--- title: "Mandelmassa: what it means in cooking — Tiny Plates" description: "Mandelmassa is Swedish almond paste, half almonds and half sugar. It fills semlor and buns. What it is like and what to use instead outside Sweden." url: "https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/mandelmassa" --- # Mandelmassa Mandelmassa is Swedish almond paste, half almonds and half sugar. It fills semlor and buns. What it is like and what to use instead outside Sweden. Also called Almond paste, Swedish almond paste. _Mandelmassa_ is Swedish almond paste. It is made from ground blanched almonds and sugar, usually in about equal amounts, worked into a firm, slightly coarse paste. It tastes sweet and strongly of almond. It is less sweet and less smooth than marzipan, which has more sugar. ## How to use it * **Semlor.** The filling of these Swedish cream buns, eaten in the weeks before Lent, is mandelmassa mixed with the crumb scooped out of the bun and a little milk. * **Buns and pastries.** [Grate](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/grate) it and spread it with butter inside cinnamon or cardamom buns, Danish pastries and braids. * **Cakes.** Grate it into batter for almond cake, or use it in fillings for tarts. * **Cookies.** Mix it with egg white and sugar for chewy almond cookies (_mandelbiskvier_). It is easiest to grate when cold. Take it out of the fridge just before you use it. ## Substitutes Outside Sweden, use: * **Almond paste**, sold in the US and in many European shops. It is very close and can be used one for one. * **Marzipan**, which is sweeter and smoother. Reduce the sugar in the recipe a little. To make your own, grind 200 g (about 1⅓ cups) blanched almonds in a [food processor](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/food-processor) until fine. Add 200 g (1 cup) sugar and pulse again. Add about 2 tablespoons of water, or 1 egg white, a little at a time, until it holds together as a firm paste. For a stronger taste, grate in one [bitter almond](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/bittermandel) or add a few drops of almond extract. ## How to store it Wrap it tightly so it does not dry out and keep it in the fridge. Opened mandelmassa keeps for a few weeks. It freezes well for several months. ## Common mistakes * **Using marzipan for semlor without adjusting.** The filling turns out very sweet and loose. Add less milk and taste. * **Blending homemade paste too long.** The almonds release oil and it turns greasy. Pulse just until it comes together. ## In recipes Swedish recipes for [fika](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/fika) use mandelmassa often. It is made from almonds, a tree nut, so it matters for anyone with a [tree nut allergy](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/tree-nuts). ## Recipes that use it 75 recipes from the sites we collect. * [![](https://images.arla.com/recordid/99383F2E-FCC3-4349-A45A63B054E1E8F3/appelsintryffelbiskvier.jpg?width=1300&height=525&mode=crop&format=webp)Apelsintryffelbiskvierwww.arla.se · 110 min](https://www.arla.se/recept/appelsintryffelbiskvier/) * [![](https://images.arla.com/recordid/0595EC3E-F734-4862-988E0B1E9526CC83/blabarsbullar.jpg?width=1300&height=525&mode=crop&format=webp)Blåbärsbullarwww.arla.se · 150 min](https://www.arla.se/recept/blabarsbullar/) * [![](https://images.arla.com/recordid/68AC8831-4623-4A31-9860ABB5CA1980CC/marsipanpraliner-med-aprikos-och-mandel.jpg?width=1300&height=525&mode=crop&format=webp)Marsipanpraliner med aprikos och mandelwww.arla.se · 20 min](https://www.arla.se/recept/marsipanpraliner-med-aprikos-och-mandel/) * [![](https://images.arla.com/recordid/E862777F-4162-456E-A89F298ED77BB595/rabarbermoussetarta.jpg?width=1300&height=525&mode=crop&format=webp)Rabarbermoussetårtawww.arla.se · 240 min](https://www.arla.se/recept/rabarbermoussetarta/) * [![](https://images.arla.com/recordid/111B7BB1-8E13-4E14-B23A0C0FBE2423A8/picture.jpg?width=1300&height=525&mode=crop&crop=(0,283,0,-1484)&format=webp)Kokoskonfektwww.arla.se · 80 min](https://www.arla.se/recept/kokoskonfekt/) * [![](https://images.arla.com/recordid/39D38A13-4749-4E4C-899FB1CC2F5A28AA/laktosfri-semla.jpg?width=1300&height=525&mode=crop&crop=(0,221,0,-310)&format=webp)Laktosfri semlawww.arla.se · 150 min](https://www.arla.se/recept/laktosfri-semla/) * [![](https://images.arla.com/recordid/27B86D8F-64D9-4469-873BFC77EA522EF0/mozartkulor.jpg?width=1300&height=525&mode=crop&format=webp)Mozartkulorwww.arla.se · 30 min](https://www.arla.se/recept/mozartkulor/) * [![](https://images.arla.com/recordid/969A85A8-7A77-4794-9EDCBFDB65EA9937/saffransmazarin.jpg?width=1300&height=525&mode=crop&format=webp)Saffransmazarinwww.arla.se · 100 min](https://www.arla.se/recept/saffransmazarin/) * [![](https://images.arla.com/recordid/B8940A8E-E4CE-45E2-9104BCBA95CD438C/bjornbarspaj-med-syrad-kardemummagradde.jpg?width=1300&height=525&mode=crop&crop=(0,221,0,-310)&format=webp)Björnbärspaj med syrad kardemummagräddewww.arla.se · 105 min](https://www.arla.se/recept/bjornbarspaj-med-syrad-kardemummagradde/) * [![](https://images.arla.com/recordid/96C56605-BE75-458F-93A0DD189B772DF6/sega-mandelbottnar-med-avokadomousse.jpg?width=1300&height=525&mode=crop&format=webp)Sega mandelbottnar med avokadomoussewww.arla.se · 30 min](https://www.arla.se/recept/sega-mandelbottnar-med-avokadomousse/) * [![](https://images.arla.com/recordid/865F3E98-C1B6-47D7-B57FC908D1D5BA19/saffranskaka-med-mandelmassa.jpg?width=1300&height=525&mode=crop&crop=(0,326,0,-205)&format=webp)Saffranskaka med mandelmassawww.arla.se](https://www.arla.se/recept/saffranskaka-med-mandelmassa/) * [![](https://images.arla.com/recordid/46A7DC31-607A-4D1E-BCC6AF2D6950A12B/paronkaka-med-mandelmassa.jpeg?width=1300&height=525&mode=crop&format=webp)Päronkaka med mandelmassawww.arla.se · 40 min](https://www.arla.se/recept/paronkaka-med-mandelmassa/) ## Related terms * [BittermandelBittermandel is bitter almond, used in tiny amounts in Swedish baking for a strong marzipan taste. What it is, safety, and what to use instead abroad.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/bittermandel) * [Food processorA food processor is an electric machine with a spinning blade and discs that chops, purees, slices and mixes dough in seconds. Here is how to use one well.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/food-processor) * [GrateTo grate is to rub food against a grater to turn it into fine shreds or a powder, as with cheese, carrots, ginger, garlic, nutmeg or citrus zest.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/grate) * [FikaFika is the Swedish break for coffee and something sweet, such as a cinnamon bun, shared with others. See what is served and how to do it at home.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/fika) * [Tree nutsTree nuts include almonds, walnuts, cashews and hazelnuts. The EU and the US define the group differently, so their labels can name different nuts.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/tree-nuts) [More in nordic ingredients](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/category/nordic-ingredients)[Every term from A to Z](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary)