FAQs
Compared to almond paste, marzipan has a higher proportion of sugar, which makes it sweeter, smoother, and more pliable—think Play-Doh. It's typically rolled, molded, dyed, and/or shaped (like into these adorable fruits!) and served as its own or used as a decorative element in larger desserts.
Why is marzipan so expensive? ›
Marzipan comes from nuts—it's traditionally made with ground almonds. In order to maintain quality standards, many countries regulate the percentage of almonds a recipe must have for it to be legally called "marzipan." This discourages the use of apricot kernels as a cheap substitute for almonds.
What is marzipan called in America? ›
What is Marzipan? Marzipan, also known as almond candy dough, is a smooth and pliable confectionary paste made from almonds that can be used as a cake icing or molded into candies. It features a clay-like consistency that makes it easy to handle.
What is the high almond content of marzipan? ›
In a danish "pure raw marzipan" the marzipan must consist of at least 60% almonds according to danish law. The rest is sugar and water. There are some recipes online with 50/50 sugar and almonds.
Can I substitute almond paste for marzipan? ›
You can use store-bought almond paste to make marzipan but you cannot make almond paste from marzipan. In a pinch, you can substitute marzipan for almond paste, but be sure to reduce the amount of sugar called for in the recipe because marzipan is sweeter than almond paste.
What can I use instead of marzipan? ›
You can use a layer of fondant icing instead of marzipan if you wish.
Is marzipan healthy or unhealthy? ›
The best quality marzipan contains less sugar in the raw mix. Good marzipan contains minerals such calcium, potassium and magnesium and is also rich in vitamin B and polyunsaturated fatty acids. On the downside, marzipan is high in fat and in sugar.
What is the old name for marzipan? ›
The German name 'marzipan' has supplanted the original English name 'marchpane. ' Some theorise that it originally comes from the Latin 'martius panis', or 'March bread'. Others cite Arabic, Burmese, or Persian as the language of origin.
Can you eat marzipan on its own? ›
Marzipan is also sold on its own as a candy. One of the most common versions is marzipan fruits, sold in a tray like chocolates, shaped and dyed to look like tiny lemons, oranges, apples, and so on.
Who makes the best marzipan in the world? ›
Niederegger is known to produce the world's highest quality marzipan.
Marzipan is a confection consisting primarily of sugar and almond meal (ground almonds), sometimes augmented with almond oil or extract.
What are the benefits of eating marzipan? ›
1 Because marzipan is based on almonds, it is a sufficient content of vitamin E, in fact, as in the walnut. This vitamin in nature is a very powerful antioxidant and helps to fight stress and nervous tension.
Does marzipan taste like almond paste? ›
While you might come across recipes that mistakenly use the terms "marzipan" and "almond paste" interchangeably, they're different ingredients with different purposes. Bon Appetit explains that, since marzipan and almond paste have distinctly different flavors and textures, they shouldn't be used interchangeably.
Is solo almond pastry filling the same as almond paste? ›
The almond paste and almond filling are very different products and should not be used interchangeably in a recipe. The Almond Filling is a jam-like filling for cakes, pastries, and cookies. The Almond Paste is usually mixed or cut into a recipe for an almond flavor, or as a layer in tarts and pies.
What is another name for sweet almond paste? ›
Synonyms for Almond paste
- marzipan. n.
- marchpane.
- marzapane.
- almond cream.
- paste of almonds.
- meat. n.
- almond candy paste.
- sweet-almond.
What's the difference between marzipan and almond icing? ›
Generally, almond paste will have roughtly equal proportions of almonds and sugar (plus other ingredients) and marzipan will have a higer ratio of sugar (up to 75% sugar) plus other ingredients.