Marzipan, in various languages, means the ‘bread of March’. Therefore, it seems only fitting that we pay tribute to this beloved confection as this month’s featured cheesecake – Almond Marzipan. Imagine a creamy blend of marzipan with hits of almond bits, combined to create one of our more scrumptious cheesecakes.
The Rich Heritage of Marzipan
Found in chocolate shops, bakeries, and coffee shops around the world, particularly in Europe, Marzipan is a traditional sweet paste made from crushed almonds and sugar (or honey). The almond mixture is enjoyed in a variety of versatile forms – it can be hand sculpted and painted into an array of mini-edible fruits, vegetables, animals, flowers, and other intricate shapes (somewhat reminds us of Play-Doh or claymation figures). Pink marzipan pigs are given as good luck sweets on New Year’s Day by some cultures. There are also marzipan infused or filled chocolates, cakes, bars, pastries, and breads. And, as if that wasn’t enough, marzipan can be rolled out and dyed as icing to decorate wedding or other celebration cakes.
The origin of marzipan is vague; however, the popular belief is that marzipan came from the Middle East and was introduced to Europe by the Crusaders during the Middle Ages. Various European countries lay claim to its discovery. The town of Lϋbeck in Germany professes to be the world capital of marzipan and produces the highest quality products. An Estonian legend describes how marzipan began as a medicine. The Hungarian story involves a rose and there’s even a marzipan museum in Budapest. Toledo’s (Spain) most famous dessert is marzipan. It was also a prized delicacy of the Roman emperors and remains a big part of Italian cuisine. Regardless of where it began, marzipan was regarded for centuries as an indulgence for royalty and the upper class. Today, marzipan is more common and most often associated with Easter and Christmas, but is easily appreciated year-round.
Exquisite flavours of almonds, marzipan and cheesecake
In some places, marzipan is made with other nuts and ingredients. But, staying true to its roots, the Master Baker at Trees Organic makes our home-made marzipan paste from the finest sweet almonds. Also good for you, almonds are considered the most nutritionally dense nut – high in protein and fiber. In our recipe, a smooth marzipan meal is blended with of our signature cheesecake ingredients along with additional nuggets of almonds. This winning combination offers a delicate balance of nutty and sweet almond flavours with a hint of crunchiness. Decadent but elegant is the best way to describe our Almond Marzipan Cheesecake. Its distinctive almondy flavour, aroma, and silky texture make this cheesecake a treat that’s utterly impossible to stop at one slice.
The Almond Marzipan Cheesecake is a specialty for March and found in our five café locations. Available by the slice or the whole cake in 3 sizes – 6″, 8″ and 10″. Almond Marzipan Cheesecake is a favourite for Easter; therefore, consider ordering your cake in advance with any of our cafes. Come by soon and experience this confectionery masterpiece, before it’s all gone!
