Vegan Almond Snack Recipes

Steps:

• Place the 2 1/2 cups (250 grams) almonds, the sugar, aquafaba, almond extract, and salt in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Paddle on medium-high speed for 10 minutes. Yes, 10 full minutes! The almonds will slowly break down and eventually the batter should look like thick quicksand. Scrape the batter into an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight, to allow it to stiffen up a little bit.
• When ready to bake the cookies, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F and place a rack in the center of the oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray it very liberally with pan spray--this is a sticky cookie, so don't be shy. Using a small (2-tablespoon) ice cream scoop or large spoon, scoop balls of dough about the size of golf balls onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them a few inches apart. Press the dough with the palm of your hand to flatten the cookies until they are about 1/2 inch thick (moisten your hand with water to prevent sticking). Sprinkle the cookies liberally with the remaining 1/2 cup (50 grams) almonds and press slightly to adhere. Bake for 26 to 30 minutes, rotating the baking sheet midway through the baking time, until the cookies are totally medium golden brown on top and along the edges and the almonds are lightly toasted. Don't underbake or they will be gummy in the center. Let cool on the baking sheet on a wire rack.
• Almond macaroons can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Steps:

• Place almonds in the bowl of a food processor; process to a meal-like consistency, scraping down the sides and over the bottom of the bowl as needed. Don't overprocess it--at this point, the mixture should still be crumbly, not paste-like.
• Combine 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar and water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook over medium heat for 4 minutes. Start checking the temperature with a candy thermometer every minute or so, and continue to cook until it reaches 240 degrees F (115 degrees C) and is a medium-thick syrup, about 6 to 8 minutes longer. Don't overcook the syrup, otherwise it will harden when cool.
• Remove from the heat and stir in almonds and almond extract. Return to the heat and cook, stirring with a spatula and scraping over the bottom and down the sides of the pan to prevent scorching, just until the almond paste holds together, 30 to 60 seconds. Be careful not to cook it for too long, or it will caramelize.
• Remove from the heat. When cool enough to handle, use it right away, or wrap it in waxed paper and store in an airtight container to use within a few weeks. Or, place the wrapped almond paste in a freezer bag and freeze for up to six months.