36 Almond Recipes You’d Be Nutty Not to Try

From the Recipe Creator: I created this pineapple sour cream coffee cake recipe for a contest at the Los Angeles County Fair in the 1980s. My kids were very proud of me when my name was called for first place. The cake would be the perfect partner for morning coffee or it’d be a delightful dessert with a scoop of ice cream. —Marina Castle-Kelley, Canyon Country, California

From the Recipe Creator: This ice cream tastes like Almond Joy candy bars. Using a toaster oven and countertop ice cream maker couldn’t make this any easier. It took several tries to find the right textures. I landed on sliced almonds, unsweetened finely shredded coconut and chopped chocolate. —Linda Kirkpatrick, Westminster, Maryland

From the Recipe Creator: These crunchy air-fryer cinnamon almonds are a spectacular treat to take to a party or gathering. They taste just like the roasted almonds you get at the fair. —Janice Thompson, Stacy, Minnesota

From the Recipe Creator: This fresh and colorful side dish is delicious served warm or cold. I get lots of compliments on the homemade salad dressing. —Millie Vickery, Lena, Illinois

From the Recipe Creator: These lovely, golden brown anise pizzelle cookies have a crisp texture and delicate anise flavor. I create them using a pizzelle iron. —Barbara Colucci, Rockledge, Florida

From the Recipe Creator: Our state produces an abundance of lemons, and everyone is always looking for new ways to use them. This beautiful tart is my delicious solution to the excess-lemon problem! —Lois Kinneberg, Phoenix, Arizona

From the Recipe Creator: As kids, my friends and I sandwiched Almond Joys between cookies. For our high school reunion, I re-created the idea with a tasty baked version that breaks apart like chocolate bark.—Faith Cromwell, San Francisco, California

From the Recipe Creator: This is one of the best peach dump cake recipes in the world. It’s sweet, tender cake with a beautifully crisp cobbler topping. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side, and dessert’s golden. —Keri Sparks, Little Elm, Texas

From the Recipe Creator: I had never seen a "pie without a pan" until my daughter brought back this wonderful pear almond tart recipe from a Rotary Club exchange program in Belgium. It's still a family favorite after all these years. —Sherry LaMay, Capitan, New Mexico

From the Recipe Creator: In this Horchata recipe, the mixture of ground rice and almonds is accented with a hint of lime. Depending on your preference, you can use more or less water for a thinner or creamier beverage. —James Schend, Dairy Freed

From the Recipe Creator: This tender side dish is perfect for the holidays or any time you want to add a special touch. Dried cranberries, currants and almonds serve up color and texture. My co-workers all make this rice pilaf for their families. —Pat Gardetta, Osage Beach, Missouri

From the Recipe Creator: I love the combination of flavors in this tropical treat, and it takes mere minutes to make. If you need something for a school or church bake sale, this will get you out of the kitchen in a flash. —Julie Beckwith, Crete, Illinois

From the Recipe Creator: Similar to an almond crescent, this coffee cake is light and flaky, with a rich almond center. It’s so versatile you can serve it for dessert, breakfast or brunch. It will taste as if it was made from scratch at a bakery, yet the packaged puff pastry makes the recipe quick and easy. —Gina Idone, Staten Island, New York

From the Recipe Creator: Crunchy veggies and noodles are coated in a tangy dressing in this pleasant slaw. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen

From the Recipe Creator: We like to venture out into the mountain range that surrounds our family cabin. These nuts never taste better than when we enjoy them together at the peak of an amazing hike. Almonds are extremely nutritious, and when dressed up with a wonderful blend of spices, they go from ordinary to awesome! —Gina Myers, Spokane, Washington

From the Recipe Creator: For a change from the usual toasted tomato appetizer, try this baked crostini recipe. If you like, slice the baguette at an angle instead of making a straight cut. —Leondre Hermann, Stuart, Florida

From the Recipe Creator: Each Christmas, my mother baked these Chinese almond cookies and stored them in clean coffee cans. When she passed away, I started giving our kids a can of these sentimental sweets. (Traditional Chinese almond cookies typically use lard, but butter is a great substitute if you don’t have lard on hand.) —Jane Garing, Talladega, Alabama

From the Recipe Creator: Since changing to a healthier style of cooking, I’ve come up with new coatings for baked fish. I pair the health benefits of almonds with panko bread crumbs and a smidge of hot sauce to add crunchy texture with nice heat. —Amanda Flinner, Beaver, Pennsylvania

From the Recipe Creator: With colorful green beans and pimientos, this attractive casserole is terrific for the holidays. This is true comfort food at its finest. —Kat Woolbright, Wichita Falls, Texas

From the Recipe Creator: My easy almond roca recipe is an old favorite that we keep in steady use from mid-November until the New Year. Homemade gifts are still a Christmas tradition at our house.

From the Recipe Creator: Cornmeal adds a rustic quality to this delicate dessert flavored with citrus and almond. It’s sure to be a staple in your recipe collection and also makes a great holiday party hostess gift. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California

From the Recipe Creator: This soup tastes rich and decadent, but is really very healthy! Bonus—it’s vegan, and also makes your house smell amazing! —Barbara Marynowski, Hutto, Texas

From the Recipe Creator: My grandmother made this treat every year for Christmas. It’s much better than everyday apple pie. The recipe is a family treasure. —Maxine Theriauit, Nashua, New Hampshire

From the Recipe Creator: Give traditional lemon bars a tasty twist with the addition of almonds and coconut. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen

From the Recipe Creator: I received this recipe along with a set of springform pans from a cousin at my wedding shower 11 years ago. It makes a heavenly cheesecake. My son Tommy has already told me he wants it again for his birthday cake this year. —Brenda Clifford, Overland Park, Kansas

From the Recipe Creator: Summer is peak season for Key limes—a must for this pie’s distinctive sweet-tart flavor. Unlike other Key lime pies, mine has a smooth marshmallow layer on top. This makes it stand out as a crowd favorite. —Judy Castranova, New Bern, North Carolina

From the Recipe Creator: Everyone’s a chocolate lover when it comes to this chocolate cheesecake. It melts in your mouth, and it’s very smooth and fudgy. For a fun taste twist, spoon cherry or strawberry topping over each slice right before serving. —Sue Call, Beech Grove, Indiana

From the Recipe Creator: I love to make recipes with nuts. These are chocolaty with a hint of coffee—elegant and addictive! I love giving these gifts in a jar; I’ve even made them as edible wedding favors. —Annette Scholz, Medaryville, Indiana

From the Recipe Creator: A cookie-like crust holds the sensational filling of cream cheese, apples and almonds. This comforting apple torte will be welcomed addition to a bake sale or potluck. —Sheila Swift, Dobson, North Carolina

From the Recipe Creator: My mother used to prepare this chicken salad with grapes and almonds for an evening meal during the hot summer months. It’s my favorite of my mother’s chicken salad recipes. You can also serve it as a delicious but quick luncheon or potluck dish. —Kathy Kittell, Lenexa, Kansas

From the Recipe Creator: My idea was to make a cheesecake taste like my favorite candy bar, which has chocolate, coconut and almonds. This cheesecake also works in bite size. Use a mini muffin pan with muffin liners, fill 3/4 full and bake 15-17 minutes. Allow to sit and cool completely before topping with chocolate, coconut and almonds. —Keri Brammer, Lawton, Oklahoma

From the Recipe Creator: The Kentucky Hot Brown is the best sandwich you will ever eat with a knife and fork. This epic open-faced delight has thick slices of bread, turkey, bacon, tomato and cheese, all bathed in a rich, irresistible sauce. —Kristina Vanni, North Hollywood, California

From the Recipe Creator: A luscious, chocolate-studded cannoli filling separates the tender vanilla layers of this rich cake, which starts with a package mix. It’s best when served well chilled.—Antoinette Owens, Ridgefield, Connecticut

From the Recipe Creator: I started cooking at age 13 when my brother, sister and I moved from an orphanage into a house with 13 rooms and 10 people. My sister and I became the household cooks. To this day, I like to cook but hate washing the dishes! — Charlene Griffin, Minocqua, Wisconsin

From the Recipe Creator: Beverly Preston of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin started making Almond Cookies after enjoying similar ones at her favorite Chinese restaurant. “These crisp cookies have a wonderful almond flavor,” she says.