Marzipan (2024)

FAQs

What's the deal with marzipan? ›

Marzipan is a ready-to-eat sweet treat traditionally found in confectionary shops across Europe. Made from ground almonds, sugar and egg whites, it is often shaped and dyed or painted as realistic fruits and vegetables. Different countries have different marzipan traditions.

Marzipan gives essence to almond croissants, king cakes, stollen and some holiday cookies. It is pliable enough to behave like fondant for covering layer cakes, as in the Swedish princess cake.

Experts think the word derives from martius panis, or "bread of March" in Latin. Definitions of marzipan. almond paste and egg whites. synonyms: marchpane. type of: candy, confect.

The main signs that marzipan has gone bad are changes in color, smell, or texture. If the marzipan has turned hard, overly dry and brittle, or shows any signs of mold, it's definitely time to throw it away. Also, if it has an off smell or if it's lost its sweet, almondy aroma, it's probably spoiled.

What is Marzipan? Marzipan, also known as almond candy dough, is a smooth and pliable confectionary paste made from almonds that can be used as a cake icing or molded into candies. It features a clay-like consistency that makes it easy to handle.

The invention of marzipan is usually attributed to Lübeck, Germany. Legend has it that during a 15th century famine when flour for making bread became scarce, the senate of Lübeck ordered bakers to create a replacement. Using eggs, sugar, and stores of almonds, the clever bakers came up with marzipan.

Marzipan is the only female character among the primary residents of the Homestar Runner universe. She is tall and thin, with her elongated head a pinkish color.

The German name 'marzipan' has supplanted the original English name 'marchpane. ' Some theorise that it originally comes from the Latin 'martius panis', or 'March bread'.

Marzipan is fine as a short term source of simple carbs but anyone suffering from diabetes should avoid it because it would cause the blood sugar levels to spike (and then drop in normal metabolisms) as Eric so rightly says… however each block of marzipan has in excess of 7000 Calories.

When people say they don't like Christmas cake, often they mean they don't like marzipan. Oddly, the paste elicits strong feelings while its core ingredient, almonds, often don't. For some, it tastes too bitter. “Almonds take you to bitterness, they can stop short, but they take you to bitterness.

Does marzipan go bad? ›

As long as it is kept cool or refrigerated, marzipan has a long life, months at least. At warm or room temperature the almond content will slowly oxidise and develop off flavours.

The shelf life of marzipan is from 3 to 12 months, depending on the product. Marzipan with a high content of almonds, like sweets with filling, should be consumed within six months. Figures that do not have such a high content of almonds can be kept suitable for up to a year.

The marzipan layer on a wedding or Christmas cake helps to trap moisture in the cake and stop it staling – plus it provides a smooth surface so that the final icing is neater.

The first mention of a similar dessert dates back to ancient Greece, where the culinary values of an almond and honey paste were already praised. Marzipan became a specialty of the Hanseatic League port towns. In particular, the cities of Lübeck and Tallinn have a proud tradition of marzipan manufacture.

Fondant is primarily made with icing sugar, so you'll need to add extra ingredients if you want it to have a distinct flavour. On the other hand, the ground almonds in marzipan contribute to its unmistakable almond aroma and taste.