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What is Frangipane?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Frangipane, sometimes spelled frangipani, is similar to a pastry cream, and some may refer to it as specifically an almond pastry cream. Actually, frangipane can be any cream or custard-like substance with nuts. What makes it different from the average pastry cream is that it is often used as a filling in pies and is baked. This results in a very different crusty exterior to pies or tarts, and is a quite rich and delicious alternative to standard fruit pies.

Recipes for frangipane can be found in cookbooks dating back to the early 17th century. These recipes primarily refer to frangipane as an almond or pistachio custard that could be used very much in the same way as pastry cream, to fill cakes or pastries. It’s not clear when the idea of baking frangipane struck the French chefs, but there are several centuries worth of recipes with baked custard.

Apples can be used to make frangipane.
Apples can be used to make frangipane.

Contrary to popular belief, frangipane doesn’t need to contain almonds, or any nuts for that matter. If you do like nut flavoring, you’ll find many people suggest hazelnuts instead of almonds, especially in Italian inspired recipes. The standard frangipane tart tends to be made in the shorter tart pans, with a layer of fruit, over which the frangipane custard is poured. Fruits that can be sliced into half moon shapes, like pears, apples, and peaches lend themselves particularly well to this style of tart.

Fruits that can be cut into half moon shapes, such as pears, work well in frangipanes.
Fruits that can be cut into half moon shapes, such as pears, work well in frangipanes.

There are also recipes for savory frangipane. For instance, slices of onions and goat cheese may be topped with frangipane custard that is primarily flavored with black pepper. You can make this type of savory dish in either a tart style, or in a galette. The primary difference is that the galette is usually made from formed puff pastry and baked flat on a baking pan. The tart is piecrust pastry, usually formed into a short tart dish.

Some cookbooks from the 17th century include recipes for frangipane custard.
Some cookbooks from the 17th century include recipes for frangipane custard.

Many recipes for frangipane today are used as filling for pastries. They are usually a combination of almond paste, sugar, butter and eggs. Alternately, some of the baked tart types contain heavy cream and eggs, more resembling custard, and the older 17th century version. You’ll have to decide for yourself which of these recipes are most delicious, and most suited to your cooking styles. Experimenting with a few recipes can make for tasty fun in the kitchen and may delight anyone who gets to taste different variants with you.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent DelightedCooking contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

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Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent DelightedCooking contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

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Discussion Comments

aviva

@Sierra02 - I have a recipe for a traditional almond pear frangipane tart that I think you'll enjoy baking. It isn't difficult to make and I think you'll be very pleased with your results.

The ingredients include a nine inch unbaked tart shaped shell, one third cup of sugar, one half teaspoon of lemon zest, three ounces of almond paste, five tablespoons of butter, two eggs, one half cup of flour, a pinch of salt and two poached pears.

With a mixer combine the sugar, lemon and almond paste and then slowly beat in the butter and then add the eggs one at a time. Now add the flour and salt and mix until it's smooth and then pour it into the tart shell.

With the pears you'll want to cut each one in half and then cut each half in the shape of a fan. You should have four fans that you place evenly across from each other at four corners on top of the frangipane.

Bake the tart for approximately forty-five to fifty minutes in a preheated three hundred and seventy five degree oven. After the frangipane cools, garnish the top with a little powdered sugar and enjoy.

Sierra02

I love trying out new recipes but the traditional French frangipanes look so intimidating to me. I know there is an art to French cooking but since I'm sort of a beginner at baking anything from scratch, I was wondering if anyone as a quick and easy almond frangipane recipe they could share. Thanks in advance.

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    • Apples can be used to make frangipane.
      By: xiangdong Li
      Apples can be used to make frangipane.
    • Fruits that can be cut into half moon shapes, such as pears, work well in frangipanes.
      By: Lana Langlois
      Fruits that can be cut into half moon shapes, such as pears, work well in frangipanes.
    • Some cookbooks from the 17th century include recipes for frangipane custard.
      By: keko64
      Some cookbooks from the 17th century include recipes for frangipane custard.