---
title: "Almendrados — Traditional Homemade Almond Cookies Recipe"
description: "Versión en Español. Almendrados are soft almond cookies made with ground almonds, sugar, eggs, cinnamon, and lemon zest, shaped into small balls, dipped in aguardiente, rolled in powdered sugar, and t..."
url: https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/chilean-almendrados-almond-cookies-recipe/
date: 2026-09-28
modified: 2026-09-28
author: "Carlos Uhart M."
image: https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/chilean-almendrados-almond-cookies-featured.jpg
categories: ["Desserts"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# Almendrados — Traditional Homemade Almond Cookies Recipe

[Versión en Español](https://comidaschilenas.com/almendrados-caseros-receta-tradicional-para-un-dulce-inolvidable/)

![Round almendrados coated in powdered sugar and topped with a whole almond, ready to bake](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/chilean-almendrados-almond-cookies-featured.jpg)*Homemade traditional almendrados*

Almendrados are soft almond cookies made with ground almonds, sugar, eggs, cinnamon, and lemon zest, shaped into small balls, dipped in aguardiente, rolled in powdered sugar, and topped with a whole almond. They take 20 minutes of preparation and 20 minutes in the oven, and make 16 cookies.

Of Sephardic and Spanish origin, they are baked in Chilean homes all year round and offer a lovely contrast of textures, with a thin, crisp sugared crust that protects a dense, moist, and fragrant center.

## How to Make Almendrados?

Almendrados are made by mixing ground almonds with sugar, beaten eggs, and aromatics such as cinnamon and lemon zest, shaping the dough into walnut sized balls, coating them in powdered sugar, and baking them until golden on the outside and tender on the inside.

## Nutritional Information

Each serving of almendrados (2 cookies) contains approximately 270 kcal, 6 g of protein, 15 g of total fat (2 g of saturated fat), 30 mg of cholesterol, 30 g of carbohydrates, 20 g of sugars, and 20 mg of sodium. These values are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients and portion sizes.

## Homemade Almendrados Recipe

**Preparation:** 20 minutes
**Cooking:** 20 minutes
**Servings:** 16 cookies

### Ingredients

- 250 g (2½ cups) of ground almonds
- 200 g (1 cup) of sugar
- 50 ml (3½ tablespoons) of aguardiente or brandy
- 16 whole almonds
- 3 eggs
- ½ small lemon
- Ground cinnamon
- Powdered sugar, for coating

### Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine the ground almonds and the sugar. Beat the eggs in a separate bowl and add them to the almond mixture, stirring until fully combined. Add a pinch of ground cinnamon and the lemon zest (optional) and mix well so the aromas are evenly distributed.

![Ground almonds and almond flour in a bowl, the base of the almendrados dough](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ground-almonds-almendrados.jpg)*Ground Almonds*

1. Take portions of the dough and shape small balls about the size of a walnut. Pour the aguardiente into a small bowl and dip each ball in the liquor, then roll it in powdered sugar until well coated.

![Sifting powdered sugar to coat the almendrados before baking](https://www.chileanfoodrecipes.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/sifted-powdered-sugar-almendrados.jpg)*Sifted Powdered Sugar*

1. Preheat the oven to 190°C (374°F). Arrange the balls on a baking tray, spaced apart, and press a whole almond into the center of each one. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden on the outside. Remove from the oven and let the almendrados cool completely on a wire rack.

## Additional Tips

### Chill the dough first

Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes before shaping the balls. It becomes easier to handle and the almendrados keep their shape better while baking.

### Do not overbake them

Take them out as soon as the outside turns golden. The center should stay moist and tender, and it firms up a little as they cool.

### Make your own ground almonds

Grind raw, blanched almonds in a food processor in short pulses until fine. Stop before they release their oil and turn into a paste.

| Original ingredient | Substitute | Ratio | Flavor note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Aguardiente | Orange blossom water | 1:1 | Alcohol free, floral |
| Aguardiente | Orange juice | 1:1 | Alcohol free, fruitier |
| Ground almonds | Almond flour | 1:1 | Finer, smoother texture |
| Lemon zest | Orange zest | 1:1 | Sweeter, milder |

## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

### 1. Can I replace the aguardiente?

If you prefer an alcohol free version, you can use orange blossom water, vanilla extract, or even orange juice to moisten the balls before coating them in sugar.

### 2. What is the difference between ground almonds and almond flour?

Both come from almonds, but almond flour is usually finer and sometimes defatted. You can use either one, although ground almonds give the cookies a more rustic texture.

### 3. Can almendrados be frozen?

You can freeze the shaped balls (without sugar) or the baked almendrados. Either way, they keep well for up to 3 months in an airtight container.

### 4. Why are they rolled in powdered sugar before baking?

The powdered sugar forms a thin outer crust that caramelizes gently in the oven, giving almendrados their classic crisp, white finish.

## What Are Almendrados?

Almendrados are small almond cookies with a crisp sugared shell and a soft, moist center, flavored with cinnamon and lemon. Unlike butter cookies, they contain no flour or fat other than the almonds themselves, which makes them naturally gluten free.

## History and Origin

Almendrados have Sephardic roots and are a traditional Christmas sweet in Spain and Latin America. The recipe has been passed down from generation to generation, with regional variations that enrich its diversity.

## Did You Know?

Almond flour can be made at home by grinding raw, peeled almonds until fine. You can also add a few drops of almond extract to the dough to intensify the flavor.

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