Homemade marzipan

I love marzipan, but I never thought to make it at home...  but this year I just had to try!  Most recipes use raw egg whites, which I always try to avoid so I found a recipe with no eggs. It is a lot easier to make than I thought and it tastes so delicious it is definitely worth it!


Ingredients (for about 600g):

• 1 cup caster sugar
• 225g ground almonds
• 220g icing sugar
• 1/2 cup water 
• 2 tbsp golden syrup or honey
• 2 tbsp Amaretto or 1tbsp almond extract

Place water, caster sugar and golden syrup in a small saucepan and cook over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved.  Continue to cook until the syrup has reached 113C (soft ball stage).  If you don't have a candy thermometer pour some very cold water (you can put few ice cubes in) into a small bowl and pour a small drop of the syrup into the water every couple of minutes, if the syrup (in the icy water) forms a ball which is easy to form with your fingers, the syrup is read. Set aside to cool a little.  

Ground almonds and icing sugar blitz in a food processor until the mixture resembles flour, how smooth your marzipan will be depends on how fine this mixture is.  

When the syrup has cooled a little pour it into the almond and icing sugar mixture, add Amaretto or almond extract and mix until the mixture is smooth and easy to shape into a bowl.  

If the mixture is too dry to shape add a little bit of water (couple of tablespoons), if it is too wet add some icing sugar.  Wrap in foil and store in the fridge.  

Enjoy!