Traditional Indian Christmas Sweets: Diving into all things marzipan, one of the most beloved Christmas treats

The delicious confectionary of marzipan has been delighting the world since time immemorial.

During the festive season of Christmas, you might have seen beautifully crafted Santa Claus, elves, and reindeer figurines in the display windows of shops and bakeries. You might also have glimpsed several sweet treats twisted into the shape of colorful fruits, such as apples and bananas. Can you guess what the Christmas-themed sculptures and the fruit-shaped candies have in common? They were all probably made from the delectable confectionary marzipan. Let’s learn more about the origin of marzipan.

Experts and food connoisseurs believe that marzipan was developed in the Middle East sometime before the Crusades. The term itself takes root from the word “mauthaban,” which translates to “made of sweet dough.” After the Crusades, Arab traders introduced the mouth-watering confectionary in Europe where it rose to prominence relatively quickly and found wide application in European desserts; the tradition of decorating cakes and pastries with marzipan was thought to have been innovated in Europe.

India got its first taste of this wonderful treat with the arrival of the Portuguese colonizers in Goa. Even today, marzipan remains a strong element of the food culture of Goa. However, there’s a marked difference between the original marzipan and the marzipan that is specific to Goa. Traditionally, the core ingredient of marzipan has always been almonds. But in Goa, locals use cashews instead of almonds to prepare marzipan. Interesting, isn’t it!? Apart from almonds or cashews, simple ingredients, including sugar and egg whites, go into the preparation of marzipan. A detailed recipe for scrumptious marzipan awaits you at the end of the article.

Marzipan is treasured for its balanced and distinctive flavor. The almonds lend it a bitter, nutty taste, and beautifully counteract and complement the sweet taste of the sugar. Multiple elements, including chocolate, honey, and vanilla can be used to enhance the naturally mild flavor of marzipan. Try melting a bar of Cadbury chocolate and dipping your marzipan in the chocolaty syrup to enjoy an unforgettable and melt-in-the-mouth sensation!

Marzipan is popularly regarded as a symbol of joy, riches, and good health across multiple cultures globally. Therefore, it’s not surprising that it is a significant element of several festivals. In addition to Christmas, marzipan is a vital part of Easter and New Year celebrations. Easter, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, is characterised by Easter eggs. These eggs are typically made of marzipan, and then garnished with chocolate and other colorful sweet treats to imbue them with a layer of festive cheer. Marzipan is sometimes also used to garnish wedding cakes as it is considered auspicious. A popular Christmas dessert that makes use of marzipan is “stollen,” a German fruit bread.

Now that we have explored the background, history, and flavor of marzipan together, let’s quickly go through the recipe of marzipan.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of ground almonds
• 2 cups of powdered sugar
• ½ teaspoon of almond extract
• ½ of rose water
• 1 egg white
• 1 bar of Cadbury Silk (optional)

Directions:

• Take a big mixing bowl and blend the ground nuts with the powdered sugar.
• Next, take the almond extract and rose water, add them to the dry ingredients, and mix them thoroughly.
• Then, take the egg white and beat the ingredient till its texture becomes soft and fluffy. Ensure to beat the egg white in a separate bowl.
• Eventually, combine the beaten egg and the almond mixture, and continue mixing them forcefully till a thick paste is created.
• Place the marzipan on a clean and flat surface sprinkled with powdered sugar.
• Knead the marzipan for some time till it takes on a flexible and silky texture.
• Cover the marzipan in plastic wrap and keep it in the refrigerator till it is ready to use.

Once your marzipan is ready, you could go all out experimenting! You can cut it out in different shapes of your choice and garnish it with exciting ingredients, such as chocolate. The optional bar of Cadbury Silk will come in handy here. Don’t forget to share this recipe with your loved ones to spread Christmas cheer and joy far and wide.