Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Violet Tuesday & Miniature Marzipan Bundts


Around here we celebrate Veilchendienstag today which literally translates to Violet Tuesday. In other parts of the world, it is also referred to as Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras, or Pancake Day. Violet Tuesday is also the day before Ash Wednesday and usually falls between February 3 and March 9.




The origins of this flowery name are not quite clear. Historians assume that the expression evolved because the day before Violet Tuesday is often referred to as Rose Monday, therefore, it was natural to be looking for a similar name with a flower in its designation.




Whatever the historic origins of the name, Violet Tuesday is not only referred to by various names but it is also observed in many different ways worldwide. But no matter what you call it in your neck of the woods, or how you celebrate today, the day before Ash Wednesday has long been a time for eating and merry making as people prepare for the long Lenten fast that begins tomorrow and covers a period of approximately six weeks before Easter Sunday.




And what better day than Violet Tuesday to be baking Miniature Marzipan Bundts with an light violet sugar icing and incredibly delicious candied violets as decoration




And to be enjoying these tiny Bundts alongside a cup of tea called Earl Grey´s Lady Violet. This is a wonderfully fragrant black tea from Darjeeling, with cornflower blossoms and natural bergamot oil to which we like to add some pretty white rock candy.




Miniature-Marzipan-Bundts

Ingredients for the Mini Bundts
  • 2 eggs (L), free range or organic
  • 100 grams unsalted butter, room temperature – plus some for greasing the molds
  • 4 tbsp, super fine baking sugar
  • 2 tsps, pure vanilla sugar
  • 1/8 tsp fine sea salt
  • 100 grams baking marzipan (with at least 50 % almonds – I like to use baking marzipan with 56 % almonds) - in the States marzipan or almond paste is available form the Danish company Odense here
  • 4 heaping tbsps. flour (use wheat or spelt flour here) - plus some for dusting the molds
In addition
  • mini Bundt baking tray (12 molds)
  • a pastry brush with soft bristles
  • powdered sugar
  • a few drops of violet food-coloring (optional)
  • candied violets (optional)



Preparation of the Mini Bundts
  1. Preheat your oven to 175 °C.
  2. Butter and flour your mini Bundt cake molds and shake out the excess flour. Set aside.
  3. Grate the marzipan finely – if the marzipan is too soft, place it in the freezer for 15 minutes or until it is firm enough to grate easily. Bring to room temperature before continuing with the recipe.
  4. Add all the ingredients except the flour to the beaker of your hand-held blender and mix together until you have a smooth batter.
  5. Then add the flour and mix some more. 
  6. Add the batter to a piping bag with a small nozzle and fill the moulds 2/3 full. Carefully tap the filled molds on the counter once to get rid of any air bubbles.
  7. Bake the mini Bundts in your pre-heated oven for about ten to twelve minutes.
  8. Transfer to a cooling rack. Let the mini cakes cool for a few minutes and then turn out onto the cooling racks. Cool completely.
  9. Decorate as desired with either just powdered sugar or a sugar icing and candied violets.



These charming little cakes seem perfect for a Violet Tuesday celebration but would also make a wonderful afternoon tea treat any day. Or bring them along to your next  picnic, in your snack box, or as gifts.




Enjoy the last day of the Carnival celebrations and Happy Baking on this Violet Tuesday!


26 comments:

  1. So adorable! I can't get over those little bundts :)

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    1. June, so kind of you, thank you very much - these mini Bundts are as small as the treats you can find in a box of chocolates - love them!
      Andrea

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  2. Oh Andrea! Are these cute or what? I adore marzipan and everything that is mini, so you really got me on these bite size bundt cake...
    Enjoy your week my dear :)

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    1. Juliana, bite sized bundts - what more could one ask for?! Personally, I have to admit to be seriously taken by these mini molds.
      Thank you very much for your kind comment,
      Andrea

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  3. Hi Andrea, these look so cute and delicious, love mini treats like this! Happy Baking!

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    1. Cheri, thank you - these were fun to bake and they are perfect lttle morsels of delight with that cup of afternoon Lady Grey tea.

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  4. Perfect little treats to eat with my tea! Thank you, dear Andrea, for your kind, compassionate note. xoxo

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    1. Dear Liz, I certainly hope that you are feeling a bit better - as good as can be expected under the circumstances - sending lots of good thoughts your way.
      Thank you for taking the time to leave me a comment.
      All the best,
      Andrea

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  5. I must say that I desperately need a mini bundt pan to make these! How beautiful, and marzipan is one of my favorite flavors. I love candied violets on just about any lemon dessert, but haven't combined them with almond desserts yet. These are beautiful, and I love Violet Tuesday! Liebe Grüße, David

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    1. Well, then dear David, I shall look for one of these baking pans and send it to you - these are the smallest bundt molds that you can find and since the manufacturer makes really good-quality baking pans, these teeny tiny cakes actually release well from the pan - although I was doubtful at first. I will let you know about the pan a.s.a.p. Those delicious candied violets are from a wonderful spice merchant - don´t you just love the way they look and taste?!
      Thank you for the very lovely comment, dear friend!
      Andrea

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  6. A little something packed with two different flavors, marzipan and candied violets, how cute these bundts are... Nice for spring as well, can't wait to see my violets in the garden... Hugs, Wally

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    1. Liebe Wally, diese klitzekleinen Gugelhupf-Backformen haben es mir wirklich angetan - sind auch als kleines Gastgeschenk wunderbarst geeignet!
      Hoffe, ihr versinkt nicht im Schnee...
      Liebe Grüsse aus dem (noch) sonnigen Bonn,
      Andrea

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    2. Unsere Tochter schenkte mir eine Siliconform mit 6 Rodonkuechlein, immer, wenn ich nun einen Kuchen backe, mache ich etwas mehr Teig (einfach die Haelfte dazu...) und ich backe 6 Küchlein, die ich einfriere. Und am Samstag, wenn alle Nachbarn zum Kaffee/Tee eintrudeln, weil es hier wieder schneien soll, kommen ganz viele verschiedene Rodonkuechlein auf den Tisch.... der etwas andere cup cake..... ;-) -18 Grad zeigte das Thermometer heute an.... Einen ganz lieben Gruss!

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    3. Lieben Dank Wally, heute scheint die Sonne schon relativ warm und ich hoffe, ihr habt am Samstag jede Menge wunderbarer kleiner Küchlein genossen - ich bin sicher, dass du deine Nachbarn und Freunde unheimlich verwöhnt hast!
      Liebe Grüße und noch einen schönen Sonntag,
      Andrea

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  7. Hello Andrea, these miniature bundts are just lovely, and the way you have finished them is beautiful! I'm beginning to learn you are quite the tea drinker too! I was reflecting on these pre- Lenten traditions around the world yesterday and today while writing, in some ways they seem curious since these pre- Lenten merry making traditions were established during times when Lent was much more somber and sacrificial. Strange to me too, Mardis Gras, with the frightening masks and parading. Some people still refrain from sweets over the season until Easter, but then, if they are not the right temperament of such sacrifice, it can be quite exasperating to others, as well as running the risk of being caught in the candy window display, lying intoxicated among the sugary temptations, I saw it happen to the town mayor in "Chocolat."

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    1. Dear Peggy, well it is that time of year again and, yes, your comment about the town majoy is too funny...saw that movie a long time ago but I still remember - one of those movie scenes that we carry in our hearts for the longest times...
      Thank you for your wonderful comment,
      Andrea

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  8. These are the most awesome miniature bundt cakes I've ever seen. Great job Andrea, really great job!

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    1. John, thank you for stopping by my blog and taking the time to leave a comment - so gald you enjoy these mini Bundts or "Gugelhupf" as well call them around here.
      Andrea

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  9. Just adorable! And I love the concept of violet Tuesday.

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    1. Beth, I must admit to being quite enarmored by everything Violate Tuesday myself, thank you for the comment!

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  10. Mini Marzipan Bundts?
    *fainted*
    Absolutely the sweetest, cutest li'l things. I have to baked these. My waist will have to forgive me.
    Wishing you and your lovely family a very relaxing w/end, my friend. xo

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    1. Speaking of waist, dear Colette - I would not worry about that - this is a very mini, mini version of a Bundt - just right, not too sweet and way too small to play a role in a weighty debate!
      Thank you for your kind comment,
      Andrea

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  11. Those are adorable, certainly worthy of a special occasion Andrea! As is your presentation. Beautiful!

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