Christmas cakes - make or buy marzipan

kah22

mm! I’ve six Delia Christmas cakes ready for Christmas. My thoughts are now tuning to marzipan and I’m wondering make my own or buy. My local Sainsbury’s are selling 454 grams for £1.95 while Tesco do 500grams @ £1.75

Do you make your own o buy?

CapricornLass

In the days when I was able to eat marzipan (can't now as I have a nut allergy),  I used to make my own almond paste, it was easy enough to do, and cover the cakes with that.  I believe that proper marzipan is cooked, but I only ever did that once and I've forgotten how it was done.  Mr Google will supply the answer! 

I think it probably depends on how much of a purist you want to be, and also, if you are cooking it, how much time that takes to do.  The real advantage of making it yourself is that you know exactly what is in it, and because you are making it just before you are using it, it will taste fresher.

Linda32

I have made my own cake for quite a few years and have never even considered making my own marzipan.

GaleSF63

Nothing to beat home-made marzipan/almond paste. You can adjust the balance of sugar to ground almonds to your taste, and cut down the artificial taste of almond essence if you wish.

Rosa_Damascena

GaleSF63 said:

Nothing to beat home-made marzipan/almond paste. You can adjust the balance of sugar to ground almonds to your taste, and cut down the artificial taste of almond essence if you wish.

You must be a purist.

I can see why you would do this, but having seen people enjoy Christmas cake but leave thick wedges of marzipan and icing on their plates I wouldn't bother investing any thought or effort into this element. If you must have it, just buy it.

CapricornLass

Didn't have that problem in our family!  Either the cake was eaten first to savour the marzipan/icing afterwards, or the cake was simply left.

skogar

Rosadamascena - sorry - yes, guilty as charged. Issue is now solved on our family by an agreement that as most people here either aren't bothered whether the cake is iced or not or like me remove the icing and marzipan the christmas cake here is no longer iced! Saves preparation time too. My Mum even used to make her own almond paste - and I am told it was very good by thse who like such things - I'm afraid it was wasted on me.

Rosa_Damascena

CapricornLass said:

Didn't have that problem in our family!  Either the cake was eaten first to savour the marzipan/icing afterwards, or the cake was simply left.

No...! Pass it my way please, I could eat Christmas cake until it comes out of my ears

GaleSF63

Rosa_Damascena said:

GaleSF63 said:

Nothing to beat home-made marzipan/almond paste. You can adjust the balance of sugar to ground almonds to your taste, and cut down the artificial taste of almond essence if you wish.

You must be a purist.

I can see why you would do this, but having seen people enjoy Christmas cake but leave thick wedges of marzipan and icing on their plates I wouldn't bother investing any thought or effort into this element. If you must have it, just buy it.

No, I just don't like bought marzipan. Too much essence, too much sugar; too greasy, you can hardly taste the almonds. 

snowbird20

it's been my experience that very little is better store bought than homemade.  

Vegastare

Well I used to make my own - but have to admit I then turned to bought.
My late Aunt made wedding cakes etc and I cannot not imagine her buying marzipan nor fondant icing.!!
Own can be expensive as need ground almonds egg whites and icing sugar.....I found bought to be more sticky to roll but cheaper - but it has too many sugar additives than homemade so guess that's what makes it sweeter.
If you like the thought of icing cakes I think home made will give a better base.