This Surprisingly Easy Recipe Will Transport You to a French Bakery (2024)

  • Recipes
  • Desserts

Sheela Prakash

Sheela PrakashSenior Contributing Food Editor

Sheela is the Senior Contributing Food Editor at Kitchn and the author of Mediterranean Every Day: Simple, Inspired Recipes for Feel-Good Food. She received her master's degree from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy and is also a Registered Dietitian.

Follow

published Jul 8, 2022

Be the first to leave a review!

This Surprisingly Easy Recipe Will Transport You to a French Bakery (1)

This sweet and nutty almond cream is a classic French recipe that's wonderful tucked inside fruit tarts or croissants.

Makes1 1/2 cupsPrep5 minutes

Jump to Recipe

We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

This Surprisingly Easy Recipe Will Transport You to a French Bakery (2)

While frangipane might sound fancy, this nutty almond cream couldn’t be simpler to pull together and will instantly make you feel as if you deserve a spot on The Great British Baking Show. The French pastry filling is a classic ingredient in almond croissants as well as fruit tarts. Once you know how to make it, it’s sure to become a mainstay in your baking repertoire.

What Is the Difference Between Marzipan and Frangipane?

  • Marzipan is a sweet almond paste that is dense and smooth and made from almonds, sugar, glucose syrup, water, and sometimes egg whites. It can be made at home or bought in cans or tubes. It’s used like fondant to decorate cakes or molded into shapes to be eaten like candy.
  • Frangipane is sweet but less so than marzipan and is soft, smooth, and spreadable. It’s made from almonds, softened butter, sugar, and eggs. It’s traditionally used in French pastries such as bostock, almond croissants, and pithivier, as well as British bakewell tart.

Is Frangipane the Same as Almond Paste?

Almond paste is more similar to marzipan than frangipane, but it’s still distinctly its own. It’s made of the same ingredients as marzipan but it’s less sweet and richer in almond flavor. It’s a bit more crumbly and coarse-textured and is used in baked goods such as these pignoli cookies.

How to Use Frangipane

Beyond its traditional uses, frangipane is wonderful simply slathered on thick-sliced bread, topped with fruit, and baked for a fun morning toast. Or slather it on puff pastry or galette dough before piling in fresh fruit when making a simple tart. A few spoonfuls are also lovely lightly folded into muffin or quick bread batter, as well as baked oatmeal, before they head to the oven.

Comments

Frangipane Recipe

This sweet and nutty almond cream is a classic French recipe that's wonderful tucked inside fruit tarts or croissants.

Prep time 5 minutes

Makes 1 1/2 cups

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons

    unsalted butter

  • 1/3 cup

    granulated sugar

  • 2

    large eggs

  • 1 teaspoon

    vanilla extract

  • 1/2 teaspoon

    almond extract (optional)

  • 1 1/4 cups

    almond flour or meal

  • 1/4 teaspoon

    kosher salt

Instructions

  1. Cut 6 tablespoons unsalted butter into 3 pieces and place in the bowl of a stand mixer (or large bowl if using an electric hand mixer). Let sit at room temperature until softened, about 45 minutes.

  2. Add 1/3 cup granulated sugar to the bowl of softened butter and beat on medium speed with the paddle attachment until pale and fluffy, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a flexible spatula. With the mixer on low, add 2 large eggs one at a time, waiting until the first is completely incorporated before adding the second.

  3. Scrape down the sides of the bowl again. Add1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract if using and beat on medium speed until just combined, about 1 minute. It will look curdled, but that’s okay.

  4. Add 1 1/4 cups almond flour and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt and beat on low speed until just combined, about 30 seconds. Use the spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl and finish folding in the flour until combined and smooth.

Recipe Notes

Almond flour substitute: An equal amount of other nut flours and meals, such as walnut, pecan, and hazelnut, can be substituted for the almond flour. If using an alternative flour, leave out the almond extract.

Storage: Frangipane can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week or frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before using and let sit at room temperature while the oven heats or while prepping to make it easier to spread.

Filed in:

Dessert

french

quick

Make Ahead

Freezer Friendly

This Surprisingly Easy Recipe Will Transport You to a French Bakery (2024)

FAQs

Why is French bakery so good? ›

French bakery stands out for several key reasons: Precision and Technique: French baking is an exact science. The meticulous techniques, from the perfect lamination of dough to the precise tempering of chocolate, contribute to the unmatched quality.

What country is the croissant from? ›

Through its many evolutions, food experts and historians agree that the croissant has become a uniquely French pastry. The French government even named it as the national French product in 1920. Many other countries also have their own spin-offs of the croissant.

What are the three most important points to remember when preparing excellent quality baked products? ›

To be a successful baker, you need to have the right ingredients. They need to be combined in the right order. Then they need to bake at the right temperature. Change any of these things, and you may end up with tough bread, a fallen cake or runny cookies.

Does croissant have egg? ›

Do Croissants Have Eggs? Traditional croissants do not contain eggs as they are made with flour, sugar, salt, dry yeast, milk, water, and butter. Gluten-free croissant recipes DO call for the use of eggs.

Why are French bakeries closing? ›

One month after the baguette was added to Unesco's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, French bakers are facing a serious crisis. Many bakeries have been forced to close due to rising raw material and energy prices.

Are croissants healthy? ›

While croissants do provide some nutritional benefits, they're also high in fats and calories. They're best enjoyed as part of a balanced diet, rather than a daily breakfast item. Pairing a croissant with fruits, lean proteins, and other nutrient-dense foods can help balance your meal.

Are croissants French or Italian? ›

Croissants, a staple of French cuisine, are flaky, buttery pastries made from laminated dough.

Did Paris invent croissants? ›

Originally a Viennese pastry!

Contrary to popular belief, the croissant is not a French invention (although France has adopted it as an icon of its gastronomy), but the result of a sequence of events in History. Its origins date from 1683. At the time, the Austrian town of Vienna was under siege by the Ottomans.

What is the secret to good cupcakes? ›

Top Tips for Baking Better Cupcakes
  • Read the Recipe. Read the recipe all the way through first. ...
  • Check Oven Temperature. ...
  • Check the Dates. ...
  • Substitute with Caution. ...
  • Use the Right Temperature. ...
  • Take Time to Sift. ...
  • Measure with Care. ...
  • Cream the Ingredients.

How to bake like a pro? ›

Baking Tips: How To Get Good Results Every Time
  1. Measure Properly. ...
  2. Invest in a good mixer. ...
  3. Use Room Temperature Ingredients.
  4. Check Your Oven Temperature. ...
  5. Don't Make Substitutions. ...
  6. Use A Light Hand. ...
  7. Understand Leavening Agents. ...
  8. Add Ingredients in Little Piles.
Jul 15, 2021

What is the most important rule in baking? ›

#1 Read through the recipe

Make sure to quickly skim the recipe before you start baking to understand the general flow and key steps. You can even make notes on the recipe or highlight key points to help you along.

Which is healthier a bagel or croissant? ›

The bagel has a third more protein than the croissant, but less fibre. With less than half the fibre of the grainy bread and only marginally more protein, the bagel also won't fill us up as much as the grainy bread.

Are croissants bad for cholesterol? ›

As much as you might love munching on cakes, pastries, cookies, croissants, and other baked goods, learn to eat them less frequently to manage your high cholesterol. These items have high concentrations of shortening and butter, which can exacerbate your cholesterol levels.

Are croissants high in sugar? ›

The nutritional content of croissants can vary quite a bit. Many varieties are high in calories, sodium, and added sugar.

Why is French bread so much better? ›

In France, bakers pay careful attention to where their flour is made and which grains are used in the milling process. The result is usually softer, heartier, and tastier bread than can be found in other parts of the world. French flour tends to be made with a lower ash content than the flour from other countries.

What makes French pastry special? ›

How French Pastries Are Different from Other Sweet Options? French desserts are generally prepared with creams, fruits, and custard. They are extra flaky in texture as a lot of butter is used in their preparation. It requires attention to detail, dedication, and a lot of patience to bake such pastries.

Which country are the best bakers in the world? ›

Austria is one of the top baking countries in the world. The market is saturated with a large number of bakery products retailers in the country. Germany, Italy and Switzerland are among the top export destinations for Austria's baked products.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kareem Mueller DO

Last Updated:

Views: 5342

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (66 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kareem Mueller DO

Birthday: 1997-01-04

Address: Apt. 156 12935 Runolfsdottir Mission, Greenfort, MN 74384-6749

Phone: +16704982844747

Job: Corporate Administration Planner

Hobby: Mountain biking, Jewelry making, Stone skipping, Lacemaking, Knife making, Scrapbooking, Letterboxing

Introduction: My name is Kareem Mueller DO, I am a vivacious, super, thoughtful, excited, handsome, beautiful, combative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.