Recipe: Marzipan Layer Cake
Serves10 to 12
Makes1 (8-inch) cake
Almond-lovers, this playful marzipan cake is for you. It’s made with almond flour and marzipan — a rich, sweetened paste of ground almonds — leaving you with a dense, moist cake steeped with the flavor of this nut. The cake is wrapped in a coating of buttercream frosting and decorated with colored marzipan cut-outs you can create and shape yourself. Between the classic flavors and modern presentation, this cake is a great option for birthday parties for people of all ages — or just when you need a cake that’s on the quirkier side.
Marzipan Magic
We’re a sucker for any ingredient that can do double duty in a recipe, and in this case marzipan is our current crush. It’s used in the batter of this cake to give it a density and richness of flavor. You’ll be able to smell and taste the essence of almonds in every bite of this cake.
But marzipan is also perfect for creating shapes and figures. I’m sure you’ve seen those incredible, whimsical marzipan animal creations atop a cake or behind the counter at a bakery. Here, we’re going for a minimalist approach. The marzipan is mixed with powdered sugar and gel food coloring and cut into all sorts of geometric shapes. You can create shapes similar to the ones in the video, or go freeform and create a pattern all your own.
Marzipan Layer Cake
Makes 1 (8-inch) cake
Serves 10 to 12
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 3/4 cup
all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup
almond meal
- 1 1/2 teaspoons
baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon
kosher salt
- 1 cup
granulated sugar
- 7 ounces
marzipan
- 2 sticks
(1 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for coating the pans
- 4
large eggs
- 1 teaspoon
vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon
almond extract
- 1/2 cup
sour cream
For the marzipan cut-outs:
- 3 ounces
marzipan
Gel food coloring
Powdered sugar
For the buttercream:
- 2 sticks
(1 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 4 cups
powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon
milk
- 1/4 teaspoon
almond extract
Pinch kosher salt
Instructions
Make the cake:
Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 350°F. Coat 2 (8-inch) round cake pans with butter, then line the bottom of each with a parchment paper round; set aside.
Place the flour, almond meal, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl and whisk to combine; set aside.
Place the marzipan and sugar in a food processor fitted with the blade attachment and pulse until it is the texture of coarse meal.
Transfer to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the beater attachment. (Alternatively, use an electric hand mixer and large bowl.) Add the butter and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes.
Reduce the speed to low and add the eggs one at a time, waiting until each egg is incorporated before adding the next. Beat in the vanilla and almond extracts. Add the flour mixture and beat until just incorporated.
Remove the bowl from the mixer, add the sour cream and fold it in with a rubber spatula until just incorporated.
Divide the batter evenly between the cake pans. Bake until the top bounces back when you gently press it, or a toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center of the cake, 35 to 40 minutes.
Place the pans on a wire rack and let sit until cool enough to handle, about 20 minutes. Run a thin knife around the edges of the cake to loosen, flip the cakes out, remove the parchment paper, and then place right-side up back on the rack to cool completely before filling and frosting. Meanwhile, make the marzipan cut-outs.
Make the marzipan cut-outs:
Knead food coloring into the marzipan for each color you desire. Roll each piece of colored marzipan on a work surface dusted with powdered sugar until 1/8- to 1/16-inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with a knife or cookie cutters; set aside.
Make the buttercream:
Place the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. (Alternatively, use an electric hand mixer.) Beat on medium speed until soft and smooth, 2 to 3 minutes.
Stop the mixer. Sift in the powdered sugar and beat on low speed until combined. Increase the speed to medium and beat until light, fluffy, and smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Beat in the almond extract and salt.
Assemble and decorate the cake:
If the cakes are not level, use a serrated knife to trim the tops.
Place 1 of the cakes on a cake or serving plate. Frost the top of the cake with 1/2 cup of the buttercream. Top with the second cake. Frost the top and sides of the cake with more buttercream to completely cover. Refrigerate for 10 minutes. Decorate with the marzipan cut-outs.
Recipe Notes
Make ahead: The cake layers can be baked ahead. Do not level the cakes. Wrap each one tightly in plastic wrap and store at room temperature for 1 day, or in the freezer for up to 1 week. Defrost before using.
Storage: The assembled cake can be covered in plastic wrap and stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Credits: Emily Petrick is a West Coast-based baker and food stylist. She is a Cordon Bleu graduate and worked at several prestigious Los Angeles bakeries before starting her own business. She is happiest when she is experimenting and making a mess in her kitchen. You can see more of her work on her website.