In Morocco every meal is a special occasion, and almond-paste sweets are always part of the menu. M'hanncha (snake) is made from rolled phyllo pastry coiled to look like a serpent. The orange-flower water and cinnamon flavorings are very North African, revealing the Persian influences in the region.
Orange-Almond Paste
Assembly
- 3 cups almonds
- 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 egg yolks, beaten
- 1 tablespoon orange-flower water
- 1 tablespoon orange juice
- 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Assembly
- 12 (12- by 17-inch) sheets phyllo dough
- 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 egg yolks, beaten
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
- 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
Preparation :
To Make the Orange-Almond Paste:
Combine the almonds, confectioners' sugar, cinnamon, and cardamom in a food processor or blender and pulse to grind into a coarse meal. Add the butter and egg yolks and pulse until blended. Scrape the paste into a bowl, and stir in the orange-flower water, orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla. Divide the paste into 12 balls, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Combine the almonds, confectioners' sugar, cinnamon, and cardamom in a food processor or blender and pulse to grind into a coarse meal. Add the butter and egg yolks and pulse until blended. Scrape the paste into a bowl, and stir in the orange-flower water, orange juice, orange zest, and vanilla. Divide the paste into 12 balls, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Set the balls on a work surface dusted with confectioners' sugar. Roll each one into a 3 1/2-inch-long log. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
To Assemble the Cake:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a large baking sheet. Dust a work surface with confectioners' sugar. Place a sheet of phyllo pastry on the sugared work surface, and fold it in thirds to form a 4- by 17-inch rectangle. Brush the sheet with melted butter. Add another folded phyllo sheet, brush with butter, and repeat, until you have four buttered sheets.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a large baking sheet. Dust a work surface with confectioners' sugar. Place a sheet of phyllo pastry on the sugared work surface, and fold it in thirds to form a 4- by 17-inch rectangle. Brush the sheet with melted butter. Add another folded phyllo sheet, brush with butter, and repeat, until you have four buttered sheets.
Set four orange-almond paste logs in a row down one long end of the phyllo, and roll the pastry up over them into a cylinder. Fold over the ends and brush on some melted butter to seal the seams. Shape the cylinder into a small, tight coil and place on the baking sheet, seam side down.
Repeat to prepare two more phyllo rolls. Add each to the end of the coil on the baking sheet, forming a large coil.
Combine the egg yolks, water, and cinnamon. Brush the mixture over the top of the cake.
To Bake:
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden. Remove the cake from the oven, and let cool on the baking sheet.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden. Remove the cake from the oven, and let cool on the baking sheet.
To Serve:
Stir together the confectioners' sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle on the cake, and top with sliced almonds.
Stir together the confectioners' sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle on the cake, and top with sliced almonds.
Variations: Date-Lime Snake Cake
For the paste, reduce the almonds to 1 1/2 cups, add 1 1/2 cups chopped dates, and replace the orange juice and zest with lime juice and zest.
Individual Snake Cakes
Cut the folded phyllo sheets into 4- by 10-inch pieces, and stack and butter as directed. Place one almond paste log on top of each stack, roll into a cylinder, and shape into a small coil.
For the paste, reduce the almonds to 1 1/2 cups, add 1 1/2 cups chopped dates, and replace the orange juice and zest with lime juice and zest.
Individual Snake Cakes
Cut the folded phyllo sheets into 4- by 10-inch pieces, and stack and butter as directed. Place one almond paste log on top of each stack, roll into a cylinder, and shape into a small coil.
Walnut-Lemon Snake Cake
For the paste, replace the almonds with walnuts, replace the orange juice and zest with lemon juice and zest, and add 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom.
For the paste, replace the almonds with walnuts, replace the orange juice and zest with lemon juice and zest, and add 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom.
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