Marzipan is an almond and sugar paste used to ice cakes and other pastries, and sculpted into a variety of shapes to be eaten as candy or used as cake decorations. It is simply a mixture of almond paste, powdered sugar, and a moistening agent such as water, corn syrup, glucose, fondant, or egg whites. After the ingredients are mixed, marzipan reaches a consistency of dough or soft rubber and can be rolled, shaped, cut, or molded.
To make your own:
This recipe will cover a cake of about 20-22 cm/8-8.6 in.
500 g/17.6 oz sifted icing sugar
450 g/1 lb ground almonds
2 egg whites
½ teaspoon/3 ml vanilla flavoring (optional)
1 teaspoon/5 ml lemon juice
Please note: this recipe contains raw eggs.
- Sift the icing sugar in a bowl with the ground almonds.
- Add the remaining ingredients and mix to make a stiff paste, then knead until smooth.
As a substitute to raw eggs, it is possible to use a little water mixed with brandy to bind the paste.
- Wrap well in cling film and store in a cool place for 1 hour before use or up to 24 hours.
- As used for the Banana marzipan spring rolls.