Celebrate Marzipan
January 12 is National Marzipan Day in the U.S. I’m not sure exactly who or what declared the day as belonging to the almond-flavored sweet, but I’m glad to join in the celebration. The pliable, edible paste is a baker’s and candymaker’s ”play dough” of choice.
Marzipan is a mixture of ground almonds and sugar cooked until it is moldable. Marzipan can be formed into shapes ranging from realistic to surrealistic and then painted with edible tints and colors. The shapes can be used as stand-alone confections or to decorate other sweets, such as the minature candy carrots that often top carrot cakes.
To spread the word about working with marzipan, Love’n Bake, a division of the American Almond Products Company, has created a downloadable booklet called All About Marzipan. The booklet tells the history of marzipan, has information on how it is made and offers detailed instructions on using it. The booklet is illustrated with step-by-step instructions on how to craft edible sculptures ranging from piggies to pears. To download the booklet, click here.
For more information on Love’n Bake line of nut pastes and fillings and more, check out the company’s website.
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Photo credit: Love’n Bake
