Homemade Chocolate Marzipan – Eggless, Vegan, and GF
Chocolate and marzipan is always a perfect combination. This simple, easy and effortless recipe makes a scrumptious homemade chocolate marzipan in less than 5 minutes. Use it to make treats around holidays such as bars and truffles, or traditional chocolate marzipan Easter eggs and bunnies. These make perfect holiday gift ideas too.
Homemade Chocolate Marzipan Recipe
Do you love marzipan? Or perhaps you know it as almond paste. Quite similar really and so simple to make. Most people only ever buy it commercially because they presume it’s so difficult to make. But in reality, this delicious confection takes really only 5 minutes to make. There are other long versions of this recipe but trust me with this one you ain’t missing much.
As I said before I grew up with mom making homemade marzipan by the buckets. She would take orders for these during festive seasons like Easter and Christmas. For Easter it would be lots of Easter Eggs and for Christmas, it would be marzipan fruits in plenty.
Having said that mom never really make chocolate marzipan as much. For me it tastier because it’s less sweet. Yup, the bitterness in the cocoa powder tends to cut down on the sugar so it does taste even better. Today I want to share with you how I make my version of homemade chocolate marzipan in 5 mins with a video. I used this batch to make Easter Eggs which I will share a tutorial for tomorrow, so stay tuned.
Video – Chocolate Marzipan Recipe
Let’s talk ingredient and substitutes (Save/Pin)
- Almonds/Nuts – Marzipan is traditionally made with almonds but you can actually make it with any nuts.
I grew up eating cashew nut marzipan because that’s what mom always made. Back home in India cashews are more affordable than almonds so often cashews are used in marzipan.
I make pecan marzipan because my husband likes pecans. So you see – use whatever nuts you like – I won’t tell any one. - Powder sugar – also called icing sugar or confectioners sugar. This has an anti-caking agent such as cornstarch or potato starch. Which helps combine the ingredients and make a smooth ball. You can make powder sugar at home just make sure you add some anti-caking agent to the mix as well.
- Cocoa powder – I use dutch processed unsweetened cocoa powder, this helps cut down some of the sweetness too.
- Extract – I love using rose extract in my marzipan but traditionally almond extract is very commonly used. Vanilla works great too.
- Liquid – Traditionally beaten egg whites use to be used. The purpose of the liquid is mainly to combine the dry ingredients so sugar syrup or water works just as well. I prefer water to prevent making the marzipan too sweet.
Marzipan Easter Eggs, Marzipan Eggs, Chocolate Marzipan Eggs, Chocolate Coated Marzipan Easter Eggs
Tips (read more tips and uses of marzipan in my post Marzipan 101
- Why do you pulse the almonds meal and sugar some more – We do this to ensure the almonds are a fine ground powder not grainy. This makes for a much smoother paste especially when you need to use marzipan to cover cakes or to make Easter eggs.
- Water vs sugar syrup – water is best used when you are not going to keep the marzipan for a long period of time which usually is the case with me. If you plan to make this for sale or to keep for more than 10 days – I highly recommend using sugar syrup.
- Why Test – It is very easy to end up with too much liquid in the marzipan resulting in a gloppy mess. So it’s best to be safe and add a tablespoon at a time only adding enough so you can form a dough.
- Why do we knead for only 30 seconds and not more – Nuts give out oil when you knead the paste. While we do need the mixture to be smooth we do not want an oily mess in our hands. We want the oils to stay in the nut paste. An oily marzipan is very difficult to work with. It’s still delicious but can’t be molded into things easily.
Marzipan Easter Eggs, Marzipan Eggs, Chocolate Marzipan Eggs, Chocolate Coated Marzipan Easter Eggs
Recipe – Homemade Chocolate Marzipan (Save/Pin for later)
Tools
Ingredients
- Almonds meal – 200 grams (1 1/2 cups)
- Powder sugar – 170 grams (1 1/2 cup) (icing sugar)
- Cocoa powder – 30 grams (2 tbsp)
- Water or sugar syrup – 4 to 5 tbsp
- Extract – 1/2 tsp (rose, Belgium chocolate, Irish cream etc)
Methods
- In a food processor – add almond meal, powder sugar and cocoa powder
- Pulse until smooth – a minute or two (see tips)
- Transfer to a bowl
- Add extract and 3 tbsp water or sugar syrup
- Mix well until all the dry mix is moistened with the water.
- Test 1 – squish some mixture in your hand and see if you can make a ball. If not
- Add 1 more tablespoon water – mix and test again.
- Mix until you are able to form a ball.
- Then knead for just 30 seconds more (see tips)
- Wrap in cling wrap and rest until ready to use.
- Marzipan must be kept wrapped at all times to prevent drying.
Don’t forget to save this recipe on Pinterest for later.
You can find a collection of my tutorials and recipes here on Pinterest.
Homemade Chocolate Marzipan Recipe
Homemade Chocolate Marzipan Recipe
Ingredients
- 200 grams Almonds meal
- 170 grams Powdered sugar/icing sugar/confectioners sugar
- 30 grams Cocoa powder
- 4 tbsp Water or sugar syrup (as needed)
- 1/2 tsp Extract rose, Belgium chocolate, Irish cream etc
Instructions
- In a food processor - add almond meal, powder sugar, and cocoa powder
- Pulse until smooth - a minute or two (see tips)
- Transfer to a bowl
- Add extract and 3 tbsp water or sugar syrup
- Mix well until all the dry mix is moistened with the water.
- Test it - squish some mixture in your hand and see if you can make a ball. If not
- Add 1 more tablespoon water - mix and test again.
- Mix until you are able to form a ball.
- Then knead for just 30 seconds more (see tips)
- Wrap in cling wrap and rest until ready to use.
- Marzipan must be kept wrapped at all times to prevent drying.
Detailed Video on YouTube - Subscribe for more videos
Nutrition Information
Love Marzipan?
Marzipan makes perfect treats any time of the year, especially during festive times. See a few of my marzipan inspired treats here.
Marzipan Treats Collection – homemade marzipan recipes.
I love marzipan and never tried making it at home! Looks delicious and so easy I would definitely try this recipe soon!
It’s so easy Natalie!! You must try.
I am a big fan of marzipan but I don’t think I’ve ever had it flavoured with chocolate before. That is definitely something I need to change!
Oh marzipan and chocolate are a great combination together. You must try Corina.
wow! these homemade Chocolate marzipan look so perfect and cute!
Thank you Priya
Well there you go, I had no idea that marzipan was so simple to make, next time I must give it a try.
Absolutely Brian. So easy to make. Most people never think something like marzipan can be so easy.