Homemade Marzipan
107
- Makes1 2/3 cup
(Photo: Roberto Caruso)
Add some Old World sophistication to your desserts with this sweet and nutty European confection.
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups ground almonds
1 cup icing sugar
1/8 tsp salt
2 tsp almond extract
1/3 cup white corn syrup
Instructions
WHIRL almonds with icing sugar and salt in a food processor. Continue whirling, gradually adding almond extract and corn syrup through the spout, until mixture starts to come away from sides of bowl. Scrape marzipan onto a clean counter and form into a log about 8 in. long. Wrap in plastic wrap or waxed paper. Will keep well refrigerated in covered container up to a month.
How to use it
Marzipan cookies: Stir 1/3 cup room-temperature unsalted butter with 1/2 cup crumbled homemade marzipan, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 egg, and 1/2 tsp of vanilla in a bowl until blended. Stir 1 cup all-purpose flour with 1/2 tsp baking powder and 1/4 tsp salt in another bowl. Combine butter mixture with flour mixture. Form dough into 1-in. balls and arrange on a baking sheet. Brush tops with a beaten egg white. Press sliced skin-on almonds into tops. Bake at 350F until crisp around the edges, about 10 min.
Chocolate-marzipan cigarillos: Roll 3 tbsp chocolate marzipan into a 1/4-in.-thick rope. Brush a half sheet of phyllo pastry with melted butter. Lay marzipan rope at bottom of sheet and roll up tightly. Cut into 3 portions. Brush with more melted butter and bake at 375F until golden, about 8 min.
Pistachio-stuffed dates: Stuff pitted Medjool dates with about 1 tsp each of pistachio marzipan. Cover with plastic wrap until ready to serve. Serve with cocktails or as dessert.
Three variations
Chocolate marzipan: Replace 1/2 cup of icing sugar with 1/2 cup cocoa powder. Continue with recipe.
Coconut Marzipan: Instead of ground almonds, use 2 cups unsweetened coconut. Omit almond extract. Continue with recipe. Try in our Chocolate-Coconut Marzipan Bites.
Pistachio Marzipan: Instead of ground almonds, use 1 3/4 cups unsalted pistachios. Instead of almond extract, use 1/2 tsp orange flower water or rose water. Reduce corn syrup to 5 tbsp. Continue with recipe.
Nutrition (per tbsp)
Calories 81, Protein 2g, Carbohydrates 9g, Fat 5g, Fibre 1g, Sodium 16mg.
Homemade marzipan takes our decadent fruitcake recipe to the next level.
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