Cinnamon Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 I usually buy a Christmas cake but this year have made one for the first time. it looks & smells great,apart from a big crack across the top from where I dropped it when I took it out of the oven Anyhow, does anyone have a good marzipan they can recommend to me? Ditto icing - it needs to be the peaked spikey sort Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 I use ready made marzipan. Royal Icing is easy to make: Per half pound icing sugar - 1 egg white, 1 teaspoon strained lemon juice, half teaspoon glycerine. Whisk eggs white until stands in peaks, fold in glycerine & lemon juice then fold in icing sugar making sure there's no lumps. Cover with cling film or store in an airtight container overnight to allow air bubbles to disperse. Then use. My top tip is to work quickly so it doesn't start hardening too quickly. As a rough guide you will need one and a half pounds icing sugar to cover an 8 inch marzipanned cake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted November 19, 2008 Author Share Posted November 19, 2008 Great,thanks for that. Any particular ready made marzipan you can recommend? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 They all seem much the same, I've used Tescos & Sainsburys own brands and Supercook. If you're cake is an 8in round cake I would recommend the ready rolled stuff , a bit more expensive but much less hassle. Oh and use the white marzipan- doesn't show through the icing so much! This year I am using Tescos own and I will have to roll it out as my Dad's cake is only a little one! Forgot to add don't forget the apricot glaze to stick the marzipan to the cake ( available ready made in Sainsburys) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted November 19, 2008 Author Share Posted November 19, 2008 Ready rolled - that sounds like a godsend to me! I am a big fan of anything ready rolled out for me....I use the pastry all the time Sainsburys it is then.I sahll have to hunt one down as there are not any around here. Is it just a glaze,especially for marzipaning cakes. I guess I can use sieved jam if I can't get it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted November 19, 2008 Share Posted November 19, 2008 Warmed sieved apricot jam brushed onto the cake before the marzipan. I got a jar in Sainsbury's for 69p Unfortunately I paid £3 for 500g of white marzipan in Lakeland before seeing it in Sainsbury's for half the price. Someone please come along and tell me the Lakeland stuff is delicious and well worth the money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydia Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Waitrose do all those things too. I wouldn't bother with white marzipan though, just get ordinary. If you're going to eat the cake pretty much straight away (e.g. at Christmas rather than store it for months) you can use ordinary jam, any flavour, and not bother getting special heat treated stuff. Personally I use strawberry. I would recommend making your own icing as the ready made stuff tastes plasticky and can be lumpy and difficult to work with. If you have a Kenwood or similar use the K beater rather than the whisk to reduce the air bubbles. When you've mixed it you can flatten it with a palette knife for instant use rather than storing overnight. Always cover any unused icing with a damp cloth as it dries out really quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 OOh yes I can make my royal icing with my kenwood this year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 tut, tut, tut, using shop bought marzipan I've always made my own marzipan ....... very easy and tastes like heaven :D Have to have at least a good 1/2 inch of it all over the cake..... Here's the recipe......... Marzipan 16oz ground almonds 8oz castor sugar 8oz icing sugar 2 small eggs 2 tsp lemon juice 2 tsp orange juice few drops of almond essence 2 tsp brandy (or similar) apricot jam sieve almonds and sugars, add beaten eggs, juice and flavourings. Knead until smooth, dust a board with icing sugar (to stop the marzipan sticking whilst rolling out) and roll out to desired shape and thickness Brush top and sides of cake with hot apricot jam (or you can use egg white) to help the marzipan stick to the cake Absolutely yummy and this amounts gives a generous covering to the top and sides of and 8 -9 inch cake Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted November 20, 2008 Author Share Posted November 20, 2008 Oooo - maybe next year Pam - I have my shop bought ready rolled now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Oooo - maybe next year Pam - I have my shop bought ready rolled now OK then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted November 20, 2008 Share Posted November 20, 2008 Oooo - maybe next year Pam - I have my shop bought ready rolled now Does the shop-bought contain egg? Home-made marzipan does, so I'm thinking the shop stuff won't be free-range! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Shop bought usually doesn't contain egg - it relies on much cheaper liquid glucose. I usually make my own as well........ but it never covers very much.......because it just tastes too nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted November 21, 2008 Author Share Posted November 21, 2008 I didn't even know you could make your own Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I used to make my own fondant (roll out ) icing as well............ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydia Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Lesley you must have extremely well developed upper arm muscles methinks. And patience Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Might have a go at home made marzipan this year, sounds yummy. I made some years ago but didn't put enough almond essence in and it didn't have the lemon etc, so will have to try again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miffy Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 Does anyone know of a nut free altrenative to marzipan? I have made nut free mincemeat, pudding, cake, seeing this thread reminded me of the marzipan...... Niece has severe nut allergy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 23, 2008 Share Posted November 23, 2008 I found this http://www.recipezaar.com/Nut-Free-Marzipan-1-157393 There are more if you google......this one didn't sound too bad...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miffy Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 that looks good to me, but OH not keen. I shall keep looking. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
