Almond Jelly

A refreshing, wobbly, and subtly sweet traditional Chinese dessert, often served with fruit.

⏱Prep: 10 min

🔥Cook: 5 min

⏲Total: 15 min

🍽6 servings

Vegetarian

Ingredients

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4 cups water (or unsweetened almond milk for a richer flavor)
1/2 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
1/4 cup agar-agar powder (or 4-5 agar-agar strips, softened and chopped)
2 tsp almond extract
Optional: Canned fruit cocktail or fresh fruit (mandarin oranges, lychees) for serving

Step-by-step

In a medium saucepan, combine water (or almond milk) and agar-agar powder. Whisk well to dissolve any lumps. If using agar-agar strips, soak them in water for 15 minutes, then drain and add to the saucepan.
Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly until the agar-agar is completely dissolved. This should take about 3-5 minutes. Ensure there are no visible specks of agar-agar.
Reduce heat to low, add granulated sugar, and stir until the sugar is fully dissolved. Remove from heat.
Stir in the almond extract. Taste and adjust sweetness or almond flavor if desired.
Pour the mixture into a shallow dish, loaf pan, or individual molds. Let it cool at room temperature for about 15-20 minutes.
Once slightly cooled, transfer the dish to the refrigerator and chill for at least 2-3 hours, or until completely set and firm.
To serve, cut the almond jelly into diamond shapes, cubes, or desired pieces. Serve chilled, optionally with canned fruit cocktail, fresh lychees, or mandarin oranges.

Per serving

Make it last

Refrigerator 3-4 days

Store leftover almond jelly in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It is best consumed within a few days for optimal texture and freshness.

Freezer Not recommended

Freezing is not recommended for almond jelly as it can alter the texture, making it watery and less firm upon thawing.

Reheat N/A

Almond jelly is a cold dessert and is not meant to be reheated.

For a creamier texture, replace some or all of the water with milk (dairy or non-dairy like almond milk).
Adjust the amount of sugar and almond extract to your personal preference. Some prefer it less sweet, others more pronounced almond flavor.
Experiment with different serving accompaniments: fresh berries, mango chunks, or a light syrup.
Ensure the agar-agar is fully dissolved by boiling and stirring. Undissolved agar-agar will result in a grainy or unevenly set jelly.