Marzipans: what is it

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

Is your friend already buzzing all over the ears that she made delicious marzipans? “What is it, and what is it eaten with?” What is your first reaction to her words? Then let's find out. Let's start, as expected, from the very beginning, namely, with the history of the emergence of a wonderful recipe.

The history of marzipan is very fascinating. The recipe appeared around the seventeenth or eighteenth century. Four countries claim to invent the dish - Italy, Germany, France and Estonia. There is an opinion that the recipe appeared simultaneously in all countries, but slightly differed in the set of ingredients. Marzipans did not appear out of the boredom of cooks and the desire to invent something new. At that time, there was a severe famine in the countries, and the only "grain" for bread was almonds. Also, some argue that marzipans were given to people as a cure for mental disorders, because nuts have a good effect on the nervous system. From now on, you know how marzipans originated, what they are and why they were created. By the way, according to tradition, in Germany, these goodies are prepared for Christmas.

Now that you've learned the history of marzipan, it's time tostart cooking. Standard marzipan is a dish of crushed sweet and bitter almonds and sugar. Nowadays, there are many different recipes for sweets. You can also find different marzipan cakes, the photos of which are impressive. There are even museums of this magical delicacy.

I managed to find a recipe "from the chest of a noble lady", which was published back in 1608. Here it is: “How to make homemade marzipan - an exquisite and expertly decorated candy. To get started, take 800 grams of almonds, crush them to a state of flour and mix with 400 grams of powdered sugar, add a tablespoon or two of syrup. Then mix until a homogeneous mixture is formed. Now take the resulting mass, put it in a thin layer in a mold and bake. Garnish with ice, syrup and powdered sugar.”

Unfortunately, this old recipe does not specify exactly how to cook marzipans. "What it is? How so?" - you ask. There is no baking time, no temperature at which to bake, no cooling time. Therefore, I had to change it a little in order for the dish to turn out really tasty.

Ingredients:

• 500 grams of whole almonds;
• 375 grams of powdered sugar;
• syrup;
• water.

Instruction:

1. Grind the almonds to a powder. This can be done manually. At first it may seem that it is very simple and fast. But if you get bored, use a coffee grinder or any other device that will make almond "flour". Most importantly, make sure you don'tthere were large lumps or even whole pieces of almonds.

   

2. Mix the almond "flour" with 250 grams of powdered sugar. Next, add a tablespoon of syrup. If the dough does not seem sweet enough to you, add a little more syrup (about a teaspoon). The main thing is not to overdo it. Then add water until the mass becomes like a thick dough.



3. Now roll out the dough and put it into the mold. Roll thin enough; If there are problems (the dough will be sticky), sprinkle the surface you are working on with powdered sugar. Lubricate the form with vegetable oil. When you put the dough into the mold, form the edges (such as when baking a pie). Bake for about 20 minutes at 180oC.

   

4. Prepare the frosting. To do this, mix the remaining powdered sugar with syrup. Drizzle glaze over homemade marzipan and let cool.

So our wonderful dish is ready. I think now you will not have a question: "Marzipans - what is it?". Bon appetit!