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Jul 19, 2017 · Specific to the southern town of Aix-en-Provence, calissons are a French dessert taken very seriously and sold in specialist shops; much like the macaron, they are also wrapped in pretty packages. Here’s a brief run down on how they are made and where to find the best ones.
- Alex Ledsom
Oct 26, 2023 · A perfect blend of sweet and bitter almonds, candied melons and orange peel, the “calisson d’Aix” is a southern delicacy and one of France’s most beloved candies. But whether you call it confiserie (confectionery), sucrerie (candy) or douceur (sweet), the calisson is not just a candy.
Jun 19, 2023 · While Calissons d’Aix are a Provencal holiday treat —they are one of the thirteen traditional desserts served at Epiphany — I tried my first on a beautiful summer’s day in Aix-en-Provence. Candy is certainly not the only reason to visit Provence, but for this sweet treat, Aix marks the spot.
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- French, Provencal
- Dessert
- Legend Or Fact?
- Celebrating The Calisson
- A Sweet Cultural Class
- The Royal Icing
- A Distinct Shape
- Sweet Magic
- Calisson Variations
- Taking A Calisson Cooking Class Yourself
- Calisson Recipe
Some locals state the story as fact, though one local tour guide I hired during my stay, Frederick Paul of Le Visible Est Invisible, noted that the calisson isn’t mentioned in texts until later and that it was in the 16th century that almond crops became prevalent in Provence. Regardless if it’s legend or true there’s no denying it’s a cute story, ...
It’s such an important sweet in the city that there’s a festival held for it on the first Sunday of every September called the Bénédiction des Calissons(Blessing of the Calissons). During the event Aix’s eight calissoniers make calissons to be blessed at the Church of St. John of Malta and given out — for free — to people on the streets. This tradi...
While in Aix-en-Provence my boyfriend Andy and I noticed the treats presented in beautiful almond-shaped tins and cellophane baggies wrapped with ribbon. Most of the sweet shops in the city take on a more sophisticated than childlike ambiance, as was the case with Confiserie du Roy René, where we took a calisson-making class with local pastry chef,...
After washing our hands and tying our aprons we started mixing the royal icing, made from a simple blend of egg whites, sugar, and water. Depending on the weather the ratios of each ingredient can differ, with more sugar needed when it rains and more water when it’s dry. We combined the ingredients — using 12 grams dehydrated egg white, 80 grams of...
Once we had our royal icing down we moved on to shaping the batter, which had been prepared before our arrival. The calissons needed to look like a perfect almond — or small smile — shape. To do this we used an old-fashioned two-sided metal mold with multiple almond-shaped openings and a foot pedal. The instructions were very specific. First, a pie...
Next came my favorite part, the royal icing. While I’d expected to simply pour the icing over the entire mold, we instead dripped a generous amount vertically down its far side. Once we had a line running along the four rows of calissons, we used the scraper to move the wet icing toward ourselves, allowing it to drip into each almond-shaped groove....
While the traditional calisson is made with Cavaillon melonand candied orange peel, there are modern variations. At Confiserie du Roy René these are called “Calissons d’Exception,” beautifully stacked to make colorful flower shapes underneath glass domes. Ginger and honey, candied chestnut and vanilla, raspberry and matcha, and clementine with caca...
If you find yourself in Aix-en-Provence you can sign up for a calisson-making class through Confiserie du Roy René for 50 Euros (~$56 USD) per person. This includes the instruction and the chance to bring your creation home in a beautiful calisson-shaped tin. If you want to try making these iconic Aix treats at home, Confiserie du Roy René has shar...
Serving:300 grams or 20-25 calissons Pre Cool:24 hours Preparation:30 minutes Cooking Time:5 minutes Ingredients: 1. 100 grams of pruned almonds 2. 30 centiliters of water 3. 90 grams of candied melon 4. 50 grams egg white 5. 10 grams of orange peel 6. 200 grams of icing sugar 7. A little glucose if you have Instructions: 1. In a pot, boil some wat...
- Jessica Festa
Traditional calissons have three layers; thin host paper on the bottom, the fruit-almond mixture and a light coating of royal icing on top. Typically, soft-diamond shape calissons are similar in taste to marzipan although not as sweet, in my opinion.
Traditional calissons have three layers; thin host paper on the bottom, the fruit-almond mixture and a light coating of royal icing on top. Typically, a soft-diamond shape a calisson is similar in taste to marzipan.
People also ask
What does a calisson taste like?
What does a Calisson d'Aix taste like?
Do Calissons taste like marzipan?
How are Calissons made?
Jun 3, 2024 · The charm of calissons lies not only in their enchanting history but also in their delicate and complex flavors, a symphony of taste that tantalizes the palate. The star of the show is the almond paste, a creamy and subtly nutty base that provides a comforting sweetness.
