulos

Chocolate-Chip-Pecan Cookie Bars Recipe
Feel free to swap walnuts or almonds for the pecans, or use half nuts and half dried cranberries for tart, chewy bars.

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100 Crazy Good Recipes Using Almonds

1 of 101

Almond-crusted Chicken

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Raspberry-Almond Streusel Muffins

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Spiced Banana-Almond Smoothie

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Smoky Almond-Parsley Pesto

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Almond Toffee Popcorn

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Cranberry-Almond Coleslaw

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Almond-Crusted Trout with Dill

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Blackberry Cobbler with Almond-Ginger Biscuits

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Fresh Fig Galette

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Marcona-Rosemary Ice Cream Sandwiches

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Chocolate-Almond Fondue

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Grapefruit and Avocado Salad

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Chocolate Almond Cupcakes

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Pesto and Almond Farfalle

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Chocolate-Almond Ice Cream with Coconut

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Almond Green Beans

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Watercress Salad with Verjus Vinaigrette

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Buttermilk Peach-Almond Cake

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Salted Candied Almonds

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Smoked Trout-Celery Root Salad

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Peachy Almond Shortcakes

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Coconut-Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Almond-Graham Crust

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Linzer Muffins

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Peanut-Almond Snack Bars

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Almond Torte with Grilled Figs

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Toasted Almond and Pecorino Snap Peas

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Apricot-Almond Cobbler

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Chocolate-Dipped Cannoli with Pistachios

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Pecan-Chocolate Chip Snack Cake

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Smoky Chipotle Snack Mix

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Supercharged Cherry-Almond Cookies

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Raspberry-Almond Torte with Chocolate Ganache

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Strawberry-Almond Salad with Basil-Balsamic Vinaigrette

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Almond-Saffron Cake

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Apricot-Thyme Galette

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Baked Camembert with Pears

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Maple-Pecan Sundaes with Cinnamon Crisps

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Banana-Caramel Sundaes