What is that in those squares? It’s weird but delicious! And shouldn’t you? If that’s exactly what you want to hear while tasting your candy, cheers. “I like to taste things. And they don’t even have to be completely new,” says Josef Maršálek in our podcast. But it will advise you how others will see your candy. Just a small change. For example in spices.
You can find the podcast about Christmas baking HERE:
Maybe you are like that too. The constants are clearly given, they are not discussed. Nevertheless, you would like to try something new when baking for Christmas. Unwatched. A little bit of new flavor here and there. Don’t worry, you’re not alone.
“I don’t have much room for experiments at Christmas,” admits baker and confectioner Josef Maršálek in our podcast. “I’m more likely to use spices I’ve discovered on my travels and other gadgets like that.” He’ll be happy to recommend them to you, too.
Fragrant spices
Turks and Indians grind it in their coffee, you can feel it in a whole range of Arabic, but also English desserts. It’s cardamom. “In the Czech Republic, it is practically not used, but it makes a great show in a dish. Moreover, I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like it,” Josef Maršálek recommends the luxury spice, which is said to be the third most expensive in the world. But it is very expressive and you will only use it very little. In the spice shop, you can get whole dried capsules, as well as ground cardamom, which you can use straight away. For example, in nut cookies or vanilla rolls.
Sweet beans
You can find them in the recommendations and recipes of Czech confectioners for a few years now, and their biggest promoter is Josef Maršálek. They are tonka beans, also known as tonka beans – but actually the fermented seeds of the sycamore tree.
In stores, you can find them dried, or a paste made from them (but watch out for sugar and additives there, not too much of either one). Tonka gives a very specific, sweet flavor, distinct, like real vanilla. And it actually fits wherever you would add its pod. You will appreciate it in eggnog as well as in rolls.
Pink decoration
Maybe you just want to make a little extra special for a candy that has been loved in the family for generations. A well-known confectioner has a similar feeling. “For my family and friends, Christmas is not a time for experimentation,” he notes. As a light variation, which makes a show, but does not jeopardize the tradition, he suggests a variation of the final decoration.
“You can beautifully sprinkle chopped pistachios or dried crushed rose petals on the candy.” In the off-season, you can order them online or find them at a trusted herbalist. But if you don’t spray roses, don’t be afraid to use your own. You will then shine through the tradition all the more intensely.
