Almond cream is a flavourful and rich vegan filling that can be used to make incredible french pastries, fill tarts, or stuff croissants!
What is crème d’amande?
Crème d’amande, also known as almond cream or frangipane is an incredibly versatile almond-flavored filling that is used, mostly cooked, in multiple classic French desserts and pastries like Pithivier, almond croissants, or Tarte Bourdaloue.
While frangipane is traditionally made with eggs and butter, this version is 100% plant-based and tastes just like the real deal. This vegan almond cream is very quick and easy to make. Vegan crème d’amande is a great stepping stone for beginner bakers starting out their exploration is french pastry making.
After all, this recipe is so easy that all you need to make this recipe is a large bowl and a spatula or whisk depending on your preference.
Cooking frangipane
When using this almond cream in a pie, leave 1 to 1.5 cm of free space to the edge of the pie. While the pie might seem underfilled, almond cream does puff up when it cooks. Leaving this extra space will save you from a pie spilling over during the cooking process.
When using in a large pie, cook for 45 minutes to 1 h at 250F or 120C. You will know the almond cream is cooked when the cream doesn’t jiggle when the pie is shaken. You can also poke a toothpick in the middle of your cream and if it comes out clean, it is ready. Well, cooked almond cream should be golden brown to even dark brown on the edges.
Great ways to use crème d’amande
Here are some great ways to use vegan crème d’amande
- Bakewell tart and other fruit pies
- Slice in half day-old croissants, dip in plant-based milk and stuff with almond cream. Bake until golden brown.
- Almond-cream stuffed roasted half apricots or peaches
- Use as a french toast stuffing or baked crêpe
You could also switch things up by using a different kind of powdered nuts, like hazelnuts or macadamia nuts.
Vegan almond cream as a pie filling
Since this vegan almond cream truly shines when paired with fruits and used in tarts, let's see together how to make any fruit and frangipane tart.
- Make the almond cream
Make the vegan almond cream and place it in a pastry bag with a large round pastry tip for a clean and easy filling experience.
- Foncer
Roll out and line your tart tin with your crust. A pâte sucrée is best for this type of filling. Prick the bottom of the crust with a fork.
- Fill
Fill with your almond cream. A 2 cm thickness of cream is often enough for most tart, as this almond cream does rise as it bakes.
- Garnish with fruits
Place fresh berries, sliced stone fruits, or other seasonal fruits on top of the cream. you could also spread a thin layer of fruit jam on the bottom of the crust before filling with cream. Fill in the empty spaces where there is no fruits with sliced almonds or other decorations.
- Bake
Bake at 180°C or 350°F for about 45 minutes, or until the bottom of the crust is fully cooked and the almond cream is set. Cool completely before slicing. Enjoy!
RELATED : Try frangipane cream in my geometric rhubarb tart!
Storage
- Almond cream can be kept in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Almond cream can be frozen, but it takes so little time to make that it is probably unnecessary to do so. Once defrosted, whisk well until homogenous before using.
- Note: almond flour is best kept in the freezer
Recipe
Classic Vegan French Almond Cream (Frangipane Cream)
Ingredients
- 90g (6 tbsp) vegan margarine
- 132g (1 cup) powdered or icing sugar
- 100g (1 cup) Almond flour
- ⅛ tsp fine sea salt
- 16g (2 tbsp) cornstarch
- 45g (3 tbsp) applesauce
- 10g (2 tsp) brown rum
- 1 tsp almond extract , adjust to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together with a silicone spatula the soft margarine, powdered sugar, almond flour, and cornstarch until homogenous.
- Add the apple sauce, rum slowly and extract while mixing until homogenous.
Notes
You can use this almond cream right away or keep it in the fridge for up to a week.
Did you try this recipe?
Don’t be shy and let me know how it went! Leave me a comment below and share a picture on Instagram !
Taja
I’m confused about the almond flour. Did you use ground almonds or the actual almond flour-deffated?
Raspbelyse
So where I live, almond flour is not defatted. It's just very finely ground skinless almonds. I do not recommend using fully defatted almond flour for this recipe.
KMMaharaj
I went vegetarian instead of vegan, so butter, and whipping cream instead of applesauce because no applesauce in the house. Lovely flavour, great spreadability, and currently baking up under a layer of cherries. The house smells divine.
Raspbelyse
I'm happy you liked it and that it worked for you! The applesauce in the recipe actually replaces eggs in this recipe but I'm happy it worked with your substitutions.
Catherin
Absolutely fantastic. Will use this recipe forever!
reut
What substitute for mashing apples?
Raspbelyse
Some blended cooked pear might work. I havent tried it but you could try to add instead a bit of plant-based milk a tablespoon at a time until you get the right consistency and adjust the sweetness levels however I can’t guarantee that it will work.
Abby Covington
Do you have a recommendation for starting this recipe with almond paste instead of almond flour +sugar?
Raspbelyse
I can’t really give ingredient quantities to use since almond paste and even marzipan can have different sugar to almond ratios. But for the method, you can beat the paste and butter with an electric mixer, then slowly add the liquids while mixing and then finish with the cornstarch. You might need to adjusted the cornstarch amount to get the right consistency.
Inês
hello! I wanted to know if I could substitute the rum for something else?
thank you!!
Raspbelyse
You could use other alcohols like brandy and amaretto, or simply don’t put any in the recipe. Its an optional ingredient so if you don’t consume alcohol its ok not to put any. It won’t change the texture.
elise
hi! is there a substitute you recommend for the rum? i don't cook with alcohol
Raspbelyse
You can simply remove it. It is 100% optional.
Kat
Thank you SO much for this super simple recipe! You are a life saver ♥️
Raspbelyse
My pleasure!