Marron Glacés Love Affair of Luxury

Marrons Glacés or candied chestnuts are a luxury confection item loved all over Europe. The first recipes for this beloved sweet are traced to the 15th or 16th centuries in France and Italy. Experts believe marrons glacés may have come to Europe from the Crusaders who fought in the Holy Land. The practice of candied chestnuts could have originated in ancient Greece and Rome.

This blog will examine the intricate process of making marrons glacés, culinary uses for candied chestnuts, experience the delight and pairings, showcase yummy goodness and homemade recipes, and find places to purchase in the United Kingdom.

Create Marron Glacés

Marron Glacés is typically a Christmas treat, but it doesn’t have to be. Please note that most of the marrons glacés prep work is done by hand, contributing to a more sustainable and artisanal production process. The dedication and skill involved in preparing one batch of candied chestnuts, which can take 240 hours to process, is truly admirable.

To begin, chestnuts are picked based on size. Uniformity is essential for presentation! Making marrons glacés involves deshelling the chestnuts, cooking them in vanilla or other flavours mixed with sugar syrup, and continually covering the mixture with more syrup over many days. This process, known as ‘candying ‘, can take up to a week to complete. The slow and gradual coating of the chestnuts with the sugar syrup changes their texture and creates an indulgent and decadent treat. The last step is draining the candy and then glazing the pieces. Marron glacés can last 24 months if sealed in a vacuum-packed pouch.

Great Taste Gold Star Award Winning Marrons Glaces

Culinary Uses for Marron Glacés

Marron glacés, with their rich flavor and unique texture, can be used in various dishes, inspiring creativity in the kitchen. They can be cut up to create Mont Blanc, a popular chestnut dessert. Candied chestnuts are ideal desserts for themselves in the fall and winter. Try mixing with persimmons and spices like nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon. Other uses for the confection include cake, creating sweet sauce, pork roast, oatmeal, Greek Yogurt, cream cheese, pancakes, and as a garnish for luxurious desserts.

Experience the Delight

Marrons glacés boast a unique, delicate flavor that is a delightful surprise. The product should be squishy but not rubbery. One would expect it to be overly sweet, but it is not. The candied chestnuts have a deep, nutty, buttery flavour with a hint of a caramel taste. These gems are a hit for almost any crowd. Many chefs favour vanilla pods or extract as part of the marrons glacés recipe and some even dip them in chocolate.

Pairings for Marron Glacés

Candied chestnuts pair well with dessert wines, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and canapés.

Great Taste. Pate de Fruit, Marrons Glaces and Marzipan — Great Taste. Pate de Fruit, Marron Glace and Marzipan

Showcase Marron Glacés

Special golden foil wrapping and hand-packed gift boxes are not just for aesthetics, they are a testament to the luxury and elegance associated with marrons glacés. These beautiful ways to showcase marron glacés add to the overall experience of enjoying this delicacy. Add some shiny ribbon to finish dressing up the indulgent sweet. A decorative bowl or charcuterie board also shows off the golden goodness.

Recipes for Homemade Candied Chestnuts

Caroline’s Cooking has a recipe that takes patience and finesse. Try her recipe out at https://www.carolinescooking.com/marron-glace-candied-chestnuts/.
Drive Me Hungry has a recipe for Quick Candied Chestnuts at https://drivemehungry.com/candied-chestnuts/.
The Spruce Eats dazzles taste buds with its Marrons Glacé(Candied Chestnuts). Try it at https://www.thespruceeats.com/marrons-glace-candied-chestnuts-recipe-1375145.
Hungry Onion’s blog walks newbies through making marrons glacés at https://www.hungryonion.org/t/making-marrons-glaces-candied-chestnuts/33117.

Purchase Marron Glacés

If creating at home isn’t a thing, try buying Marron glacés online. Prices are high for candied chestnuts due to the labour and time required to make the confection. Let’s see some affordable options.

Walnut Tree has an GREAT TASTE GOLD STAR award-winning Marron Glacégift box for an affordable price of £20. The candied chestnuts are wrapped in gold foil, vacuum-sealed, and hand-packed with love in Great Britain. There are eight candied chestnuts to a package. Order with SKU Code: MBMG at walnut.gfits. Suitable for vegan, vegetarian, gluten free and halal diets.

King’s Fine Food has a 12-item Marron Glacé/Candied Chestnuts box for £36. Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans enhance the flavour profile.

The Good Food Network has a sale on Marrons Glacés Clement Faugier with candied chestnuts in a container for £21.60. At Christmas, they say they stock more extensive presentations of candied chestnuts. Their product has a shelf life of 12 months.

Marrons Glacés has a long history in the Middle East and in countries around the Mediterranean. Candied chestnuts are a delicacy and a luxury food item. Small and large batches can be expensive. It is a long and involved process to make the confection, but the result is worth it! Marrons Glacés are made in patisseries or at home. They are perfect for desserts, paired well with hot drinks and chilled dessert wines. This blog has included recipe ideas and places to order sweet confections online in the UK. Take care of that sweet tooth with some decadent and indulgent flavour.

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With Great Taste Awards for nougat, dried fruit, marron glacé, glacé fruit and pate de fruit. You’ll always be purchasing quality products from Walnut Tree.

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Supplied under own brand or white label to prestigious stores, palaces, castles, stately homes, garden centres, delicatessens, farm shops, hamper companies, department stores and gift shops.

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Walnut Tree supports Future Dreams Breast Cancer Charity with dried fruit for their care packages. www.futuredreams.org.uk

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Marron Glacés Love Affair of Luxury