Trust us: You're not the first person who has wondered, "What is marzipan? Or fondant? Even almond paste?" These three ingredients are almost one and the same, so find out what sets them apart.
If you often find yourself binge-watching baking shows like us (we love these Great British Baking Show copycat recipes), then you’re probably at least somewhat familiar with marzipan, fondant and almond paste. But when it comes to defining and differentiating them, that’s where things can get a little complicated—and that’s OK. These three baking essentials are oh, so similar, so it’s reasonable for home cooks to get confused. Read on for an easy-to-use description of each:
What Is Almond Paste?
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Almond paste is the most common of the three among non-professionals. (It’s a snap to make. Seriously, justtry out our recipe!)
Ingredients: Almond paste is composed of blanched ground almonds, sugar, glycerin—a sweet, thick liquid—and occasionally, almond extract for additional nutty flavor.
Taste and Feel: Almond paste is semi-bitter and coarser than its counterparts.
Uses:Almond paste is most commonly used as an ingredient or filling for sweet treats, such as bars, cakes and cookies (this Dutch Treats recipe is delish!).It is not enjoyed on its own.
Packaging:This product can be purchased in most supermarkets (and on Amazon) and is available in either cans or plastic packages.
What Is Fondant?
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There are two types of fondant: rolled and poured. You’d be hard-pressed to find a non-professional chef who uses poured fondant. In fact, most commercial kitchens purchase it ready-made because of the precision required in the production process. For this reason, we’ll be talking about the rolled kind.
(Want easy cake-decorating ideas? These are all you need.)
Ingredients:Fondant is a mixture of sugar, water and cream of tartar that is cooked to the soft-ball stage, which essentially just means it’s cooked until it reaches around 230°.
Taste and Feel:After cooling, beating and kneading, fondant becomes very pliable. It is not overly flavorful—naysayers will argue is not nearly as good as a buttercream alternative—but its taste is sometimes enhanced with clear vanilla.
Uses:This product is often used for decorative purposes or as candy centers. In addition to being molded into shapes, bows, etc., it can also be rolled into a sheet and draped over cakes as a sort of icing. Food coloring and flavoring are often added for aesthetic purposes.
Packaging:Fondant is commonly sold in tubs or plastic bags.
What Is Marzipan?
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Also called almond candy dough, marzipan is an agreeable, multi-purpose combo of the first two, with a subtle almond flavor and unmatched malleability. Be sure to try these marzipan cake recipes.
Ingredients:Marzipan is made up of almond paste (see above for ingredients), sugar, water and occasionally, unbeaten egg whites.
Taste and Feel:This ingredient is sweet, smooth and pliable.(Fun fact: It contains half the almonds and twice the sugar as almond paste, which explains why it’s so much sweeter.) It is also sometimes enhanced with spices such as vanilla, cinnamon or nutmeg.
Uses:In the U.S., marzipan is most commonly molded to look like ultra-realistic fruit, but it can be shaped into other decorations for confections or used as icing for cakes, similar to fondant.
Packaging:Marzipan is purchasable in many grocery stores (and online) by can, tub or plastic-wrapped log. Or in pretty pre-made shapes.
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FAQs
Marzipan is smooth, sweet, and often dyed and molded into shapes. It's also used to cover sweets much like fondant and is sometimes eaten as is. Almond paste, however, is coarser, less sweet, and used as an ingredient or filling for baked goods.
Are almond paste and marzipan the same? ›
Almond paste has twice the amount of almonds in it compared to marzipan, making it coarser in texture and less sweet than its counterpart. Their consistency also differs as marzipan is smooth and pliable, almost clay-like, while almond paste is somewhat gritty and spreadable, almost like a cookie dough.
What is almond marzipan? ›
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.
Does marzipan harden like fondant? ›
Like sugarpaste, marzipan will start to harden when it is exposed to the air so keep any unused marzipan tightly wrapped in plastic food bags. It does not need to be kept in the fridge.
What is the purpose of almond paste? ›
Almond paste is used as a filling in pastries, but it can also be found in chocolates. In commercially manufactured almond paste, ground apricot or peach kernels are sometimes added to keep the cost down (also known as persipan).
What can I use instead of fondant? ›
Smooth buttercream coating
The first option when it comes to a fondant-free cake is to use buttercream to create a perfectly smooth finish around the outside of your cake which looks professional and chic, providing a similar aesthetic to fondant but without the intense sweetness that can come from using fondant.
What can I use instead of marzipan? ›
If this is the case a good substitute for marzipan is a thin layer of sugarpaste and then cover as normal. Let the first covering dry before applying the second cover. You could also use half chocolate modelling paste and half sugarpaste kneaded together.
Are fondant and marzipan the same thing? ›
Fondant also has a moldable consistency, like marzipan, although it's not as easy to work with. Fondant is made from sugar rather than almonds, which gives it a different flavor.
What is so special about marzipan? ›
The glory of marzipan is because it holds a shape easily, you can cut out or mold your own figures to decorate holiday pastries. It's also used as a kind of heavy-duty frosting for Christmas cakes because it helps long-keeping cakes (like fruitcakes) retain their moisture instead of going stale.
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.
Also called almond candy dough, marzipan is an agreeable, multi-purpose combo of the first two, with a subtle almond flavor and unmatched malleability. Be sure to try these marzipan cake recipes.
Do you refrigerate marzipan? ›
As long as it is kept cool or refrigerated, marzipan has a long life, months at least. At warm or room temperature the almond content will slowly oxidise and develop off flavours.
Can you put fondant on a cake without marzipan? ›
You can use a layer of fondant icing instead of marzipan if you wish. Royal icing is sold in white, but is easy to colour at home using gels (liquids can change the texture).
Which is better marzipan or almond paste? ›
Almond paste has a coarser texture but is much softer than marzipan, which allows it to be spread as a filling. Unlike marzipan, almond paste holds up in baking. The sugar content of almond paste is lower and its almond content higher than marzipan.
Can I substitute almond paste for marzipan? ›
The two products are different enough that, just like those near-doppelgängers cucumbers and zucchini, you shouldn't be swapping them willy-nilly. You can, however, MacGyver marzipan from almond paste by mixing it with additional sugar in the form of powered sugar, simple syrup, and/or corn syrup.
Do you refrigerate almond paste? ›
Commercially produced almond paste has a long shelf life. However, to keep it from drying out, once opened it should be tightly wrapped and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer.
What can I substitute for almond paste? ›
How To Make allergy alternate for almond paste. let cream cheese come to room temp, Cream in sugar until super creamy,gently mix in egg yolk and imitation almond flavoring until smooth. Use in any recipe that calls for almond paste.
Where is marzipan in the grocery store? ›
Home bakers often wonder about the difference between marzipan and almond paste. In grocery stores, the two products are usually side by side in the baking aisle.
What's the difference between almond paste and almond filling? ›
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.
Can you eat raw almond paste? ›
Unlike marzipan, almond paste has a slightly coarse texture. It is not ready to eat. Almond paste can be found in the baking aisle of most grocery stores.
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