I am just starting to do cake decorating and a recipe calls for marzipan. I can only find fondant at the craft and grocery stores. Do I have to use marzipan or can I just use fondant? What is the difference besides taste? Is there anywhere particular where I can purchase marzipan? Megan

first: W E L C O M E ! ! ! !
(warning this site is addicting)

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seeing as you're in Missouri, a state settled by Germans a plenty --

got any German food specialty shops around?

they'll have it almost for sure -- or know where to get it.

and in grocery stores that carry it usually w/ the nuts.

• its' an almond paste, and as such never fully hardens because of the oils in it.
  works like clay,
  takes color well,
  the traditional choice for making decorations in Germany and countries around it.

Unlike gumpaste or fondant decos (esp. gumpaste) marzipan is truly edible even weeks after being made.

and it is available online of course -- google "marzipan paste"

and if you want -- you can make your own:
http://www.pastrywiz.com/season/marzipan.htm
(this just one of many sites w/ recipes for it)

HTH

Thanks, that helps a lot. I don't think there are any German specialty stores around. Do you suggest I just order online or make it?

its easy to make

how fast do you need it?

how much do you want to pay?

how comfortable are you making it?


premade-- known deal and quality.
homemade -- iffy if not experienced.

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results of a search for german food stores in MO.

GLOBAL FOODS MARKET
421 North Kirkwood Road
Kirkwood, MO 63122
314-835-1112


HERMANNHOF WINERY & SAUSAGE
330 E 1st Street
Hermann, MO 65041-1116
(573) 486-5959


MAX' GERMAN QUALITY MEATS
3836 Aldine Avenue
Saint Louis, MO 63113-3619
(314) 533-1100


STRAUB'S
8282 Forsyth
St. Louis, MO 63105
314 752 2121 ext. 11


WORLD MARKET
24 Brentwood Promenade Ct
Brentwood, MO 63127
(314) 918-7800

WORLD MARKET
3628 S. Lindbergh Road
Sunset Hills, MO 63127
(314) 821-4488


WORLD MARKET
238 THF Boulevard
Chesterfield, MO 63005
(636) 728-0011


WORLD MARKET
535 Westport Road
Kansas City, MO 64111
(816) 931-3590


WORLD MARKET
19900 East Jackson Drive
Independence, MO 64057
(816) 795-6700


WORLD MARKET
1111 West 136th Street
Kansas City, MO 64114
(816) 943-6423

I want to make Hello Kitty cake for my daughters Bday, i looked everwhere but i can find the white one. It is´t ture that there is noting like white Marzipan?

WalMart, Dierbergs Schnucks carry it. Look in the baking aisle. It is there!
 

AMy local grocer sells it. It is stocked in the baking section at my store near the fillings alongside the yeast, baking soda and prepared pie crusts. Always on the top shelf and sort of incognito!

AHello, I had been making my own marzipan, and it of course, it contains 100% almonds. Here's the recipe: makes 1 lb. 225gm ground almonds, 125 gm bakers sugar, 125 gm. Confectioners sugar, 1 tsp. lemon juice ( sieved) few drops of almond flavoring, white of one large egg , place the ground almonds and the sugars in a bowl, stir until evenly mixed. Next, make a 'well' in the center and add the lemon juice, almond flavoring, and egg white to mix to a soft ball, lightly dust your work surface with confectioners sugar, and knead the mixture until smooth and free from cracks.. Wrap or store in a plastic bag until ready for use. If you cannot find ground almonds, buy whole almonds, ( not blanched ) to get the brown covering off, boil some water and put whole almonds in your pot and wait for about 15 minutes ( stove off) when you can tolerate it pull almonds out and rub off brown skin. Next step is get your oven to 425, spread skinned almonds on a cookie sheet and broil until lightly brown. Grind almonds in food processor when cooled. Good luck.