Marzipan is essentially ground almonds and sugar, so there is no reason why marzipan would contain gluten, and I have never seen commercially produced blocks of baking marzipan that has gluten in it. As we know, though, manufacturers put wheat flour into all sorts of unlikely things, so it is best to check if you are at all worried.
My gluten free daughter loves marzipan (as I do), and enjoys modelling tiny creatures out of it to decorate cakes … no, what am I saying … the marzipan models are always eaten before they make it to the top of any cake. They might not be the most beautiful marzipan shapes, but they do taste good!
In case you want to make your own marzipan to cover a cake, here are some variants on the recipe:
Marzipan
8 oz ground almonds
8 oz caster sugar (= superfine sugar)
8 oz icing sugar (= confectioners sugar)
2 eggs
few drops almond essence
or
8 oz ground almonds
4 oz caster sugar
4 oz icing sugar
3-4 tablespoons amaretto liqueur
or
8 oz ground almonds
8 oz caster sugar
4 oz icing sugar
1 egg
juice of 1/2 lemon
You get the idea – ground almonds, sugar and liquid of some kind. Mix it up to a paste and put in the fridge until you’re ready to roll it out.
Remember you will also need:
- more icing/confectioners sugar to stop the marzipan sticking to the table and to your rolling pin
- and then something to stick the marzipan to the cake – usually warmed apricot jam is used for this, and you could sieve it if you felt professional
- and something to stick the icing to the marzipan – cooled boiled water is commonly used for this.
If you’re just modelling with the marzipan, then you could think about adding different food colourings to it, adding sprinkles, coating it in chocolate – whatever seems good.
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9 Comments
The marzipan I keep finding in stores near me Odette’s or somthing like that, is thickened with wheat starch.
I appreciate the recipe so that I can make my own!
Hi Mira – thanks for visiting, and for letting me know about the marzipan near you. I’m shocked! Why ever would they need to thicken it with wheat starch? … though I suppose after all this time I shouldn’t be surprised to find wheat starch in anything at all. It must be to make it cheaper to make.
Are you based in the US? I apologise to anyone I may have misled – as far as I’m aware, marzipan (both golden and natural) here in the UK is gluten free, but I’m going to check. Marzipan made by Supercook or Renfrew is gluten free (the major manufacturers of marzipan here). The own-brand marzipan sold at Waitrose, Asda and the Co-op is gluten free.
Still to check: M&S, Sainsbury, Somerfield and Tesco.
Sainsbury’s are the first to respond: their own brand marzipan is gluten free.
Still waiting to hear from M&S, Somerfield and Tesco
M&S have replied to say that the only gluten free marzipan product they have at the moment (September 07) is the marzipan bar in their confectionery range. I think probably they don’t stock blocks of marzipan for baking, since groceries isn’t really their thing.
Dear Lucy,
I just found this fantastic website, cause I was looking on the internet for some help to organize the menu for my wedding. I can eat gluten, but some of my closest guests can not. Then, and because I will cook by myself all the menu and the cake I was looking for some ideas to do it.
and without put someone in the hospital. Great!!!!
I wish my menu will be 100% gluten free.
Because this marzipan recipes, I will be able to do my wedding cake as I wish
Thank you so much for your help and if you wish I can give you after the full wedding menu details, cause maybe somebody else needs this information too.
My kind regards,
Ale
Hi Ale
I’m glad to hear this was helpful to you. Yes, please do share your wedding menu details when you’re ready, as I’m sure people will be interested.
All the best with the wedding plans!
Thank you for this- need some for modelling and the ones from ocado and tesco have wheat in. I Know there is a more expensive marzipan roll (red wrapper) that is gluten free but I cannot remember where to but local so this is great.
Hi maryann.
I’ve seen the red wrapper roll too – I’ll try and remember to take a note next time I spot it and add it here…
Thanks for commenting!
Hi there! Just wanted to let you know the marzipan in my stores also states wheat as an ingredient.
I love marzipan, so I’m searching for a gluten-free brand I can get online and that’s how I got to your site. Thank you!