what is a frangipane?
At its simplest, a frangipane is a small tart or cake with a filling made from almonds. At its most wonderfully complex, a frangipane is a fragrant pastry creation with a filling flavoured with ground nuts. Our frangipane is made only with fresh, natural whole nuts - almond, hazelnut and pistachio - toasted and then finely ground. They are mixed with fresh cultured Swiss style butter, eggs, sugar and flour and natural flavours such as pure bourbon vanilla and freshly zested citrus fruits to create a filling that pays homage to the finest traditions of baking. Forever and ever, almond.The earliest reference is from a French confectioners' dictionary dated to 1732 with an alternative spelling franchipane found in a rare 1674 French cookbook. Some speculate that there is a connection to Plumeria Frangipani, the new world flower discovered by French explorers and used to make perfume by the Marquis Frangipani, nobleman and perfume maker to King Louis XIII of France. While this is unclear, one fact is not in dispute: a frangipane is a little taste of heaven, right here on earth.
