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Marzipan pumpkin candies are a delightful seasonal treat that combine the sweetness of marzipan with the iconic imagery of fall.
These marzipan pumpkins are perfect for decorating cakes, cupcakes, and desserts in fall – they are great for Halloween, Thanksgiving, or fall festivals! Crafted from a blend of sugar, almond meal, and often a touch of almond extract, these little confections are a joy to both the eyes and the taste buds.
Shaped and colored to resemble miniature pumpkins, they add a charming and festive touch to any autumnal celebration, from Halloween parties to Thanksgiving dinners.
If you’ve never made your own marzipan candies at home, you’ll be shocked by how easy it can be – and it is so delicious! The mellow nuttiness of the marzipan perfectly complements the sugary sweetness, making these candies an irresistible indulgence.
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Table of contents
How To Make Marzipan Pumpkin Candies
To make this recipe, we will need the following ingredients:
- 7 oz Marzipan: This is the main ingredient of the candy and provides the base structure for the pumpkin shape. Marzipan is a confection primarily made of sugar and ground almonds, and it has a sweet and slightly nutty taste. It’s soft and pliable, making it perfect for shaping into intricate forms.
- Orange Food Coloring: This is used to color the marzipan to resemble the natural hue of a pumpkin. The orange food coloring adds a vibrant color that contributes to the visual appeal of the candy, making it look more appetizing and festive.
- Green Food Coloring: Just a bit of green food coloring is used to craft the stem of the pumpkin. The contrast of the green stem against the orange body enhances the overall look of the marzipan pumpkin candy.
- Brown Food Coloring: This is used to create the lines on the pumpkin that give it its characteristic appearance. Using a toothpick, brown food coloring can be applied to create these lines and add detail and dimension to the pumpkin candy.
- Toothpick: This isn’t an ingredient per se, but it’s crucial for adding detail to your marzipan pumpkin. The toothpick allows you to add the fine lines of the pumpkin’s ridges and helps in shaping the stem with precision.
Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, use the following process:
- Divide the marzipan into 3 sections, with 1 section being large and 2 sections being small.
- Use orange food coloring to dye the large section orange, and the smaller sections green and brown. Add a couple drops at a time until the desired color is reached.
- Take a marble sized piece from the orange marzipan, and roll in between the palms of your hands to form a smooth ball.
- Place on a flat surface and use your finger to create a small indent in the top. Use the toothpick to create the lines on the side of the pumpkin.
- Roll the brown dough on the table to make a snake shape. Use a toothpick to cut it into sections to create the stems. Attach the stem to the center of the pumpkin.
- Roll the green dough on the table to create a snake shape. Use a toothpick to attach it to the pumpkin in a spiral.
- Flatten a small piece of green between your fingers and shape into a leaf shape attach to the pumpkin using a toothpick.
- Repeat until all the pumpkins are made.
Tips and Tricks to Perfect Marzipan Pumpkins
Keep Hands Moist: When shaping marzipan, it can sometimes stick to your hands. To prevent this, keep your hands slightly moist by dipping them in a bowl of water periodically.
Use Gel Food Coloring: Gel food coloring is more concentrated and will give a more vibrant color to your marzipan candies. Additionally, it won’t alter the texture of the marzipan like liquid food coloring can.
Gradual Coloring: When adding the food coloring, do so gradually. It’s easier to add more color if needed, but you can’t take it out if you add too much. Start with a small amount and increase if necessary.
Toothpick Tool: Use the broader end of the toothpick to imprint the pumpkin lines, and the sharper end for more intricate designs, like the curled vine on top of the pumpkin stem.
Cool Before Serving: Let your marzipan candies rest and cool before serving them. This helps the marzipan firm up and the colors to set, making them easier to handle and more pleasant to eat.
Powdered Sugar: If you find your marzipan to be a bit too sticky, you can knead in a small amount of powdered sugar to help achieve a workable consistency.
Patience: Take your time to shape the marzipan pumpkins and add the details. The result will be worth the effort!
Store Properly: Store your finished candies in a cool, dry place. Marzipan can dry out if left exposed to air, so keep it covered until you’re ready to serve your sweet pumpkins.
Experiment with Flavors: If you’re feeling adventurous, you can experiment with adding different flavors to your marzipan, such as orange zest or a touch of cinnamon to give it an extra autumnal touch.
Practice: Like any other art form, the more you work with marzipan, the better you will get. Don’t be disheartened if your first few pumpkins don’t look perfect. Keep trying, and you’ll improve your technique with each candy you make.
FAQs
Absolutely. You can use natural food colorings such as beetroot powder for red, turmeric for yellow, and spirulina for green. Keep in mind, these may slightly alter the flavor of your marzipan.
Properly stored in a cool, dry place and wrapped in plastic or placed in an airtight container, these candies can last up to a month.
If your marzipan is too dry, try kneading in a very small amount of corn syrup or water until it reaches the desired consistency.
Yes, you can make marzipan at home using ground almonds, sugar, and egg whites. However, store-bought marzipan is perfectly fine and saves time.
If you’ve added too much food coloring, you can knead in some more plain marzipan to dilute the color.
You can use a small skewer or the back of a small knife to shape your pumpkins and add the details. Just be sure to use it gently to avoid damaging your candies.
Yes! Marzipan pumpkins make fantastic cake decorations, especially for autumn-themed or Halloween cakes.
You can chill your marzipan in the refrigerator for a short while to firm it up a bit. This will make it easier to work with.
No, marzipan is primarily made from ground almonds, which are a tree nut. It is not safe for people with nut allergies.
While you can freeze marzipan, it’s generally not recommended as it can alter the texture, making it grainy once thawed. It’s best to store your candies in a cool, dry place.
What to Serve With Marzipan Pumpkin Candies
Beverages:
Coffee: A strong, dark roast can balance out the sweet, almondy flavor of the marzipan.
Sweet Dessert Wine: A Moscato or a Sauternes can bring out the delicate sweetness of the marzipan.
Chai Tea: The warm spices in chai can complement the flavor of the marzipan and the novelty of the pumpkin shape.
Desserts:
Dark Chocolate: The bitterness of dark chocolate can offset the sweetness of the marzipan, creating a well-rounded dessert experience.
Fruit Tarts: The tartness of the fruit and the crispness of the crust can balance out the soft, sweet marzipan candies.
Almond Biscotti: Since biscotti and marzipan both have almond as a key flavor, they pair quite well together.
Savory Foods:
Cheese Plate: Choose cheeses with strong flavors, like blue cheese or sharp cheddar, to contrast with the sweet marzipan.
Crackers and Fig Jam: The sweet and savory combination of crackers and fig jam can complement the sweetness of the marzipan.
Charcuterie Board: The salty meats and tangy pickles commonly found on a charcuterie board contrast nicely with sweet marzipan.
Marzipan Pumpkin Candies Recipe
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Marzipan Pumpkin Candies
Equipment
- Food Coloring Set – 12 Color Food Grade Vibrant Food Dye Cherrysea Tasteless Liquid Color for Cake Decorating, Baking, Easter Egg, Icing, Fondant, Cooking, Slime Making DIY Supplies Kit – 0.35 Fl. oz (10 ml)/Bottles
Ingredients
- 7 oz marzipan
- Orange food coloring
- Green food coloring
- Brown food coloring
- Toothpick
Instructions
- Divide the marzipan into 3 sections, with 1 section being large and 2 sections being small.
- Use orange food coloring to dye the large section orange, and the smaller sections green and brown. Add a couple drops at a time until the desired color is reached.
- Take a marble sized piece from the orange marzipan, and roll in between the palms of your hands to form a smooth ball.
- Place on a flat surface and use your finger to create a small indent in the top. Use the toothpick to create the lines on the side of the pumpkin.
- Roll the brown dough on the table to make a snake shape. Use a toothpick to cut it into sections to create the stems. Attach the stem to the center of the pumpkin.
- Roll the green dough on the table to create a snake shape. Use a toothpick to attach it to the pumpkin in a spiral.
- Flatten a small piece of green between your fingers and shape into a leaf shape attach to the pumpkin using a toothpick.
- Repeat until all the pumpkins are made.
