Spanish Marzipan Recipe
Marzipan is a traditional Christmas dessert whose main ingredients are almonds and sugar. It is a sweet treat made of almonds and sugar crushed with a mallet lightly toasted under the grill.
In Toledo, you can find marzipan all year round, despite the widespread tradition in the rest of Spain of eating it at Christmas.
Spanish Marzipan Recipe
Marzipan is a symbol of Iberian gastronomy, catching the eye of many tourists looking to try typical Spanish Christmas foods. It is a sweet made of almonds and sugar crushed with a mallet, hence its name in Spanish (maza and pan equal mazapán).
Ingredients
- 100 ml water
- 200 gr sugar
- 200 gr ground almonds
- 1 egg yolk
- bitter almond essence optional
Instructions
- Add the water and the sugar to a saucepan and bring to boil on a medium flame. Simmer for 4-5 minutes until the sugar melts forming a clear syrup.
- Add a few drops of bitter almond essence for more flavor (optional).
- Stir in the almosn flour and mix thoroughly until you get a thick dough. Continue cooking the mixture, stirring often to avoid burning. When it starts to come away from the sides of the pan transfer the mixture to a bowl and allow it to cool. Then place it in the fridge for about 1 hour. Chilling it will make it easier to knead.
- When you take it back out of the fridge the dough will have a thick and crumbly texture. Dampen your hands with a little water and begin taking pieces of the dough and shaping them into whatever shapes you prefer for your figuritas.
- Once all the figuritas de mazapán are done beat an egg yolk and use a pastry brush to brush the top of the figurines with the egg.
- Meanwhile preheat the oven to 210º C/ 410º F.
- Place the figuritas de mazapán on the grill on the top shelf of the oven and bake a for a couple of minutes (keep an eye on them and take them out once they become golden brown).
- Set them aside to cool and enjoy this delicious Spanish Christmas treat!
Notes
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