Trader Joe’s Finally Has My Favorite Baking Ingredient—and It’s Cheaper Than Ever

Biting into a flaky almond croissant is a transformative experience. Imagine a creamy, not cloyingly sweet almond flavor mixed with buttery pastry into a decadent confection. I’m not talking about a freshly baked croissant from a patisserie, by the way. I’m talking about an almond croissant I bake myself in a semi-homemade way, using croissants from Costco and almond paste.

I know—almond paste is one of those seemingly luxe ingredients that some people don’t like to shell out for. It typically costs at least $8 for 7 ounces, with high-end brands going for upwards of $25. As a result, I’ve always rationed my almond paste for special occasion croissants, crumbles, and cookies. That was until Trader Joe’s released its own almond paste. For only $3.99, you’re not going to find a cheaper deal anywhere else.

What Is Almond Paste?

You might be surprised to hear that almond paste is much different from other almond-based baking ingredients, like marzipan and frangipane. Although all of them contain almonds and sugar, marzipan is sweeter and more pliable than almond paste. It comes ready to eat, so it’s often used for decoration or combined with other confections. Frangipane, on the other hand, is a soft pastry, tart, or pie filling. Unlike marzipan and frangipane, almond paste is coarser, spreadable, and has a higher nut-to-sugar ratio.

TJ’s almond paste is made in Denmark by the largest almond paste and marzipan manufacturer in the world. It contains 40% ground almonds for extra nutty flavors and a smooth texture. Because it’s shaped like a log, you can easily slice off a piece and portion what you need, storing the leftovers in the fridge.

When I brought it home from the store, I immediately took a nibble of it straight off the log. It was pleasantly nutty and lightly sweet. Whether it’s used as the base for a cookie or pie crust, this versatile paste can be used in so many ways and I’m excited to play around now that I can get it at a lower price. I currently have two packages at home: one that’s already opened and wrapped tightly in the fridge for all my holiday baking this winter, and a second box on standby if I get the craving for something almondy.

Best Almond Paste Recipes

As mentioned, I love to make my own almond croissants by slicing a store-bought croissant in half lengthwise and stuffing it with almond paste. You could also add almond paste to boxed pancake mix for an elevated twist on the breakfast classic. Another idea? Whisk some almond paste into your espresso for an almond latte. For more inspiration, here are some of the best treats from around the world that highlight almond paste: