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Homemade Marzipan (Almond Paste)

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If you’re looking for an authentic marzipan recipe that’s easy to make, is much cheaper than store-bought, and tastes absolutely phenomenal, you’ve come to the right place!  This homemade marzipan is naturally gluten-free and can very easily be made into a keto marzipan and/or vegan marzipan!

marzipan recipe homemade traditional authentic how to make almond paste rose water

Being from Germany, home to the world’s most famous marzipan, I was practically raised on this stuff.  Well, not really, but I wouldn’t have protested had my parents tried :)  It’s just incredibly delicious.  But it’s also expensive to buy.  The way around this?  Make your own!   The good news is that it’s super easy and quick. Now you can make your own anytime, anywhere.  Yes, your life is forever changed.  Look no further, this is simply the BEST homemade marzipan recipe!

Marzipan can be found everywhere in Germany but the town most famously associated with marzipan is Lรผbeck.  A few hours north of where I’m from in Stuttgart, Lรผbeck is a scenic port town with its famous UNESCO designated Holstentor, a Brick Gothic construction from Medieval times. We visited the town periodically as a family on our trips up north and then later as a young adult I once took on the challenge to bike 72 miles from Rendsburg to Lรผbeck in the middle of summer, a memory I’ll never forget!  Lรผbeck is also home to the world famous Niederegger Marzipan which has been around since 1806. And if I had a tally of how many of those marzipan chocolates I’ve eaten in my life I’m sure that figure would be quite staggering!

holstentor germany

What is Marzipan?

Marzipan is a sweet confectionery paste made from ground almonds and sugar.  Its flavor is commonly enhanced with almond and rose extracts. It has a smooth and pliable texture, making it easy to mold into various figures and shapes.

Though marzipan has long been associated with Germany and Italy in particular, its roots are actually in the Orient.  As far back as 850, a Persian doctor by the name of Rhazes praised the curative properties of almond and sugar paste.  (See, now why can’t our doctors today be equally so inspired?)  When the Crusaders returned to Europe from the Orient they brought this delicacy back with them.  Initially only enjoyed by kings and the very wealthy, by the 19th century when sugar was being extracted from sugar beets, making it cheaper, marzipan became widely accessible.  It has been a prized and popular treat ever since.

marzipan recipe homemade traditional authentic how to make almond paste rose water

Marzipan vs. Almond Paste 

In part it comes down to where you live.  In Europe it’s widely referred to as marzipan whereas here in North American the term almond paste is more common.  However there is also a difference in consistency resulting from a different ratio of almonds to sugar.

Almond paste is softer, made with a higher ratio of almonds to sugar, and is used in baked goods either as a filling, such as for pastries and tarts, or is incorporated into the pastry or cake batter.  Almond paste usually includes almond extract.

Marzipan is firmer, made with a higher ratio of sugar to almonds, so it can be shaped and molded and used for making candies/chocolates or as fondant for cakes.  It also traditionally includes rose water.

To adjust this recipe according to what you’re using it for, follow this recipe as instructed to make almond paste (I still include the rose water because it tastes amazing and it’s what I’m used to being from Germany where it’s commonly included), or if you’re making marzipan add an extra 1/4 cup or more of sugar until you reach a firmer consistency (one that you can roll out with a rolling pin without it sticking).

marzipan recipe homemade almond paste easy fast diy fondant candies

How to Use Marzipan and Almond Paste

Marzipan and almond paste are versatile ingredients that can be used in a variety delicious ways.  Really there is no shortage of delicious confections you can create with them. Here are a few ideas:

  • Candy Making: Marzipan can be shaped into bite-sized pieces and coated with chocolate to create chocolates or truffles like my Marzipan Truffles and Marzipankartoffeln.  Or you can make the world famous confection from Salzburg, Austria, called Mozartkugeln.  Marzipan is also commonly shaped into various figures like real-life looking fruits and vegetables. If you’re crafty, marzipan is a really fun (and tasty!) medium to work with! Simply adjust the amount of almond flour or water to get the consistency you need to shape the it.
  • Filling Pastries and Adding to Baked Goods:  Use it to fill pastries such as croissants, buns, tarts, pies, Danish pastries, and of course the famous German Stollen.  It can also be used to make cookies like Almond Horns and Bethmรคnnchen or cakes like our Cherry Marzipan Streusel Cake and Pineapple Cake with Marzipan.  It can also be crumbled and added to crisps, crumbles, cobblers, streusel toppings, cookie dough, muffin batter, or a variety of sweet breads.
  • Making Decorations: Marzipan is very pliable and ideal for using to create decorative elements for cakes and cupcakes.  You can shape it into various figures such as flowers, fruits, and animals.  You can easily add food coloring to it to make a variety of colors to work with.  Once the shapes are made, let them sit out at room temperature where they will form a dry outer coating and firm up.  Then you can place them on the cake.
  • Cake Covering:  Roll the marzipan into a thin sheet and use it to cover cakes like Battenberg cake and Christmas cake for a smooth and sweet almond-flavored layer.  You can then apply decorative icing on top of it if you wish.
recipes with marzipan homemade diy almond paste candies pastries cakes cookies

How to Make Sugar Free Keto Marzipan

This DIY marzipan recipe lends itself perfectly to turning into a keto marzipan. The process is identical as are all of the ingredients except for the sugar. All you have to is swap out the confectioners/powdered sugar for your favorite alternative substitute. I’ve used Swerve Confectioner Sweetener on multiple occasions and am really happy with the results.

How to Make Vegan Marzipan

Turning this into a vegan marzipan recipe is every bit as easy as the keto marzipan recipe. To make this vegan you simply omit the egg white and use either water or a liquid sweetener of your choice such as agave syrup, brown rice syrup, Karo syrup, etc. Honey works too but in my opinion it makes it far too sweet.

Variations

You can substitute the extracts for other extract flavors if you wish. Feel free to experiment and create a variety of delicious candies and confections. Another classic variation on traditional almond marzipan is pistachio marzipan, which I’ll show you how to make as part of making these world renowned Austrian Mozartkugeln!

Storage

Wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, this marzipan and almond paste will keep in the fridge for at least weeks if made with egg white. If made without egg white it will keep even longer. Can marzipan be frozen? Yes but make it without the egg white. Wrap it tightly and freeze it for up to 3 months, then let thaw before using.

Marzipan Recipe 

Let’s get started!

Add the almond flour to a food processor.   Add the powdered sugar to the almond meal and pulse to combine and break up any lumps. 

adding almonds and powdered sugar to food processor

Add the rose water, almond extract, and egg white or water or liquid sweetener and pulse to combine.

Use good quality almond extract and rose water (and be sure it’s food grade).  Nothing will spoil the flavor of the almond paste more than poor quality extracts.

Process the ingredients until it comes together in a firm mass. If it’s too wet, add some more almond flour.   Keep in mind though that it will become firmer after it’s been refrigerated.

mixing ingredients in food processor

Turn it out onto a work surface and knead it a few times just to make sure all the ingredients are fully combined.

Form the dough into a log, ball or disc and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. It will keep in the refrigerator for several weeks (provided you used very fresh egg white).  It will keep even longer if you use a sugar syrup alternative (see recipe below).

marzipan recipe homemade traditional authentic almond paste

Let it come to room temperature before using.

Enjoy!

marzipan recipe homemade traditional authentic how to make almond paste rose water
marzipan recipe homemade traditional authentic how to make almond paste rose water

Homemade Marzipan (Almond Paste)

Making your own marzipan or almond paste saves a lot of money and it couldn't possibly be easier – or tastier!
4.93 from 434 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Candy, condiment, Dessert
Cuisine German, Italian
Servings 6
Calories 281 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

Instructions
 

  • Place the almond flour and powdered sugar in a food processor and pulse until combined and any lumps are broken up. Add the almond extract and rose water and pulse to combine. Add the egg white or water/liquid sweetener and process until a thick dough is formed. If the mass is still too wet and sticky, add some more almond flour. If it's too firm and you need it to be more malleable just add a tiny bit of water. Keep in mind that the marzipan will become firmer after it's been refrigerated.
  • Turn the marzipan out onto a work surface and knead it a few times. Form it into a log, wrap it up in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
    Will keep for at least a month in the refrigerator or up to 6 months in the freezer. Bring to room temperature before using in any recipe.
    Makes 13-14 ounces.

Notes

To make a firmer Marzipan that you can shape into figures for decorations, add 1/4 cup or more of sugar until you reach the desired level of firmness (keep in mind it will also become firmer after it refrigerates).ย ย 

Nutrition

Serving: 2.5ozCalories: 281kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 6gFat: 13gSodium: 9mgPotassium: 8mgFiber: 2gSugar: 30gCalcium: 59mgIron: 1.1mg
Keyword Almond Paste, Marzipan
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Originally published on The Daring Gourmet June 23, 2014

kimberly killebrew the daring gourmet

Hi, Iโ€™m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Gourmet where you'll find delicious originals, revitalized classics, and simply downright good eats from around the world! Originally from Germany, later raised in England, world-traveled, and now living in the U.S., from my globally-influenced kitchen I invite you to tour the world through your taste buds!

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Recipe Rating




4.93 from 434 votes (261 ratings without comment)

841 Comments

  1. I’ve been using this recipe for the last 6 years in a row. It’s never failed me in creating absolutely perfect marzipan.

  2. Hi Kimberly!
    I have made this many times for my Italian rainbow cookies , itโ€™s always perfect
    I use granulated stevia , will that work as well , probably need to use less as itโ€™s sweeter than sugar .
    Thanks
    Jim Biscardi ๐Ÿ˜Š

  3. we have made this several times. simple, easy and delicious. great addition to the stollen. thank you for sharing your recipes.

  4. I am SO happy I found this! I used to always buy my marzipan not realizing how easy it was to make, not to mention how much cheaper. This is so delicious, a thousand times thank you!

  5. This was so easy to make and I am so pleased with the results. The flavor is better than anything I’ve bought in the store and on top of that it’s much cheaper to make. Saving this one!

  6. I’ve been making this for years and it is my favorite. I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to comment, but I’ve been a silent admirer of this and many of your other recipes for several years. Thank you for time and generosity in sharing such wonderful recipes with us.

    1. Shannon, thank you so much for taking the time to comment. I am humbled and so appreciative of your support all these years. Here’s to more good food and fun times in the kitchen! <3

  7. I made this and rolled it out into a sheet to add as a middle layer on a cake I made for Easter. I was worried I wouldn’t have enough for the cake because I kept stealing bits of it to eat, lol! This homemade marzipan is excellent, so much better than anything you buy at the store. I printed the recipe and bookmarked this page.

  8. So easy and so unbelievably delish, I’m never buying marzipan again! I really liked the addition of the rose water and it was just the right amount for my taste. Thank you for this wonderful recipe and so many others that I have made with equal success.