When it comes to seasonal decor, it’s hard to top the simple beauty of pinecones — whether they’re nestled in a harvest-themed wreath or piled in a basket as an eye-catching centerpiece. And while there’s no shortage of ways to trim your tabletop with these iconic accents, why not go one better and whip up an edible version? These cocoa-dusted “pinecones” begin with a batch of delicious homemade almond paste; layers of almond slices mimic the cones’ rigid scales. Integrate these tasty treats into holiday place settings to add a dose of rustic charm to your next gathering.

You will need:
- 2 1/2 cups almond flour
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1/2 cup superfine sugar
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 egg, beaten*
- 4 cups sliced almonds
- Dark cocoa powder for dusting
*Be sure to use eggs that have been pasteurized to destroy bacteria. You can also substitute 2 ounces of reconstituted egg whites or meringue powder for the raw egg.
Step 1: Mix your ingredients

In the bowl of an electric mixer, whisk the ground almonds, confectioners’ sugar and superfine sugar to make the almond paste. Add the lemon juice and almond extract; whisk again.
Step 2: Process with dough hook

Attach the dough hook to the mixer and mix on low speed while slowly adding the beaten egg. Increase the speed to medium and knead until the dough clumps together. Don’t have a mixer with a dough hook? Simply knead the mixture by hand for five minutes or until thoroughly combined.
Step 3: Refrigerate dough
Turn the dough out onto a piece of waxed paper and roll into a log. Use the paste immediately, or cover with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator (make sure to bring the paste to room temperature before using).
Step 4: Form pinecone base using almond paste
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, then roll two tablespoons (about 2 ounces) of almond paste between your palms to make a ball. Form one end of the ball into a narrower curve to create an egg shape.
Step 5: Flatten base of pinecone
Cut away one third of the egg-shaped ball with a small knife so it lays flat, then transfer to the baking sheet; the leftover paste can be used to start the next ball. Repeat the process until you have used all of the paste. (When you’ve finished, you should have about 16 pieces.) Cover the dough shapes with plastic wrap so they don’t dry out.
Step 6: Add almond scales
Pour the almond slices into a large bowl or scatter on a plate so you can easily pick out whole slices; avoid using the broken pieces for your decorative scales.
Working with one piece of dough at a time, press an almond slice into the center of the pointed end. Continue pressing almond slices into the paste on a slight angle, working back from where you started and staggering the pieces so they overlap.
Step 7: Dust almond scales with cocoa
When all of the pinecones are complete, dust with dark cocoa powder and gently dust off the excess with a soft pastry brush.
Step 8: Plate and present the pinecones

Store the pinecones in an airtight container until you’re ready to display them on your holiday table. Enjoy!
72 comments
Niki from JandEdoodles said 4 years ago
Those are beautiful! I may not have the patience to make them, but I applaud anyone who does!
TropicalGarden from TropicalGarden said 4 years ago
Great idea! Thanks for sharing:)
Sue from SuesAkornShop said 4 years ago
How lovely! I'd love to try to make some!
renee and gerardo from GTDesigns said 4 years ago
creative and looks delicious...a perfect fall/winter season treat!!!
Barbara Gable from CrazyLovely said 4 years ago
How clever! I love those!
deardear from deardearArt said 4 years ago
So great~~ I like it~~
Maryanne and John Fender from FenderMinerals said 4 years ago
Those look scrumptious and elegant. Thank you
Prettycasesshop from Prettycasesshop said 4 years ago
Awesome :))
Francine from HomespunHeartofMine said 4 years ago
What a GREAT idea, Heather! These would be wonderful place card holders and a tasty treat as a bonus!!! :D
Megan from MegansMenagerie said 4 years ago
Beautiful!
Connie Koss from CreationsConnieFinds said 4 years ago
Really neat idea! Who does not love chocolate and almonds.
Greg and Mary from LightingAlchemy said 4 years ago
Perfect idea!! They look awesome! Thanks for sharing
Miss B from HeyThatsMyJam said 4 years ago
Very cute. Im excited to try this recipe
Cristy Ramos from ArtisanBathandBody said 4 years ago
These are deliciously looking and enchanting! Thank you for sharing ♥
Jafeth Moiane from handicraftafrica said 4 years ago
Great imagination. Congrats!
Mary Robertson from MaggiesInn said 4 years ago
What a unique and wonderful idea for the upcoming season. These will look great on my table.. thank you!
Kim Cole from BeachDaisyJewelry said 4 years ago
Cute idea! YUM - almonds and chocolate!
benna and hanna from bennaandhanna said 4 years ago
Yay! Its gluten free!!! Thank you for sharing.
Georgia from JewelMeShop said 4 years ago
Lovely idea! Thanks for sharing!
Nicole from KarmaCodeOne said 4 years ago
So beautiful, what a creative idea !
allwood1 from AllWoodToo said 4 years ago
I guess I was wondering about eating them, but reading the comments, I assume that they are meant to be eaten.... :) The look good....
Татьяна Нечитайло from 0duvan4ik said 4 years ago
Originally! thanks for the idea
Katarzyna from KatyHandMadeArtShop said 4 years ago
Beautiful, wonderful.
Relly from RelsFindsNapaValley said 4 years ago
Pine cones are my "go to" decors for the Holidays. I like your ideas on making them. Thank you.
Renata Sponn Design from Sponndesign said 4 years ago
Lovely! Great idea!
Renata Sponn Design from Sponndesign said 4 years ago
Looks delicious...!
Katrina Dzerkale from Dominna said 4 years ago
This is such fun, amazing idea !
June from isewcute said 4 years ago
Those are super clever! Lovely edible holiday accents!
Maria from StyleGraphicDesign said 4 years ago
Looove it!!
Penny from VineyardRoadHome said 4 years ago
Are these edible? They *look* delicious!
Dorothy from JewelrybyDorothy said 4 years ago
Beautiful!
nicorisan from JapaneseCraftsNicori said 4 years ago
Cute!
Teanovas from Teanovas said 4 years ago
Great idea!!! Very lovely
Marisa M. from FeltInMyHeart said 4 years ago
Very cute idea and they look beautiful. :)
Yvonne Orbeck from Kitcheekoo said 4 years ago
These would never make it to the table.....
Madison Street Beauty from MadisonStreetBeauty said 4 years ago
Great post! Definitely going to try this one!
Sandra Ankleknits from Ankleknits said 4 years ago
This is adorable! I will have to make them for this Christmas.
Stephen Shecora from BrokenArrowStore said 4 years ago
I love this idea. Can't wait to make these delicious pine cones and give them out!
Meghan Kathleen from DozingPoppies said 4 years ago
These are stunning! Absolutely a must for a holiday dinner party. If I can make them look as nice as you did my guests won't believe they're edible!
Renee from RandMhandmade said 4 years ago
Love this..thank you for sharing!
Tina from sierramoontreasures said 4 years ago
I love those pinecones using almond slices! Wow!
Teerasak Borkam from TribalAndHarem said 4 years ago
สุดยอดครับ I like it
Madeleine Keller from ThoseGoodVibrations said 4 years ago
wow these are beautiful and they look delicious! thanks for sharing :)
AMSkrafts from AMSkrafts said 4 years ago
These are so festive and beautiful! Thank you for sharing this recipe, I hope to try it out for the holiday dinner.
Flair Nouri from FlairPaintings said 4 years ago
very beautiful and creative!!! Congratulations for the feature :)
JOANNA ENGLAND said 4 years ago
How long can they set out before it would be considered unsafe to eat them?
Vintage Gypsy Studios from BohemianGypsyCaravan said 4 years ago
Holy crap ! I thought those pine cones were real ! Nice work !
Caroline from ArtbyHeroux said 4 years ago
Looking forward to creating these for the holidays!!
Mae from customaed said 4 years ago
Oh my gosh, these are amazing! Thanks for sharing. Def going to give these a whirl this Thanksgiving!
Fawning Inlove from FawningInLove said 4 years ago
This is so inspiring and looks too real to eat! What a clever way to decorate for the holidays. Thank you for sharing!
Carol from MasCollected said 4 years ago
A doubly lovely treat because it is imitates nature, the original mother of color combination and design!
Desiree Vatter from DVLifeInfused said 4 years ago
Adorable!
PSOGLAVKA KLARA from PSOGLAVKA said 4 years ago
They look like a real pine cones. =)
Helen from Gem2theiVintage said 4 years ago
How sweet and giving to share a recipe with us. THANK YOU So Yummy Looking!!!!!
emaxtees from EmaxTees said 4 years ago
That is really something that i will eat :) Great!
Rebecca V said 4 years ago
these look great, but how do you eat these? lol
luederscheryl said 4 years ago
Just made them ? Thanks for the recipe! Can't wait to eat them
calynakstulewicz said 4 years ago
Never thought of sweet. I make the base with port wine cheese spread and use whole Smokehouse almonds. Thanks for a new idea. Can't wait to try it.
Leonor from VenusLoveJewels said 4 years ago
Wow...I got really fooled the look of those edible pine cones...so prettttyyyy:)
Kathy from KiwiTiniCreations said 4 years ago
Amazing!!
Diane Richer said 4 years ago
Eatable pine cone ... what raw dough? That can't be eatable
Colleen O'Neal from truthbeautyandlove27 said 4 years ago
I am not a baker but I do love anything rustic these days! I think I could actually make these! I am going to save this post and give it shot! These would amazing as part of cookie tray!
Loribeth from MomentsOfArt said 4 years ago
What a creative idea!!! I might do this. Although, I don't know if I'd actually have the patience!!! LOL
Maria from LaMiaCasaNelVento said 4 years ago
Looks delicious..thanks!
Seven from sevenstandre said 4 years ago
Wow!!!!!
Lina Butrimavičienė from LaPuuKa said 4 years ago
Wow, nice way to adorn. A great way to surprise guests!
Christi Wilson from NittanyMountain said 4 years ago
These are so awesome! Thanks for sharing.
Cathy from msbijouxbeads said 4 years ago
These are beautiful!
Janice Cordeiro from UptownGirlSoap said 4 years ago
At first glance I was positive they were real pinecones. Very creative!
SerendipityColors from SerendipityColors said 4 years ago
Just beautiful and so real looking! Too nice to eat!
Natali Kurteeva from NataliKurteevashop said 4 years ago
Very cute! Im excited to try this recipe
Natali Kurteeva from NataliKurteevashop said 4 years ago
This is a great recipe! I will try to do smth