Mandelhörnchen (German Almond Horns)
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Popular throughout Germany, these German Almond Horns feature the delicious flavor of almonds and marzipan and a wonderfully chewy texture. This traditional Mandelhörnchen recipe is sure to become a favorite!
What are Mandelhörnchen?
Mandelhörnchen, German for almond horns, are a naturally gluten-free sweet treat made out of marzipan, almond meal and sugar, then rolled in almond flakes and the two ends dipped in chocolate. Popular throughout Germany, you can find them in many bakeries. The ones sold in bakeries are usually larger than these, about double the size. We’re making cookie-sized ones today but you can make them any size you like.
Very easy to make, all you need is some some raw marzipan and the rest of the ingredients are a breeze to throw together. Store-bought marzipan is very expensive and I highly recommend making your own homemade marzipan, not only because it’s vastly cheaper, but also because it tastes much better!
With your marzipan on hand, you’re ready to roll!
You’re going to love both the chewy texture and wonderful flavor of these popular Marzipan Mandelhörnchen!
Mandelhörnchen Recipe
Let’s get started!
Place the marzipan, ground almonds, powdered sugar, almond extract, fresh lemon juice, and egg white in a mixing bowl or in the bowl of a food processor with the paddle attachment in place.
Knead the mixture until it comes together in a thick and tacky, but not overly sticky, dough. If it’s too sticky add a little more ground almonds and/or sugar to it.
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes. This can be made days in advance.
When you’re ready to make the almond horns, break the dough off into pieces and roll them into 1-inch balls. Then roll each ball into a small log, tapering it off so each end is a little thinner.
For my German readers and those familiar with Swabian cuisine, they will resemble Schupfnudeln.
Use a pastry brush to brush egg white all over the cookie dough.
Roll each cookie into the sliced almonds. They don’t have to be completely coated and keep in mind also that the ends will be dipped in chocolate.
Bend each cookie into the shape of a crescent and place them on a lined cookie sheet about an inch and a half apart.
The oven should be preheated to 350 degrees. Bake the marzipan almond horns on the middle shelf for 10-15 minutes or until the tips are just starting to turn golden.
Let the Mandelhörnchen cool completely.
Microwave some chocolate chips or chunks of chocolate until melted and then dip each end of the almond horns into the chocolate.
Place the almond horns back on the cookie sheet or other surface to let the chocolate harden.
Store in an airtight container for up to a couple of weeks.
Enjoy!
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Mandelhörnchen (German Almond Horns)
Ingredients
- 8 ounces marzipan
- (click here for easy homemade marzipan recipe!)
- 1 cup blanched finely ground almond flour
- 1 cup powdered sugar sifted
- 1 egg white
- 1/2 teaspoon quality almond extract
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 egg white for brushing
- 1 cup sliced almonds
Instructions
- Place the marzipan, ground almonds, powdered sugar, almond extract, fresh lemon juice, and egg white in a mixing bowl or in the bowl of a food processor with the paddle attachment in place. Knead the mixture until it comes together in a thick and tacky, but not overly sticky, dough. If it's too sticky add a little more ground almonds and/or sugar to it. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes (This can be made days in advance.)
- When you're ready to make the almond horns, break the dough off into pieces and roll them into 1-inch balls. Then roll each ball into a small log, tapering it off so each end is a little thinner.
- Use a pastry brush to brush egg white all over the cookie dough.
- Roll each cookie into the slivered almonds. They don't have to be completely coated and keep in mind also that the ends will be dipped in chocolate. Bend each cookie into the shape of a crescent and place them on a lined cookie sheet about an inch and a half apart.
- The oven should be preheated to 350 degrees. Bake the marzipan almond horns on the middle shelf for 10-15 minutes or until the tips are just starting to turn golden. Remove and let them cool completely.
- Microwave some chocolate chips or chunks of chocolate until melted and then dip each end of the almond horns into the chocolate. Place the almond horns back on the cookie sheet or other surface to let the chocolate harden.
- Store in an airtight container for up to a couple of weeks.
Nutrition
Hi, I’m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Gourmet where you'll find delicious originals, revitalized classics, and simply downright good eats from around the world! Originally from Germany, later raised in England, world-traveled, and now living in the U.S., from my globally-influenced kitchen I invite you to tour the world through your taste buds!
I have been making these cookies for a couple of years now and they are by far the favorite. Everyone loves them!
I’m thrilled to hear that, Joanne, thank you so much! <3
Thank you for posting this and the homemade marzipan recipe! My pregnant self has been craving these so bad and my bakery nearby stopped making them. These were so good! They taste just like the ones from my local bakery.
I can’t find rose water in my area so I subbed a tsp of rose petal tea I brewed into the marzipan and it worked out well, in case anyone else has this issue.
Brilliant, Nicole, I’m so happy you enjoyed these are really appreciate the feedback!
Just thought it worth mentioning, that traditional German Mandelhörnchen do NOT use almond extract. I’m from Germany and we use almond extract when we want to add marzipan taste to a dough without adding marzipan. Since this dough already has marzipan there is absolutely no need to add almond attract. The marzipan will deliver the marzipan taste :)
Hi Kathi, you’re implying that there is “one traditional” way of making Mandelhörnchen, which isn’t correct. In any case, I personally love the added boost of almond flavor which is why I added it to my recipe. If you prefer less almond flavor then of course simply omit it.
Hi Kimberly, you are delightfully diplomatic and absolutely correct – there is no ‘one traditional’ way of making Mandelhörnchen and I always find it questionable when someone tries to control discussions by stating “I’m from Germany” as if that would add weight to ones opinion.. I grew up around Hamburg, lived in Berlin and Stuttgart and can tell you that every region tends to have it’s own version(s) of everything, often even varying from family to family. I’m totally with you on the almond flavouring, most Germans use it and it’s called ‘Bitter Mandel’. Grandma introduced me to it in the early 60’s, using it in any type of Almond cookie or cake / Kuchen. It comes in little 2ml tubes as a 4pack by RUF or Dr. Oetker Bitter-Mandel Aroma. It’s easily available online in the US (as is Rosewater by the way) from various retailers for around $4 and (greedy) Amazon for $10.
Thank you, Michael, I appreciate that <3
Can you freeze these cookies? I just finish making the marzipan and plan to make these cookies tomorrow. I have made your stollen with the homemade marzipan and candied fruit. It was amazing.
Can’t wait to make these cookies.
Thanks,
Sarah
Yes they can, Sarah, and thanks so much for the feedback on the Stollen!
I love your recipes. Made this one last year without issues, this year they spread out flat.could I add more almond flour? I’d love to see the metric measurements for this recipe.
Thanks so much, Beth! <3 Have you thought about what you may have differently this year compared to last? Did you possibly use a store-bought marzipan this time? A lot of what is sold as "marzipan" is actually a marzipan fondant that is far more sugar than it is almonds and it will melt when baked. BTW the metric measurements are now enabled, just click on "metric" to the right of the ingredients list.
I just tried this recipe today. The cookies taste very good, but the dough was very sticky and runny. Even after adding more almond flour. When baking, the cookies flattened out. They didn’t keep their round shape. I will try this recipe again, but I think I will add more almond flour from the beginning, and I think I will leave out the powdered sugar. The marzipan is sweet enough.
Hello! I have a question about making this recipe…I see that the ingredients call for “marzipan”. I recently made your marzipan/almond paste recipe for a bread I was making (very delicious almond paste by the way) and I made it using the “almond paste” ratio. I would like to use my leftover almond paste to make these cookies, but I’m wondering if I need to add some additional almond flour since I didn’t make the “marzipan” ratio (adding the additional 1/4 cup almond flour)?
On a different note, my Oma was born and raised in Stuttgart and every time I read through your recipes and posts, I hear her accent in my mind…it makes me smile every time!!
Hi Denette! Yes, you can use the almond paste you made and proceed with the recipe as instructed. I’m so happy these recipes bring back those memories of your Oma <3
These were absolutely delicious! I used Odense marzipan almond candy dough. Can I use Solo marzipan that comes in foil?
Thanks so much, Mary! I haven’t used that particular brand but as long as it’s marzipan it should be fine.
You’ve probably been asked this before but I don’t see it here.
Why make almond paste first then add the exact same ingredients to the paste to make the cookie dough?
Can we just add the combined amounts of each to the food processor and go?
Second time baking these and I had to leave a comment! My Oma came for a visit and these were a perfect treat to serve with tea and coffee. As she left she whispered to me how lecker (tasty) they were (compliments from her about baked goods are very rare, something about being a stoic German who ran her own bakery I suppose). GREAT recipe. I am already looking forward to making these a Christmas tradition. Thank you!!
That’s awesome, Sonja, coming from your Oma that is a compliment indeed! :) Thanks so much for the feedback, thrilled you both enjoyed them!
So Amazing and so easy. I didn’t dip in chocolate just out of sheer laziness but it was delicious nonetheless. Will be making these for Passover. Thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed them, Charcoals, thank you!
I was looking for a recipe after trying this dessert at one of my favorite bakeries. I’m so excited to try my homemade marzipan and Mandelhörnchen. My coworkers are going to be excited too!
Haven’t tried them yet but was thinking that it would be easier to mix the ingredients if one used the base ingredients for the marzipan instead of the already mixed product. You would have to calculate the exact amounts, but they would incorporate better than the finished marzipan. I did it with another recipe where I had been struggling to get a uniform consistency for years, before finding a recipe for homemade almond paste.