This frangipane recipe is a classic and popular French almond cake… Are you fond of frangipane? Try out my personal version that I make very often here at home!
It contains grated coconut, apricot jam and icing as well, just the way I like my frangipane.
And it is finger licking good.
Hmmm yum, now here is another sweet treat then.
And also a delicious childhood memory that I am so fond of! This sticky sweet frangipane reminds me of the local scouts groups that would go from door to door for a bake sale around November when I was little.
Childhood Memories
They would then order the sweet treats at Poppies.
That is a bakery factory quite near the town where I was born in Belgium. Huge cardboard boxes full of apricot carré confiture (ooh, another lavish bite I love to bits!) would then be delivered some weeks or so later.
Right on time for the Christmas celebrations!
Best Frangipane Recipe from Scratch
Poppies’ frangipane cake is the best I ever had.
Why is that then?
Because apart from the almond in this sticky cake there was also a generous portion of grated coconut in it. I can assure you, that extra crunchy texture really does it for me. Frangipane means almonds and coconut.
So this one below sounds like we are making yet another childhood copycat treat, my very own frangipane recipe!
Oh and don’t forget the white sugar glaze and apricot jam on top!
Apricot Jam
Because that is a must as well, hands down.
Make sure to let the freshly baked frangipane cake cool down fully before spreading it with the apricot jam and the icing because both will melt if the cake is still warm and you will make a downright mess of your frangipane cake.
Do you love baking sweet treats with almonds?
Then you should also check out another almond delight: my fluffy almond cake with yogurt and honey! Or how about my classic Italian almond amaretti cookies!
Are you ready for my frangipane recipe?
Here we go.
Enjoy!
Best Frangipane Recipe from Scratch
This frangipane recipe is a classic French almond cake... Try out my personal version with grated coconut, apricot jam and icing!
- 7 oz unsalted butter (200 g), soft
- 1 cup caster sugar (225 g)
- 2 medium eggs
- 3,5 oz almond meal (100 g)
- 2 oz grated coconut (55 g)
- 6 oz plain flour (170 g)
- ½ cup whole milk (120 ml), tepid
- 3 drops almond extract
- 4,5 oz icing sugar (125 g)
- 5 tbsp sweet apricot jam
- salt
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Add the soft unsalted butter, the eggs and the caster sugar to a large mixing bowl. Stir the ingredients well and then add the almond powder, the grated coconut and flour.
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Stir well again into a sticky cake batter. Pour in the tepid whole milk and the drops of almond extract. Also season with a pinch of salt.
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Combine all the ingredients in the bowl into a smooth and wet batter. Put it aside for 10 minutes to rest so that the almond and coconut flavors can develop fully. Then pour the frangipane batter in a rectangular baking dish of 7 inches by 8 inches (17,5 cm by 20 cm) lined with baking paper.
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Bake the frangipane cake for about 40 minutes in a preheated oven at 320°F (160°C) until the center has set fully. Once the frangipane is baked, remove it from the hot oven and let it cool down fully in the baking dish. Then spread it with the apricot jam.
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Combine the icing sugar and a tiny teaspoon of water into a smooth and white glaze. Stir well. Add more water if necessary. Don’t make it too runny!
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Pour the glaze on top of the apricot jam.
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Then let the glaze set fully at room temperature. That done, slice up the frangipane cake and serve.
Home Baking
Well I surely hope that you enjoyed my frangipane recipe!
My version is a traybake.
But what if you are looking for a recipe for frangipane tartlets?
Easy, just pour the frangipane batter in individual parchment paper lined tartlet tins!
You can even make pie dough and blind bake them first before adding the frangipane batter to them!
Or make one large frangipane tart.
With or without pie crust, that is entirely up to you.
Frangipane: The Sweet Secret of French Pastry
If you love French pastries, chances are you have tasted frangipane without even knowing it.
Frangipane is a rich almond cream that is used as a filling for many delicious desserts, such as croissants, tarts, galettes, and cakes.
It has a smooth texture and a nutty flavor that complements fruits, chocolate, and jam.
Where Does It Come From?
Frangipane is a type of pastry cream that is made with butter, sugar, eggs, and ground almonds.
It is also sometimes flavored with vanilla, rum, or orange blossom water. The name frangipane comes from the Italian word “frangipani”, which means “break bread”. This refers to the fact that frangipane was originally made with breadcrumbs instead of almonds.
The origin of the first frangipane recipe is not clear, some sources claim that it was invented by an Italian nobleman named Muzio Frangipani in the 16th century. He was a perfumer who created a fragrance with almond essence that became very popular among the French aristocracy. He also used his perfume to flavor his bread, which gave birth to the frangipane cream.
Origin
However, other sources suggest that frangipane recipe was already known in France before Muzio Frangipani arrived.
They say that frangipane was inspired by the marzipan, a sweet almond paste that was brought to Europe by the Arabs in the Middle Ages. Marzipan was used to make various confections and decorations for cakes and pastries.
The French pastry chefs adapted the marzipan recipe and turned it into a frangipane recipe by adding butter and eggs to make it more creamy and spreadable. They called it “franchipane”, which means “free bread”, because it was not subject to the taxes imposed on wheat flour.
Epiphany
Whatever the true history behind the original frangipane recipe, it is undeniable that it has become an essential ingredient in many French pastries. It is especially popular during the Epiphany, a Christian feast that celebrates the visit of the Three Wise Men to the baby Jesus on January 6th.
On this day, the French eat a special cake called “galette des rois”, which means “king’s cake”. It is a round pastry made with puff pastry and filled with frangipane. Inside the cake, there is a hidden charm or figurine called “fève”, which means “bean”.
Whoever finds the fève in their slice of cake becomes the king or queen of the day and wears a paper crown.
How to Use Frangipane
Frangipane is very versatile and can be used in many different ways to create delicious desserts.
Here are some ideas to inspire you.
In desserts
- Croissants: Cut store-bought or homemade croissants in half and spread some frangipane on one side. Sandwich them back together and bake them in a preheated oven until golden and crisp.
- Tarts: Roll out a pie crust and line a tart pan with it. Prick the bottom with a fork and spread evenly with frangipane. Top with sliced apples, pears, plums, or apricots. Bake in a preheated oven until the crust and the frangipane are golden and cooked through.
- Cakes: Prepare your favorite cake batter and pour it into a cake pan. Drop dollops of frangipane on top of the batter and swirl them with a knife to create a marbled effect. Bake according to your cake recipe instructions. Or try my frangipane recipe above!
Savory
Sole meuniere with almond sauce, this is a savory dish that uses frangipane as a sauce for fish. It is very easy and elegant, perfect for a special occasion.
Thank you for this wonderful recipe! Being born in Belgium, I miss the different pastries and baked goods so much… Do you perhaps have a book with your recipes?