Substitute Marzipan for Baking / Nutrition / Healthy Eating (2024)

Marzipan is a sweet confection often used to mold into fruits or animals. It is also layered on cakes, such as birthday or wedding cakes. It is made up primarily of almond paste and sugar. There may be times when a recipe calls for marzipan, but it is unavailable to you. Or, maybe you're allergic to almonds and you're looking for a substitute. If for whatever reason you need to substitute marzipan in a recipe, here are a few solutions for you.

Do-It-Yourself Marzipan

If you're lacking marzipan for a recipe, here's a quick method of making a batch of your own. To make a batch of do-it-yourself marzipan that will equal 2 ½ cups of marzipan in a recipe, mix together 2 cups of almond paste with 1 cup of powdered sugar and 2 tbsp of corn syrup. Stir them up thoroughly and you have a do-it-yourself marzipan substitute.

Almond Paste

For a quick and dirty solution, almond paste can substitute marzipan in a pinch. In this case, you will need to adjust the sugar in your recipe to make up for the loss of sweetness between almond paste and marzipan.

A Nut-Free Marzipan

If you're not a fan of almonds or you're allergic to them, here's a quick solution for a nut-free marzipan substitute. Shift 5 oz of icing sugar. Mix it together with 5 oz of semolina and 2 tsp of custard powder. Beat and egg white and add it to the mix. Add 2 tsp of either vanilla extract or orange flower water for some flavoring. Mix everything together until a firm paste develops.

Coconut Marzipan

Here's another substitute for marzipan that doesn't include almonds. This substitute instead replaces it with coconut. Here's how you whip up a batch of this marzipan substitute. Mix together 1 ½ cups of icing sugar and 1 cup of dry coconut. Add 1 egg yolk and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, and stir until you get a solid mass. Knead the mixture and roll it out. You can then use it as a substitute for marzipan.

Sugarless Marzipan

Here's a substitution for marzipan if you're worried about its sugar content. It uses an artificial sweetener, so if you're allergic or otherwise have an adverse reaction to artificial sweeteners, this may not be the best choice for you.

Process 6 oz of slivered, blanched almonds in a food processor. When they are finely ground, remove them and add 1 cup of an artificial sweetener, such as Splenda, 2 tbsp of liquid egg substitute, 2 tsp of almond extract and 1 tsp of lemon juice. Mix them together until well combined. Use as a marzipan substitute.

There is no one substance that can be used as a marzipan substitute. These are just a few examples of marzipan substitutes that you can create. Use them to be creative and find a marzipan substitute that can fit all of your needs.

Substitute Marzipan for Baking / Nutrition / Healthy Eating (2024)

FAQs

Substitute Marzipan for Baking / Nutrition / Healthy Eating? ›

Process 6 oz of slivered, blanched almonds in a food processor. When they are finely ground, remove them and add 1 cup of an artificial sweetener, such as Splenda, 2 tbsp of liquid egg substitute, 2 tsp of almond extract and 1 tsp of lemon juice. Mix them together until well combined. Use as a marzipan substitute.

Is marzipan healthy? ›

Marzipan is fine as a short term source of simple carbs but anyone suffering from diabetes should avoid it because it would cause the blood sugar levels to spike (and then drop in normal metabolisms) as Eric so rightly says… however each block of marzipan has in excess of 7000 Calories.

Does marzipan contain a lot of sugar? ›

Commercially produced marzipan contains around 28% almonds and 21 grams sugar per 2 tablespoons so it's sweeter than almond paste. Because marzipan is stiff, it lends itself to be cut out or shaped three-dimensionally for candies shaped like fruits, or for cake and pastry decorations.

Is there a nut-free alternative to marzipan? ›

If you have ever researched alternatives to almonds for marzipan, you may have come across recipes for something called 'Persipan'. Persipan is in fact, already a gluten free nut free marzipan alternative, made from the kernels of apricots (a cousin of the almond).

What is a marzipan almond alternative? ›

Persipan is similar to marzipan but is made out of apricot or peach kernels instead of almonds, and is often used as a substitute in the event of nut allergies.

Does marzipan have any nutritional value? ›

The latter is 24 g sugar and 3 g of dietary fiber, the rest is complex carbohydrate. Marzipan by BERGEN MARZIPAN contains 0.5 g of saturated fat and 0 mg of cholesterol per serving. 42 g of Marzipan by BERGEN MARZIPAN contains 0.0 mg vitamin C as well as 0.72 mg of iron, 39.90 mg of calcium.

Is almond paste good for health? ›

From high quality and highly absorbable protein to Vitamin E and essential minerals, just one tablespoon of it can be an important part of a healthy nutrient dense diet. Spread on bread or use as a base for salad, dressing and sauce.

Why do some people dislike marzipan? ›

When people say they don't like Christmas cake, often they mean they don't like marzipan. Oddly, the paste elicits strong feelings while its core ingredient, almonds, often don't. For some, it tastes too bitter. “Almonds take you to bitterness, they can stop short, but they take you to bitterness.

Is marzipan good for diabetics? ›

Important Tips for Diabetics

If sugars are in control then you can eat 1 marzipan per day only. Eating too many sweets can cause Blood Sugars to spike.

Why do people eat marzipan? ›

In the islands of the Aegean in particular, white marzipan is considered a wedding treat and is served to guests at wedding feasts. In Malta, marzipan is used as a filling in the traditional Maltese Easter treats called Figolla.

What to use instead of marzipan in baking? ›

To make a batch of do-it-yourself marzipan that will equal 2 ½ cups of marzipan in a recipe, mix together 2 cups of almond paste with 1 cup of powdered sugar and 2 tbsp of corn syrup. Stir them up thoroughly and you have a do-it-yourself marzipan substitute.

Can vegans eat marzipan? ›

Generally, marzipan is considered vegan-friendly, however, it's always worth checking the ingredients list in case egg or dairy has been used.

Can someone with a nut allergy eat marzipan? ›

Foods to Avoid When You Have Nut Allergies

Nix them when you cook, and look for them on food labels: Nut butters: Almond, cashew, peanut, and others. Nut pastes. These include products like marzipan, almond paste, and nougat.

What is the best substitute for almonds? ›

The best stand-ins for almonds that are nuts are hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, cashews, and unsalted pistachios.

What is natural marzipan? ›

Description. An almond paste manufactured from a blend of sweet and bitter almonds, sugar, glucose syrup and preservative. Without added colour.

Can you have Christmas cake without marzipan? ›

You don't have to use marzipan (brush the cake with sieved and warmed apricot jam instead), but the natural lumpiness of fruit cakes means your finish won't be as smooth, and dark-coloured oils and liquids in the cake might 'leak' out and discolour the icing over time (a problem if you want to store the cake for more ...

Is too much marzipan bad for you? ›

consumption of marzipan and persipan

Through the enzyme ß-glucosidase which is also contained in the plants, cyanide is released during consumption. Cyanides are salts of hydrocyanic acid. Ingestion of a sufficiently high dose can lead to acute poisoning by blocking energy generation.

Is mazapan good for you? ›

Mazapan is a delicious Mexican treat made from ground peanuts, high in calories but also a good source of healthy fats, protein, and essential vitamins and minerals. Mazapan is a gluten-free, crumbly, and sweet snack enjoyed with coffee or hot chocolate, making it a popular edible souvenir from Mexico.

What is real marzipan made of? ›

Marzipan is 1 part ground almonds and 2 parts confectioners' sugar. Almond paste is made from equal parts almond and sugar, so it is less sweet. The two ingredients are not in interchangeable in recipes; however, in a pinch, you can turn almond paste into marzipan by adding some sugar and egg whites.

Is it safe to eat raw marzipan? ›

Also, raw eggs may contain salmonella, which raises particular concerns because marzipan, unlike almond paste, is often consumed uncooked. Moreover, egg makes the marzipan unsuitable for a vegan diet. So stick to egg-free marzipan recipes to keep it safe and easy for everyone to enjoy!

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