Marzipan - what is it and how can it be cooked at home?

We know little about such a treat as marzipan. What is it, many of us remember from the tales of Hoffmann. Others may have seen jewelry from this sweetness in expensive cafes and pastry shops. Few know that it is very useful. And also that the marzipan can be cooked in a short time.

Nutlet from a fairy tale

In translation from Italian, its name means "Easter bread of March". Marzipan is a mixture of grated nuts (most often almonds) with sugar powder, which has an elastic consistency. It is because of this property that it's easy to sculpt various figures from it. The share of sugar should account for up to one-third of the total product - then it does not require thickeners. Marzipan sweets are usually glazed, since the surface of figurines from crushed almonds is not exactly even. Until now, confectioners from different countries argue among themselves about who invented this dish. In many countries (France, Italy, Iraq) believe that they have discovered the world of marzipan. What it is, they knew already fifteen thousand years ago in Byzantium. It spread very widely in the countries of Central Europe in the eighteenth century. It was then that the confectioners reached an amazing skill in making these sweets.

At present, the Russian confectionery industry does not always care about the naturalness of the products, and undesirable ingredients are introduced to make profits in marzipan. For example, almonds are replaced by cheaper nuts, the amount of sugar increases, thickeners and fastening agents are added, flavor is mixed for flavor. The recipe for unreal marzipan requires rigor and accuracy. Other nuts (even valuable hazelnuts) do not give the desired texture of the mixture, and the figurines can not glue well. Children are far from problems of substandard products, and for them marzipan is simply a symbol of happiness, something incredibly tasty, sweet and fabulous. Try to make it at home with them. It is not hard. And the process will give you, in addition to a wonderful delicacy, an unforgettable experience.

Confectionary factory at home

You will need pure high-quality almonds and fresh powdered sugar. There are two recipes on which you can prepare marzipan on fructose (what is it - fructose - and why is it needed, it will be said later). Take half a kilo of purified almond kernels, 15 pieces of bitter. The latter will be needed in order to give the marzipan a peculiar flavor. In addition, you need a glass of fructose and a tablespoon of water. Almond steams with steep boiling water, after that, peel and dry in the oven until yellowish-cream color. Grind either in a coffee grinder or in a blender, if there is a special nozzle. Then sift fructose and also turn into powder. This fruit sugar, it is very important in the recipe because it has a greater viscosity, which is important for the formation of figurines.

Mix both powders and achieve homogeneity. Then lay on a flat surface and spray using water spray, constantly interfering with uniformity. This operation is better performed together. You can do this with the child. Then, in a container with a thick bottom, heat the marzipan mass, stirring and watching for uniformity. Leave the resulting mixture overnight in the refrigerator. So you have prepared a real marzipan. What it is like to cook it, you now it is clear. It remains to enjoy the modeling of the figures from it with the children.