Marzipan Magic: Decorating Wedding Cakes With Marzipan

Marzipan is a great way to decorate a wedding cake. It's an edible modelling dough made from finely ground blanched almonds and powdered sugar. It can be used to create a smooth surface for icing, and it also helps to lock in moisture and stop the cake from staling. You can make your own marzipan or buy it ready-made. When decorating a wedding cake with marzipan, it's important to clean your work area and tools, and to measure your layers accurately. You can then knead and roll out the marzipan to the right size and apply it to the cake. You can also use marzipan to create decorations and toppers for your cake, such as figures or flowing fabric.

How to make a marzipan topper

Marzipan is a great way to decorate a wedding cake, as it helps to trap moisture and stop the cake from staling. It also provides a smooth surface for the final icing. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make a marzipan topper:

First, clean your work area and tools, including your hands. Then, measure your layers and draw circles on parchment paper as a guide to help you roll the marzipan to the right size. You can make your own marzipan paste with finely ground blanched almonds and powdered sugar, or buy a ready-made version if you're short on time.

Knead the marzipan to soften it up. If you're pressed for time, you can also buy ready-made marzipan figures, or you can model your own. If you're making your own, you can use a simple modelling tool, or toothpicks and small spoons. You can guesstimate the piece sizes and shapes, drape them over your figures, trim as needed, and then press them against the marzipan where you want them to stick.

Add body parts as needed and paint facial features and hair with a fine paintbrush and food colouring, diluted with water if desired. You can also add additional cuts directly to the bodies and add silver sprinkles as "jewels".

Finally, make sure to bake the cake and topper the day before they are to be consumed.

How to make your own marzipan

To decorate a wedding cake with marzipan, you'll first need to make your own marzipan or buy some ready-made. To make your own marzipan, you'll need ground almonds, icing sugar, almond extract and water. You can also add rose water if you like. First, grind the almonds in a food processor until they are fine and crumbly. Next, add the sugar, almond extract and a little water and process until the mixture clumps together. Knead the mixture until you have a smooth dough. It should be nice and pliable. Then, wrap and chill until ready to use.

To decorate the cake, clean your work area and tools. Measure your layers and roll out the marzipan to the right size. You can then drape the marzipan over your cake, trimming as needed. You can also add body parts made from marzipan, such as naked bodies or facial features, and paint them with food colouring. You can also add silver sprinkles as "jewels".

The marzipan layer on a wedding cake helps to trap moisture in the cake and stop it from staling, as well as providing a smooth surface for the final icing. You can apply a layer of marzipan over a round sponge after brushing with apricot or warm, sieved jam.

How to roll out fondant

To decorate a wedding cake with marzipan, you can use a shop-bought version or make your own with finely ground blanched almonds and powdered sugar. Marzipan provides a smooth surface for the final icing and helps to trap moisture in the cake.

• First, knead the fondant to soften it up.
• Lightly grease a silicone mat and roll the fondant to 1/8” 3 cm. It is not recommended to use cornstarch/cornflower or powdered sugar/icing sugar as this can make the fondant too dry.
• Roll your fondant into a thick, even disk.
• Place your rolling pin on the fondant ball and roll back and forth continuously to flatten it.
• If you are using fondant to cover a cake, ice the cake with buttercream first. The buttercream should be smooth and cover the cake completely.
• Place the cake in the refrigerator to cool until the buttercream is firm.
• Knead the fondant well, being careful not to incorporate air bubbles.

How to prepare a cake for marzipan

To prepare a cake for marzipan, start by cleaning your work area and tools. If you are making your own marzipan, you will need finely ground blanched almonds and powdered sugar. If you are short on time, you can buy marzipan ready-made.

Next, measure your cake layers. If your cake has peaked in the middle during baking, slice it flat. If it is just gently domed, you do not need to do this. Roll out your marzipan to the right size, adding 2" to the diameter.

Before applying the marzipan, brush the cake with a layer of apricot or other jam. This will help to trap moisture in the cake and stop it from staling, as well as providing a smooth surface for the marzipan to stick to.

Now you are ready to apply the marzipan. Drape the marzipan over the cake, trim as needed, and press it against the cake where you want it to stick. You can use a simple modelling tool, or manage with toothpicks and small spoons.

How to add detail to a marzipan topper

Marzipan is a great way to decorate a wedding cake, as it helps to trap moisture in the cake and stop it from staling. It also provides a smooth surface for the final icing. Here are some tips on how to add detail to a marzipan topper:

Firstly, make sure you have all the tools you need. You can buy ready-made marzipan or make your own with finely ground blanched almonds and powdered sugar. You will also need a modelling tool, or you could use toothpicks and small spoons. Clean your work area and all your tools before you start.

When creating your topper, you can add detail by using a fine paintbrush and food colouring to paint facial features and hair. You can dilute the food colouring with water if you want a lighter shade. For example, if you want two tones of brown hair, you can use pure brown food colouring for one head and dilute it with water for the other.

You can also add detail to the clothing of your topper figures. Drape pieces of marzipan over the figures, trim them as needed, and then press them against the marzipan where you want them to stick. You can also pull the marzipan to create the effect of flowing fabric. Make additional cuts directly on the bodies and add silver sprinkles as "jewels".

Finally, remember to make your topper and bake your cake the day before they are to be consumed. This will give you enough time to decorate and add all the detailed touches to your marzipan topper.

Frequently asked questions