Almond Paste, Marzipan, Frangipane: What's the Difference? (2024)

FAQs

Almond Paste, Marzipan, Frangipane: What's the Difference? ›

Frangipane is a rich, cream-based filling, while marzipan is a thick paste mostly used for decorative purposes. The main thing they have in common is the almonds required to make each one, but beyond that, they're wildly different — especially in consistency — meaning you'll find them used differently, too.

Marzipan vs Frangipane

Their purposes and textures, however, are very different, making them unable to be substituted with one another. While marzipan is a thick and sweet icing dough, frangipane is a creamy and lightly-sweetened filling.

Compared to almond paste, marzipan has a higher proportion of sugar, which makes it sweeter, smoother, and more pliable—think Play-Doh. It's typically rolled, molded, dyed, and/or shaped (like into these adorable fruits!) and served as its own or used as a decorative element in larger desserts.

What is Crème Frangipane, and Why You Will Love It? Crème Frangipane, often simply referred to as Frangipane, is a luxurious almond cream filling that hails from the heart of French pastry-making tradition. Its silky texture and nutty, sweet flavor make it a favorite among bakers and dessert enthusiasts alike.

The almond paste and almond filling are very different products and should not be used interchangeably in a recipe. The Almond Filling is a jam-like filling for cakes, pastries, and cookies. The Almond Paste is usually mixed or cut into a recipe for an almond flavor, or as a layer in tarts and pies.

Frangipane is a pastry filling made with finely ground almonds or almond meal. It is sometimes referred to as almond cream. And, being more or less like a pie filling, frangipane is never consumed raw because it contains raw eggs.

What is the difference between almond butter and almond paste? ANSWER:Almond butter is a spread made from finely ground almonds, offering a smooth and creamy texture. In contrast, almond paste has a coarser texture and is akin to almond candy dough, similar to marzipan but with less sweetness.

You can use store-bought almond paste to make marzipan but you cannot make almond paste from marzipan. In a pinch, you can substitute marzipan for almond paste, but be sure to reduce the amount of sugar called for in the recipe because marzipan is sweeter than almond paste.

Many recipes for homemade almond paste call for egg white. Because almond paste is not consumed raw and is always baked at temperatures above 150 degrees F (65 degrees C) where the salmonella bacteria are killed, using egg white is less of a concern in almond paste than in marzipan.

In essence, frangipane is an almond filling, sometimes called frangipane cream. It isn't the same as marzipan, which is an almond-sugar paste that's so dense it can be formed into decorative shapes and painted in bright colors.

Why is it called frangipane? ›

The word frangipane is a French term used to name products with an almond flavour. The word comes ultimately from the last name of Marquis Muzio Frangipani or Cesare Frangipani. The word first denoted the frangipani plant, from which was produced the perfume originally said to flavor frangipane.

Frangipane is a baked almond cream typically found in tarts, such as the famous Bakewell Tart (I even made a chocolate version for Halloween) or Galette des Rois. It also can be used for applications like croissant filling. If you love almond flavor, you'll love frangipane.

After creaming the ingredients together, store it in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week. Before using it, remove the frangipane from the fridge about 30 minutes ahead so that it has time to soften. It will be much easier to spread the filling in the tart if it's soft.

Marzipan has a more solid form and is used on cakes and to create shapes. You can eat marzipan by itself, the same is not true for almond paste.

Don't worry about the raw egg white; the paste will be used in baking, not eaten raw. Almond Extract: For even more almond flavor, be sure to add almond extract to the paste.

What is frangipane? A creamy mixture of ground almonds, butter, sugar and eggs that is sometimes used to fill tarts. Halved stone fruit, such as apricots and plums, can be baked on top to make a delicious dessert.

Also called almond candy dough, marzipan is an agreeable, multi-purpose combo of the first two, with a subtle almond flavor and unmatched malleability. Be sure to try these marzipan cake recipes.