What Mazapán means
Mazapán is a Mexican sweet name of Arabic (via Spanish) origin meaning "marzipan". It comes from Spanish mazapán, disputed: Arabic mawthabān (a coin, hence a small moulded thing) or Latin martius panis (March bread). It is pronounced mah-sah-PAHN, and it is most associated with the whole country.
The Mexican version is pressed peanut, not almond, and crumbles the moment you unwrap it. The Spanish word's own origin has competing Arabic and Latin accounts and is not resolved.
About this origin. The etymology is uncertain, disputed, or the name is a modern brand rather than an old word. The reading above is the best-supported one; food writing repeats stories that the dictionaries do not confirm.
This is a site about what Mexican words mean, so there is no recipe here. For the name itself: From colonial convent sweets like ate and jamoncillo to the chili-and-tamarind candies of the modern corner shop. Alegría means "joy", borrachito means "little drunk one", and muégano's name is a mystery even to Mexicans.
