Marzipan is a confection consisting primarily of sugar or honey and almond meal (ground almonds), sometimes augmented with almond oil or extract.
What’s the Difference Between Marzipan and Almond Paste? While they both are made of almonds, marzipan and almond paste are completely different creatures. Marzipan is smooth, sweet, and often dyed and molded into shapes. It’s also used to cover sweets much like fondant and is sometimes eaten as is. Almond paste, however, is more coarse, less sweet, and used as an ingredient or filling for baked goods.
The word marzipan is derived from the German Marzipan or Italian marzapane, most likely after St. Marcus. Interestingly, there are many theories on how marzipan was invented. The Spanish claim that marzipan was invented in Toledo, while Italians say it was in Florence. The French claim that they invented the sweet treat in France.
Although nobody really knows the true origin of marzipan, it has clearly been loved and enjoyed all over Europe and the rest of the world. Marzipan is a traditional food to eat at weddings and on religious feast days in Italy, Greece, and even Cyprus. It is a tasty and exotic addition to many traditional cakes, pastries, petit fours, chocolates, and candies.
Exclusively sold at Neuhaus shops and The Frenchman’s Corner of Culpeper. The Neuhaus Marzipan uses the best almonds in the world and these are from California. The result is a pure Marzipan without the acidity and lingering taste when made with lower quality ingredients. The difference is the high oil content in our California almonds!
