20th December 2015
When I lived in France you knew the festive season had begun when the shops started stocking marrons glacés-or candied chestnuts in our native tongue. No French dining table would be without a few of these gloriously sticky, sweet treats. The Italians love them too but for some reason they have never caught on in the same way on this side of the Channel. Over Christmas we make do with packets of leathery dates and Meltis Newberry Fruits (which I’ve just googled and they are still going strong!). Good marrons glacés do cost a lot, £15-20 for a box, but if you are eating them on their own I would recommend buying as good as you can afford. However for cooking (see the Chocolate and Chestnut Truffle Torte and Grown Up Rocky Road recipes) search out more reasonable brands. Lidl are selling a very affordable jar of marrons glacés this year.