Create Marzipan Wedding Cake Toppers: Easy Steps For Beginners

Marzipan is a sweet almond paste made from ground almonds and sugar. It is a popular choice for wedding cakes as it provides a delicious middle layer in fruit cakes and creates a flat, smooth surface to decorate with icing. Marzipan cake toppers are a fun and creative way to add a personalised touch to your wedding cake. You can model naked bodies out of marzipan and dress them with fondant, or try something more whimsical like marzipan trees. If you're short on time, you can buy ready-made marzipan, but if you're feeling adventurous, you can make your own from finely ground blanched almonds and powdered sugar. When it comes to decorating your cake, remember to let your creativity flow and don't be afraid to experiment!

Making the marzipan from scratch

Begin by warming the marzipan slightly, either in the microwave or by grating it if it is very cold. Next, beat the eggs in a stand mixer for a few minutes until they are very foamy. Gradually add the warm, soft marzipan pieces while continuing to beat. The mixture should remain very fluffy.

Once you have a good consistency, you can start to mould your cake toppers. It is better to cut out material than to add it, so squeeze, tug, bend and cut a single piece of marzipan rather than adding each bump as a separate chunk. This is especially true for small pieces, like the nose, which will be much better if you create it by forming the holes under the eyebrows and by rounding the cheeks.

Once the body is carved to look about right, trim off some of the flesh. Otherwise, the fully dressed figures will be considerably chubbier than you intended. Fondant adds a good amount of visual weight to the bodies, so it is important to keep this in mind when sculpting.

Sculpting the bride and groom

Making the bride and groom figurines from marzipan is a delicate process that requires patience and precision. Here are some detailed instructions to guide you through the process of sculpting the happy couple:

Step 1: Shaping the Bodies

Begin by modelling the naked bodies of the bride and groom out of marzipan. You can either make your own marzipan from finely ground blanched almonds and powdered sugar or buy ready-made marzipan paste. Use a simple modelling tool, or get creative with toothpicks and small spoons. Remember, it's usually better to cut out material than to add it. So, try to chisel and shape a single piece of marzipan rather than adding small chunks to build up the figure.

Step 2: Refining the Details

Create details like the nose by forming holes under the eyebrows and rounding the cheeks. For elements like hair and arms, it's best to shape them separately and then attach them to the body. Remember to trim off some of the 'flesh' to ensure the fully dressed figurines don't end up chubbier than intended. Fondant can add visual bulk to the figures, so this step is crucial for achieving the right proportions.

Step 3: Joining the Figures

Although the bride and groom will eventually be joined as one, it's easier to dress them while they are separate. Carve the body and head in two pieces to minimise the risk of damaging one part while working on the other. Then, reinforce the connection between the head and body with a toothpick to ensure the head stays securely in place.

Step 4: Dressing the Couple

Fondant, an elastic sugary dough, is perfect for creating elegant outfits for your bride and groom. Knead a small piece of fondant to soften it, then roll it flat between two sheets of parchment paper. Aim for a thickness of about 1/8". You can guesstimate the piece sizes and shapes, drape them over the figurines, trim as needed, and then press them against the marzipan where you want them to stick. Use a fine paintbrush and food colouring to paint the facial features and hair. You can dilute the food colouring with water to create different tones if desired.

Step 5: Final Touches

Once the figurines are dressed and decorated, it's time for the finishing touches. Add any final body parts, like hands or intricate dress details, and ensure the couple is securely attached with a few toothpicks. Inform the couple about the toothpicks before they bite into the topper!

Dressing the figurines

Once you have modelled the naked bodies of your bride and groom out of marzipan, it's time to dress them! It's easier to dress the figurines when they are separate, so don't combine the two figures yet.

It's better to cut out material than to add it, so try to chisel a piece down rather than build it up. For example, form the nose by making holes under the eyebrows and rounding the cheeks. There are exceptions, of course: hair and body parts such as arms can be stuck onto the scalp and torso.

Before dressing the figurines, trim off some of the flesh. Otherwise, the fully dressed figures will be chubbier than you intended. Fondant adds about 20 visual pounds to the bodies!

To dress the figurines, knead a small chunk of fondant to soften it up, then roll it flat between two sheets of parchment paper. You want it to be as thin as possible, but thick enough to handle without tearing – about 1/8" thick.

You can use a pattern, or you can guesstimate the piece sizes and shapes, lightly drape them over your figures, trim as needed, then put them back on, pressing the fondant against the marzipan where you want it to stick and pulling it where you want it to look like flowing fabric. You can also add some additional cuts directly on the bodies and stick on some silver sprinkles as "jewels".

Painting the faces and hair

Painting the Faces

Use a fine paintbrush and food colouring to paint the facial features. You can dilute the food colouring with water if you want to create a paler shade. For example, if you want to paint rosy cheeks, dilute the red food colouring. If you want to add some sparkle to the bride's eyeshadow, you can use a small amount of edible glitter.

Painting the Hair

Again, use a fine paintbrush and food colouring to paint the hair. You can create different shades by diluting the food colouring. For example, if you want to create brown hair, you can use brown food colouring and dilute it with water to create a lighter shade. If you want to add highlights, you can use a lighter shade of food colouring.

Adding Detail

Once you have painted the basic features, you can add more detail. For example, you can use a thin brush to paint on eyelashes and eyebrows. You can also add jewellery, such as earrings or a necklace, using small pieces of fondant or marzipan.

Drying the Paint

Before you place the cake toppers on the cake, make sure the paint is completely dry. This will prevent it from smudging or running. You can use a hairdryer on a low setting to speed up the drying process.

Final Touches

Once the paint is dry, you can add any final touches. For example, you can use edible glue to attach fresh flowers or sugar paste decorations to the hair or clothing. You can also add a thin layer of edible varnish to give the toppers a shine.

Storage

If you are not using the cake toppers immediately, you will need to store them carefully. Place them in an airtight container and store them in a cool, dry place. Do not refrigerate or freeze them, as this can cause condensation, which will ruin the paint and make the marzipan soggy.

Placing the toppers on the cake

Once you have made your marzipan wedding cake toppers, you need to place them on the cake. Here is a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Prepare the cake

First, you need to level the top of the cake using a serrated knife. Then, turn it over and stick it down to the cake board. This will give you a flat surface to decorate. Use a piece of string to measure the top and sides of the cake, then cut the string to the length you've measured. You'll then know how big to roll out the marzipan.

Step 2: Prepare the marzipan

Brush the cake with apricot jam or honey so the marzipan will stick, and leave it for a few minutes to set. Dust the surface with a little icing sugar, and roll out the marzipan slightly wider than the length of the string – this makes it easier to mould onto the cake. Use a rolling pin to help you lift the marzipan.

Step 3: Place the marzipan on the cake

Lift the marzipan over the cake and carefully unroll. Ease it down the sides, smooth the surface, and trim any excess marzipan from the base with a sharp knife. It is now best to leave the marzipan to dry out for a couple of days. Place the cake in a cardboard box so that the air can circulate, but the cake is still protected from dust.

Step 4: Place the toppers on the cake

Once the marzipan has dried, place your happy couple (with a few toothpicks up their rear end) on the cake last. If you are using a two-tiered cake, you can place the toppers on the lower tier and drape the second tier over them, using toothpicks to hold them in place.

Step 5: Finishing touches

If you want to add any final touches, such as ribbon or icing, now is the time to do so. Just be careful not to cover up your marzipan toppers!

Frequently asked questions