Almond Paste, Marzipan, Frangipane: What's the Difference? (2024)

Almond Paste

Almond paste is a baking ingredient that you can buy ready-made or make yourself from scratch.

Commercially produced almond paste contains around 45% almonds and 16 grams sugar per 2 tablespoons.

Homemade almond paste can be made with or without egg white. Whether you use raw blanched almonds, blanched toasted almonds, or almonds with their skins depends on what you're using the almond paste for.

Marzipan

Whereas almond paste is strictly used as a baking ingredient, marzipan is ready to eat and as such considered a candy or confection. You can buy it off the supermarket shelf or make your own.

Commercially produced marzipan contains around 28% almonds and 21 grams sugar per 2 tablespoons so it's sweeter than almond paste.

Because marzipan is stiff, it lends itself to be cut out or shaped three-dimensionally for candies shaped like fruits, or for cake and pastry decorations. Unlike almond paste, marzipan is often dyed.

Can Marzipan and Almond Paste Be Used Interchangeably?

It can be confusing that recipes sometimes use the terms "almond paste" and "marzipan" interchangeably, as they're actually quite different. Almond paste has a coarser texture but is much softer than marzipan, which allows it to be spread as a filling. Unlike marzipan, almond paste holds up in baking.

The sugar content of almond paste is lower and its almond content higher than marzipan. That is because the cookies, cakes, tarts, and other desserts to which almond paste is added call for additional sugar.

You can use store-bought almond paste to make marzipan but you cannot make almond paste from marzipan.

In a pinch, you can substitute marzipan for almond paste, but be sure to reduce the amount of sugar called for in the recipe because marzipan is sweeter than almond paste. Note that the end result will also be different because marzipan is firmer and has a finer texture than almond paste.

Almond Paste, Marzipan, Frangipane: What's the Difference? (2)

And What About Frangipane?

Frangipane is a pastry or pie filling. Unlike almond paste and marzipan, it is not a product that you can buy off the supermarket shelf, so you need to make it yourself.

Another difference between frangipane and almond paste and marzipan is the ingredients. In addition to almonds and sugar, frangipane contains eggs, butter, and flour. French-style frangipane also requires milk to prepare a custard, which is then mixed with ground almonds.

Frangipane has a very soft consistency. While you can make a batch of marzipan or almond paste ahead of time and keep it in the fridge or freeze it, frangipane is best prepared just before using.

Like almond paste, frangipane can be adapted to a vegan diet.

More Resources

Go in-depth with more articles and recipes:

Almond Paste, Marzipan, Frangipane: What's the Difference? (2024)

FAQs

Almond Paste, Marzipan, Frangipane: What's the Difference? ›

Frangipane Is A Creamy Filling With A Milder Flavor

Is frangipane the same as almond paste? ›

Another difference between frangipane and almond paste and marzipan is the ingredients. In addition to almonds and sugar, frangipane contains eggs, butter, and flour. French-style frangipane also requires milk to prepare a custard, which is then mixed with ground almonds. Frangipane has a very soft consistency.

What is almond marzipan? ›

Marzipan is 1 part ground almonds and 2 parts confectioners' sugar. Almond paste is made from equal parts almond and sugar, so it is less sweet. The two ingredients are not in interchangeable in recipes; however, in a pinch, you can turn almond paste into marzipan by adding some sugar and egg whites.

What's the difference between almond paste and almond filling? ›

The almond paste and almond filling are very different products and should not be used interchangeably in a recipe. The Almond Filling is a jam-like filling for cakes, pastries, and cookies. The Almond Paste is usually mixed or cut into a recipe for an almond flavor, or as a layer in tarts and pies.

What is an Italian sweetened almond paste called? ›

Italian almond paste is called "marzipan" in general culinary usage, but specifically in Italy, it's often referred to as "pasta di mandorle." This sweet paste is made from ground almonds mixed with sugar or honey and sometimes augmented with almond oil or extract.

Is marzipan the same as almond paste? ›

Almond paste has twice the amount of almonds in it compared to marzipan, making it coarser in texture and less sweet than its counterpart. Their consistency also differs as marzipan is smooth and pliable, almost clay-like, while almond paste is somewhat gritty and spreadable, almost like a cookie dough.

Does almond paste taste like marzipan? ›

Compared to almond paste, marzipan has a higher proportion of sugar, which makes it sweeter, smoother, and more pliable—think Play-Doh. It's typically rolled, molded, dyed, and/or shaped (like into these adorable fruits!) and served as its own or used as a decorative element in larger desserts.

Does almond paste need to be refrigerated after opening? ›

Commercially produced almond paste has a long shelf life. However, to keep it from drying out, once opened it should be tightly wrapped and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer.

What is the purpose of almond paste? ›

Almond paste is used as a filling in pastries, but it can also be found in chocolates. In commercially manufactured almond paste, ground apricot or peach kernels are sometimes added to keep the cost down (also known as persipan).

What is marzipan used for? ›

The glory of marzipan is because it holds a shape easily, you can cut out or mold your own figures to decorate holiday pastries. It's also used as a kind of heavy-duty frosting for Christmas cakes because it helps long-keeping cakes (like fruitcakes) retain their moisture instead of going stale.

What fruit is Sicilian almond paste? ›

This fine almond paste with bright colours is an expression of great gastronomic creativity that perfectly imitates fruit and vegetables.

What is the name of a Spanish confection made of almond paste and sugar? ›

Marzipan is a confection consisting primarily of sugar and almond meal (ground almonds), sometimes augmented with almond oil or extract. It is often made into sweets; common uses are chocolate-covered marzipan and small marzipan imitations of fruits and vegetables.

What is American almond paste? ›

American Almond brand Almond Paste is prepared from select grades of almonds grown in California. After blanching, the almonds are ground and then cooked with pure granulated cane sugar to a smooth paste. Almond Paste – 7# can. SKU PWN-AL59B-B79 Categories Pastes & Marzipan, Pastes & Marzipan.

What is the difference between frangipane and almond cream? ›

Frangipane is simply an almond pastry cream that contains almonds, sugar, eggs, butter and sometimes flour. It's even lighter and more spreadable than almond paste with a loose, creamy consistency.

What is frangipane also known as? ›

Frangipane is a pastry filling made with finely ground almonds or almond meal. It is sometimes referred to as almond cream. And, being more or less like a pie filling, frangipane is never consumed raw because it contains raw eggs.

What can I substitute for almond paste? ›

How To Make allergy alternate for almond paste. let cream cheese come to room temp, Cream in sugar until super creamy,gently mix in egg yolk and imitation almond flavoring until smooth. Use in any recipe that calls for almond paste.

What is an alternative for almond paste in baking? ›

Chestnut paste is a sweet, nutty paste made from chestnuts that is often used as an alternative to almond paste in baking recipes.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Fredrick Kertzmann

Last Updated:

Views: 6321

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (66 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Fredrick Kertzmann

Birthday: 2000-04-29

Address: Apt. 203 613 Huels Gateway, Ralphtown, LA 40204

Phone: +2135150832870

Job: Regional Design Producer

Hobby: Nordic skating, Lacemaking, Mountain biking, Rowing, Gardening, Water sports, role-playing games

Introduction: My name is Fredrick Kertzmann, I am a gleaming, encouraging, inexpensive, thankful, tender, quaint, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.