December’s Tag Game ~ Marzipan Community Forums - p1

Fri Nov 30, 2012 10:32 am

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What is Marzipan?

~ Marzipan translates to “March’s bread”. It is a confection that has been enjoyed throughout the world for centuries. It takes the form of a soft paste made from ground almonds and honey or sugar. It is sometimes enhanced with almond oil or almond extract, and it has a distinct strong but quite pleasant almond flavor and fragrance.

The most frequent use of marzipan is to make delectable sweets such as marzipan-filled chocolate candy, cakes, cookies, breads, and other sweet treats. Perhaps more specifically though, the most popular use of marzipan is to form it into shapes such as fruits, vegetables, flowers or animals, in which each piece is then delicately hand-tinted using food coloring in appropriate colors so the imitation resembles the real thing as closely as possible.

Marzipan can also be rolled into thin sheets and glazed for icing or frosting birthday and wedding cakes. And in many regions, marzipan is a common confection used to make Christmas cakes, cookies, breads and other treats served during the holidays.

Marzipan in Spain

When first invented, marzipan became so popular in Spain that the sweet confections were exported to the various countries that fell under Spanish rule. It was so widely accepted that some of the countries developed their own versions of marzipan, varying only on the type of nut used. For example, in the Philippines, marzipan is called marzapan de pili because it is made using pili nuts instead of almonds. In Latin American, the most famous marzipan can be found in Guatemala where it has been made since the 19th Century. And in the southern part of Venezuela, marzipan is made using cashew nuts.

But in Spain, where the finest marzipan is produced, marzipan is protected by D.O. (designation of origin), and it’s still one of the most prestigious of all marzipans in the world.

~ In Spain, marzipan is produced primarily in the Toledo region, and particularly in the towns of Ajofrin, Carpio de Tajo, Consuegra, Galvez, and La Mata, and in the city of Toledo. Production peaks in October but lasts for several months, with the Christmas season being the high point.

One of the most common uses of marzipan is to form it into animal shapes. But marzipan is used throughout Spain to create traditional holiday treats. Some marzipan desserts are filled with sweet creams or custard, and some are dipped in chocolate.

A few marzipan treats served throughout Spain include:

~ Tortell ~ popular throughout Spain, but perhaps most often is associated with the Catalan region, Torell is a pastry, typically a cake in a bundt form, that is topped with glazed fruit. It is traditionally enjoyed during the Epiphany season (January 6) at the conclusion of the twelve days of Christmas. A similar pastry called Bolo Rei is popular in Portugal.

~ Huesos de Santo (or Saints Bones) ~ little marzipan rolls filled with custard, pumpkin strands in syrup, or other sweet fillings. They’re typically prepared on November 1 and enjoyed throughout the middle of December.

~ Pan de Cadiz (Imperial Marzipan) ~ a stuffed marzipan sponge cake.

~ Marquesas ~ There are a variety of favorite Marquesas recipes throughout Spain, and they’re all delicious. Marquesas are similar to Madeleines, but they’re made with marzipan and egg.

Marzipan Around The World

Many areas of the world have traditions of forming marzipan into specific shapes such as fruits, vegetables, flowers and animals and then hand-painting them for more appeal and effect. But many regions have additional traditions for using Marzipan during the holiday season.

Mexico - Rosca de Reyes is enjoyed during the holiday season in many parts of Mexico. It’s a pastry similar to Tortell.

Italy – Particularly in Palermo, marzipan is most commonly seen at Christmastime, formed into fruit shapes and tinted with food coloring to resemble the actual fruit. In addition, a traditional dessert in Italy that dates to about the 11th Century is a Frangipane, which is an almond flavored pastry cream dessert that is used as a filling for many pastries such as tarts, cakes and pies.

Greece – Marzipan is formed into a variety of shapes in Greece and Cyprus, and almost always is left white. In the Aegean region, white marzipan is most often served at weddings and given to wedding guests as a special treat.

Germany – Stollen is a popular sweet bread enjoyed in many parts of Germany. In addition, it is a tradition in Germany (as well as Norway, Denmark, and parts of Spain) to give marzipan figures shaped and painted like pigs as a New Year gift, known as Glucksschwein (“lucky pig”) to symbolize good luck and fortune.

Latin America – Marzipan is popular at Christmastime in many Latin American countries, though it is often made from peanuts rather than almonds.

United Kingdom - Battenberg Cake is popular in the United Kingdom. It’s a light sponge cake covered in marzipan and, when cut in a cross section, it displays a distinctive checkerboard pattern, with the cake alternately colored pink and yellow. It was first created in 1884 for the British Royal family to celebrate the marriage of Princess Victoria and Prince Louis of Battenberg. And in Ireland, Simnel Cake is enjoyed for most holidays, and especially Lent. It’s a light fruit cake with two layers of marzipan, one in the middle and one on top, that is then toasted.

Sweden - The princesstarta (or Princess Cake) is popular in Sweden. It’s a cake consisting of alternating layers of light cake, whipped cream, berry jam and a thick pastry cream all topped with a thick layer of marzipan.

Norway – Chocolate-covered marzipan is commonly made as a treat during the Easter season in most parts of Norway.

the Netherlands and Belgium – Marzipan figures are given as to children as presents on St. Nicholas Eve (December 5).

India – a sweet treat called Kaju Barfi is made of cashew nuts and sugar is enjoyed in many regions of India.

Middle East – marzipan is known as lozina (derived from the Arabic word for almonds) and is filled with orange-flower water and most often shaped into roses and other delicate flowers and then baked. In Iran, for instance, marzipan fruit is a traditional Passover treat, replacing cookies and cakes.

Making Marzipan FIgures

First, start with prepared marzipan, as much as you’ll need for your project.

Pinch off a handful of marzipan and roll it into a ball. Take about a third of the ball and pinch it away slightly, making another round shape attached to the ball. This will be the head of an animal, and the larger ball will be the body.

At the bottom of the body, use your fingers to pinch down four legs. Flatten the base of each leg with your index finger to create flat feet.

Flatten the front of the head, making a stubby snout. This shape can be used to make a pig, a cow or a cat. For a cow or a cat, pinch up triangular ears at the top of the head. For a cow, leave the head as is.

Let figures sit 3-4 hours before painting (so the colors do not seep in or drip to areas you don’t want that color of paint). Then use food coloring, mixed with water, to paint a pig pink (red food coloring), a cow's spots (red and green food coloring for brown spots) or a cat brown (red and green food coloring, or black food coloring to make brown or black cats).

………………………………Marzipan Tag Game

~ We have selected an array of Spanish (and other) recipes from the food,com database that include marzipan as an ingredient. You are free to tag one of the recipes we found, or you are free to pick any other recipe in the database that includes marzipan. And there is no limit; you can tag as many recipes as you can make before the end of the month.

Featured Marzipan Recipe

~ Marzipan Bugs by The Catt Family Marzipan Bugs
Oh, what you can do with a little marzipan! And this is just a sampling of what shapes and figures you can make with the holiday favorite, marzipan. With a little creativity, you can have a bowl full of colorful fruit, vegetables or even a bunch of pretty spring flowers in an array of colors.

Basic Marzipan Recipes