Comfit
Type | Confectionery |
---|---|
Main ingredients | Dried fruits, nuts, seeds or spices, sugar candy |
Comfits are confectionery consisting of dried fruits, nuts, seeds or spices coated with sugar candy, often through sugar panning. Almond comfits (also known as "sugared almonds" or "Jordan almonds") in a muslin bag or other decorative container are a traditional gift at baptism and wedding celebrations in many countries of Europe and the Middle East, a custom which has spread to other countries such as Australia and Puerto Rico. While licorice comfits (sometimes sold as torpedoes) [1] are multi-coloured, almond comfits are usually white for weddings, but may be brightly coloured for other occasions.
A late medieval recipe for comfits[2] is based on anise seeds, and suggests also making comfits with fennel, caraway, coriander, and diced ginger. These aniseed comfits seem to be a precursor of modern aniseed balls.
French almond comfits for a baptism
Red almond comfits, called "Confetti rossi", are used in Italy to celebrate the conferring of a degree.
See also[]
- Kompeito
- Dragée
- Sugar plums
- Mukhwas
- Good & Plenty
- London drops, a similar candy sold in Finland and Sweden
- Sprinkles
- Confectionery in the English Renaissance
References[]
- ^ https://mollysmixtures.co.uk/liquorice-torpedoes/
- ^ *British Library, Harleian collection, BL MS Harley. 2378. Composite Miscellany of Medical, Culinary and Alchemical Texts and Recipes. late 14th-15th cent..
- Confectionery
- Almond desserts
- Confectionery stubs