Updated: Silly but serious question - if you are allergic to peanuts

[firstbaby]

Can you have almond flavored things? One of our cake options for DS's party is an almond flavored pound cake but one of the kids coming has a peanut allergy. I obiously want to pick something that all can eat but the almond flavor would be DS's pick all things being equal.

TIA!

Thanks ladies for all of the responses. I felt like I should know the answer but wanted to make sure. Sorry I didn't clarify in my OP, but my girlfriend who makes cakes out of her home is the baker so I'm not worried about cross-contamination. And I asked her about this last night to confirm she used the almond extract (Thanks, Larissa!) and she does. She has made this cake before for a high peanut allergy boy. So, almond cream cheese pound cake it is with chocolate frosting. YUM!

[DandKG]

Hi,

Almonds are considered tree nuts so unless they are allergic to both peanuts and tree nuts it might be ok. I say might because even though my son is allergic to only peanuts, we are avoiding all nuts right now. Another thing to consider is that most parents of peanut allergic kiddos do not let their children eat anything that is baked in a commercial bakery because of the problems with cross contamination. So if you are getting the cake from a bakery the child might not even be able to eat it. I know we don't let our son eat anything unless it was baked at a home and we have verified the ingredients. We usually bring a small cupcake or a homemade brownie for him to eat. You migh want to call the parent if you feel comfortable and discuss it with them. I know I would appreciate a call, it is so nice of you to think of the child with an allergy. Hope you have a great party!
Danielle

[Mommy Of A Little Angel]

I am allergic to tree nuts (almonds are in this category) but I can eat peanuts. If you are allergic to one group you aren't automatically allergic to the other but you can be allergic to both. I know a lot of kids who have peanut allergies also steer clear of other nuts. I would definately let parents know what is in the cake just in case.

[bostonsmama]

I would really ask the bakery. Chances are, the cake would be made with an artificial almond extract, if that. REAL almond extract has almond oil in it, which would trigger a tree nut allergy if the child had it, and it's exceedingly expensive (like $6 for a 1oz bottle!). There's no way they'd use real extract unless it was a gourmet bakery, and even then most professionals know how to get ahold of the fake stuff. I say this b/c I was in a bakery supply store the other day and the price difference for fake vs. real was ridiculous, and the owner said it's what all the wedding cake vendors use in our area. In fact, I bought a bottle of the artificial almond extract and the ingredients are:
Propylene glycol, water and Benzalhehyde

But like a PP said, you should probably get it b/c there could be other contaminants to the cake that would lead the mother of the child to likely not let him partake in the cake. Get it!

[AngelaS]

My nephew has peanut allgeries and his allergist tells them to avoid ALL bakery products because the risk of cross contamination is just too great. My sisters sends a special sweet treat w/her son whenever he goes to a birthday party assuming that the cake is NOT safe for him.