During the 17th century famine, the senate of Lubeck, Germany ordered bakers to create a replacement for flour because it became scarce. The substitution that they came up with was almond flour. German bakers began making marzipan cookies with almond flour and it became very popular among people. Other countries and regions such as Italy, Spain and the Middle east have also made claims to be marzipan's inventors. The craft continued to become a family tradition up to this day.