Mendiants are traditional French confections — also popular in Belgium — made of discs of melted chocolate (dark, milk, or white), topped with dried and candied fruits, perfect for Christmas or as gourmet gifts.
The name “mendiant” (beggar) refers to the four mendicant monastic orders (Dominicans, Franciscans, Augustinians, Carmelites) of the Middle Ages, originally associated with different types of dried fruits used, matching the colors of their respective robes.
However, the exact correspondence “which fruit for which order” varies according to sources:
• Raisins (Franciscans)
• Dried figs (Dominicans)
• Almonds (Carmelites)
• Hazelnuts or walnuts (Augustinians)
Today, modern versions vary and may include:
• Pistachios
• Candied orange peels
• Cranberries
• Edible seeds or petals
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 5 Minutes
- Portions: 8 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Bain-Marie
- Cuisine: French
- Seasonality: Christmas, New Year's Eve
Ingredients
- 7 oz 60% dark chocolate
- 8 almonds
- 8 walnuts (or hazelnuts)
- 16 raisins
- 4 figs (in pieces)
Tools
- 1 Pastry Ring
Steps
Melt the chocolate in a bain-marie.
Spoon teaspoons of chocolate onto parchment paper forming discs.
Quickly place the nuts on top of each disc.
Allow to cool and harden at room temperature or in the fridge.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Are Mediants and Alsatian Mendiant the same recipe?
Chocolate Mendiants and Alsatian Mendiants (or Mendiant d’Alsace) are not the same, even though they share the name.
1. Mendiants (Confectionary) — French / Belgian
• Chocolate treats with dried/candied fruits on top (as I described before).
• Popular throughout France and Belgium.
• Symbolically linked to the mendicant orders.
• Often among the “13 desserts” of Provençal Christmas.
2. Mendiant d’Alsace / Gâteau Mendiant — Alsatian
• It is a typical Alsatian Christmas cake.
• Base: soft dough (like sponge or cake), often enriched with raisins, walnuts, hazelnuts, figs, almonds, candied fruits.
• Sometimes flavored with spices (cinnamon, nutmeg) or liqueur.
• The name recalls the same French “mendiants”, but here it is a rich cake, not chocolates.
• Chocolate Mendiants = confectionary treats.
• Mendiant d’Alsace = Christmas cake with dried fruits.
