Candied Chestnuts
Marrons Glacés, or candied chestnuts, are a luxurious confection made by slowly simmering whole chestnuts in sugar syrup and then glazing them, often with vanilla. This labor-intensive treat originated in France and is a hallmark of European winter holiday cuisine, particularly associated with Christmas and New Year's celebrations.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This is a high-carbohydrate, energy-dense sweet, with a single chestnut providing roughly 50-70 calories. It offers some dietary fiber and minerals like manganese and copper from the chestnut, but its primary nutritional profile is that of a concentrated sugar confection.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 320 kcal |
| Protein | 2.5 g |
| Carbs | 65 g |
| Fat | 4.5 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 55 g |
| Sodium | 10 mg |
| Potassium | 350 mg |
| Vitamin C | 15 mg |
| Manganese | 1.2 mg |
| Copper | 0.4 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.3 mg |
| Iron | 1.0 mg |
| Magnesium | 30 mg |
| Phosphorus | 65 mg |
Per 100 g (about 6-8 chestnuts) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
The process of making perfect Marrons Glacés is considered a true test of a pâtissier's skill, as the chestnuts must remain whole and intact through days of careful simmering. Nutritionally, they are unique among confections for providing the complex carbohydrates and fiber of a nut, albeit enveloped in a significant amount of sugar.
