Vegan Frangipane is easy to make and can be used in pastries, pies, and cakes. It’s sweet and delicious and uses only a few simple ingredients. See the recipe below for the basics of making frangipane and there’s also a quick and easy blueberry tart idea!
What is frangipane?
Frangipane is an Italian sweet almond paste that’s used in all sorts of dessert recipes. Frangipane can be used like a custard in the bottom of a tart, spread over the top of a tart, and baked on top of toast … there are so many delicious ways to use it.
It’s super tasty and versatile. Traditionally, it’s made with finely ground almonds or almond flour, butter, flour, and eggs. This recipe is just as tasty but it’s plant-based and gluten-free.
Once the paste is made, it can be used in all sorts of pastries and other baking projects.
How to pronounce frangipane?
Frangipane is pronounced, “fran·juh·pan.”
What is vegan frangipane made of?
Vegan frangipane is made from just a few, simple plant-based ingredients; almonds or almond flour, vegan butter, egg substitute, and flour and almond extract for more intense flavoring. Using gluten-free flour makes this gluten-free frangipane.
What does vegan frangipane taste like?
Vegan Frangipane by itself, just like the traditional version, is sweet, rich, and tastes predominantly of almonds. The flavor intensity can be easily adjusted by adding more or less almond extract.
What is the difference between frangipane and marzipan?
Frangipane is more like a pastry custard and is a paste used in baked goods. The texture of frangipane changes and it puffs up and gets a slightly cakey texture once baked. Marzipan is more like fondant and is used to make molded candies or can also be used to cover cakes and other baked goods. Marzipan has the texture of smooth modeling clay.
Is frangipane French or Italian?
Frangipane was named after Marquis Muzio Frangipani, an Italian nobleman during the 1500s. Frangipani was living in Paris when invented an almond-scented perfume to use on gloves. French chefs much have thought the gloves smelled delicious because they named their new almond paste concoction after Frangipani. So, is frangipane French or Italian? I’d have to say it’s a collaboration and today both French and Italian cooks and chefs use it liberally in their pastry recipes.
Vegan Frangipane is easy using almond flour!
Almond flour is perfect to use for the frangipane and the finer the better. I like this almond flour from Blue Diamond Almonds. It was the least expensive and the finest ground. It can also be used to make marzipan and lots of other things.
I discovered I was out of almond flour when I decided to make the blueberry tart recipe below so I blanched and dried my own almonds and then ground them up in the Vitamix. I think almond flour works better if you prefer a smoother texture.
How to blanch and dry almonds
Blanched almonds are just regular almonds without skins. When almonds are dry it would be impossible to remove the skins. Briefly boiling and then cooling the almonds makes it super easy to remove the skins. Simply place the almonds in boiling water for about three minutes. Then remove, drain, and plunge into cold water. Once the almonds are cooled their skins are simple to remove. My technique is to just squeeze them from the larger end and they just pop out.
To grind almonds to make this recipe or any other it’s important that they be very dry. This can be accomplished by putting them in the oven on a baking sheet at about 220 degrees F for 15 minutes.
Just Egg in Place of Eggs
I substituted just Egg for the regular eggs that are traditionally used in frangipane. It was a simple swap and worked really well. Did you know you can use Just Egg in all kinds of baked goods?
Can You Bake with Just Egg? Yes! Here’s How!
What to do with vegan frangipane
This plant-based frangipane can be used in any recipe that traditional frangipane is called for. It substitutes plant-based and vegan ingredients is the only difference. I used it to make this Blueberry Frangipane Tart.
Blueberry Frangipane Tart
This is so delicious and a perfect way to use vegan frangipane. It’s so simple, too!
Simply roll out some thawed puff pastry (I use Schar’s gluten-free version), fold the edges slightly, and spread a 1/4″ to 1/2″ layer of frangipane on top.
Top it with some fresh or frozen blueberries and sliced almonds.
Brush the edges of the pastry with a little Just Egg mixed with plant-based milk.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes, until the puff pastry starts to brown. That’s it.
Vegan Frangipane Recipe
Vegan Frangipane is easy to make and can be used in pastries, pies, and cakes. It's sweet and delicious and uses only a few simple ingredients.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup plant based butter, melted
- 1 1/2 cups finely ground almond meal
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons gluten-free flour
- 1/4 cup Just Egg liquid (or substitute 2 tablespoons aquafaba plus 2 tablespoons plant-based milk)
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
Use vegan frangipane as a filling in pastries, pies, and tarts or any recipe calling for regular frangipane.. See the post above for simple instructions on how to make the blueberry tart.
Hello! I’m Lisa, a vegan artist, photographer, author, Vegan Life Coach Educator, and RYT 200 yoga teacher. I love showing others how simple and delicious a plant-based diet can be. I draw and paint, cook, write, take lots of pics, eat lots of chocolate, and practice gratitude daily.