This is a recipe for a homemade marzipan where there has not been added any refined sugar. A traditional marzipan is made from two very simple ingredients; skinned almonds and sugar - super simple but also a bit unhealthy due to the amount of refined sugar. However, this is not an issue because marzipan is normally only used to make candy and cakes where sugar typically is not considered an issue.
Even though cakes and other treats normally contains lots of sugar - which is typically the idea with it - it can sometimes be interesting in making cakes which contains less or no sugar, flour, butter or similar. Unhealthy and alternative cake recipes can sometimes be nice to have.
If you have a recipe where you should use raw marzipan, and you are looking for a healthy alternative to the traditional marzipan, you can try using the recipe I have shown below.
Sugar Free Marzipan
The recipe for sugar free marzipan is super easy to make and it only requires two ingredients; skinned almonds and dates. The almonds are the foundation in all marzipan and the dates has a high content of natural sugar which gives the sweetness to the marzipan.
I personally always use this recipe when I am making the sugar and flourless Danish Tree Logs, which are traditional Danish cakes with marzipan wrapped around. You should differently check out this recipe if you do not know it - you can find it here on my blog in the cake section.
Recipe for marzipan without refined sugar
Making your own sugar free marzipan is super simple. You start by skinning the almonds using very hot water. I have a separate guide here on my blog how to skin almonds the easy way. The short instruction, how to skin the almonds is to let the almonds soak in very hot water for about 8-10 minutes and then remove the skin in-between two fingers. When you have prepared the almonds, pour them in a blender and blend them together with seedless dates for a couple of minutes. Form the sticky marzipan into a ball and let it rest in the fridge for about 15-30 minutes and it is ready.
Homemade Marzipan without refined Sugar
3-4 people
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Danish title: Hjemmelavet Marzipan uden sukker
Cuisine: Danish
Category: dessert
Ingredients:
100 g (3.5 oz) almonds
3 dates, stoneless (about 45 g or 1 2/3 oz)
Instructions:
1. In a small bowl; cover the almonds with boiling water. Set aside for about 7-10 minutes.
2. Using the tip of your finger to easily skin the almonds. This step should be easy. If it is difficult to remove the skin then cover the almonds with some new hot water and let then them soak for another 5 minutes.
3. Pour the skinned almonds into a food processor or blender. Run on high speed to turn the almonds into almonds flour.
4. Add the stone less dates and run until the almonds and dates are turned into a nice and slightly sticky marzipan. Depending on the freshness of the dates, you might also need to add a little water (about 1 tbsp) to better get the almonds and dates to mix into a nice Marzipan.
5. Cover the marzipan with plastic wrapping and keep it in the fridge until you need it.
Joe Martinez
Sorry, but this is not sugar-free marzipan: it is sucrose-free marzipan. For a diabetic trying to control their condition through diet, this would be a disaster, and would put their blood sugar into the stratosphere Please re-title your page to make it more accurate.
George Hanley
Surely any diabetic readers will know this. It says that dates have a very high natural sugar content in the recipe. Besides which, in reference to cakes and desserts, 'sugar free' is usually taken to mean 'no refined sugar'. Calling this 'marzipan without sucrose' would be far more confusing to most people.
Op
I agree that the title is misleading. Just mark it as "no refined sugar" marzipan. I think most diabetics or those that are watching their diets in particular would find this very helpful. It would take nothing away from your recipe and it would be very useful to the readers you're going through a lot of trouble to share your goodies with. *written with nothing but love*
Kim Nielsen
I completely agree with you. The title could be misleading. I'll update the title. Thanks for your feedback :-)
njle
Find a way to make this with Stevia and it would truly be sugar free.
Tim Doran
Thanks for the brilliant recipe. I'm going to make a stollen tomorrow. I used this recipe last year and it was brilliant. It tastes almondy without the over the top sugar sweetness of traditional marzipan.
Kim Nielsen
You are welcome. I'm glad that you can use the recipe for homemade "sugar free" marzipan. Regards Kim (NordicFoodLiving.com)
Ellie
Very cool! I love making desserts with dates, and i will be trying this out soon. I usually use Deglet Noor dates, which are significantly less expensive than Medjool, but they are also significantly less sweet, so I normally will multiply the amount of dates accordingly. So I might make this with 10 Deglet Noor dates instead of 3. Thanks for sharing this!
Nettie
I dont find it misleading there is no actual sugar i am Diabetic and i tried this recipe and it did not raise mt sugar to the stratospere i made rolls with this as the center with whe wheat flour and dried fruits it was delicious and as a Diabetic i made the rolls small so i can enjoy with out the worry.
Lesly
nettie are you from Chicago?
Judith
This came out really well. I used it for Easter this year and really enjoyed this healthy version. Thank you
Sky Dancer
Simple new title: "Homemade Date-Sweetened Marzipan". Describes it well. Can't wait to make this!
Maja Siroki
it is written without refined sugar
CG
Actually no. Dates have a relatively low glycemic index, fiber, and are a very healthy alternative to refined sugar. Date consumption does not cause blood sugar spikes. Read up on the science.
Rob
Thanks great recipe, it tasted delicious and like the ‘real thing’.
I hate the fact shop bought marzipan contains so much refined sugar so was searching for a simple salternative. This took me a few minutes in a mini blender using shop bought ground almonds, it definitely needed some water to help ot bind together.
Jo
There is always someon out there to criticise.
Thank you for the recipe.
Kim Nielsen
You are welcome :-)
Tanya
Exactly what I was looking for! Thank you!
Sue
Hello! Would this marzipan be suitable to use in the kranzekage? I'm in Canada and the store-bought marzipan is poor quality so I'd like to try making my own.
(Very happy to have found your site as I've been trying to find some of these recipes for a long time :)
Thanks,
Sue
Kim Nielsen
Hello. Actually, I have never tried this marzipan in the kransekage. However, I can't see why it should not work. I happy that you like my site :-)
Mags
I was looking for a no sugar marzipan recipe, read a few but yours looks so simple. Although I generally don't eat many dried fruits, to be able to make and eat marzipan at Christmas will be great. I stopped eating sugar a long time ago but have got tired of having a piece of fruit when everyone else is eating sweets so thought I'd give myself a treat. I will be making small pieces covered in 100% cocoa chocolate, a 'healthy' treat. Thank you for your lovely recipes.
Kim Nielsen
That sounds like a really good idea. I'm happy that you like this recipe. It's also one of my favorite :-)
Vincent
Can dried dates be substituted in place of fresh ones?
Kim Nielsen
I haven't tried this recipe with dried dates. However, I don't think it will work. I think the dried dates are too 'dry'. We need the moist to make the marzipan stick together.
Naomi
I made this with dried dates today and just soaked them in boiling water for 20 mins before using. I used about 8 dates per 100g almonds as they are smaller. I also added some almond essence like someone else suggested. Seriously good recipe! Best marzipan I have ever made! Such a great idea, it holds together very well when rolled out for a cake topping too. Thank you :)
Diane
Great! This is just what I was looking for!! I'm not used to eating a lot of sugar anymore, and bought some nice marzipan treats at a local Danish bakery. The sugar sent my head spinning so I didn't enjoy it. But I've done just fine with ground dates before so I'm going to give this a whirl!!! Thank you! One question, though, where do you find these dates? Are they canned or are they in the produce section?
Kim Nielsen
Yes it's actually great reducing the sugar. I've it the same way as you regarding sugar.
It's a good question regarding where to find the dates. It's my experience that my local supermarket keep finding new spots for the dates. Sometime they are located in the vegetable section and sometimes they are located in the canned food section. I have even found them next to the freezers with meat. I always just ask an employee where to find them :-) I always get the dates which comes in small cardboard boxes with plastic wrapping.
Diane
Great! I will ask around while I'm at the store so I get the right ones. Thanks so much for your help! Looking so forward to trying this.
Jo
Is it ok to put a few drops of almond essence in?
Kim Nielsen
That is actually a good idea :-)
Jo
Further to my last question. Is this suitable to put on top of a Christmas cake.please?
There will be no icing.
Kim Nielsen
Yes you can absolutly do that.
Jesta erichsen
Just found your comments/web side?
Would you kindly add me to your mailing list. I am danish and will now try your marzipan receip
Anything new let me know.
Godt nytår og mange tak.
Kim Nielsen
Hi. I currently don't have a mailing list. The best way of following my blog is "liking" the blog on Facebook or simply by visiting the site from time-to-time.
susie
how about soaking the almonds first (many sites recommend soaking almonds in spring water and salt for 24 hours to neutralise the phytic acid to increase the bioavalabitity of the minerals they contain) Great reipe just what I was looking for
Christina | Christina's Cucina
I just linked to this recipe from my Semlor recipe! Thank you!
Marilyn
Thank you for this healthy, wonderful, easy whole-food recipe.
Gail
How does this marzipan compare to almond paste? Some recipes call for almond paste, and I would like to make a replacement for that.
Kim Nielsen
Actually I've never cooked with almond paste. I don't think almond paste is that common in Europe. Sorry I can't answer your question
Sarah
What blender are you all using as this recipe won't work for me in a vitamix! No chance. The stuff just sits in half prosessed lumps under the blades. Highly unsuccessful.
Kim Nielsen
I'm using a small hand blender with a small blender attachment. If the dough is sticking to the side, then add a little water. You can also use a tablespoon to scrape the dough from the sides.
Eva
Does it have to be almonds or can other nuts or food be used?
Kim Nielsen
The original Marzipan is made by almonds, so I would recommend using almonds. However, I'm quite sure that you can make a marzipan based on other types of nuts. I will not be real marzipan but still great, I think.
Eva
Can this be used in sugarcraft as a fondant alternative?
Kim Nielsen
Yes you should be able to use this marzipan as an alternative to fondant.
Sharon
Good day thank you for the recipe. Please I can't get almonds around here, can I use only dates for the marzipan? Thank you so much. Please I need the answer urgently.
Kim Nielsen
Almonds is the main ingredient in regular marzipan and this sugar-free marzipan. Unfurtunately, you can't make marzipan without almonds.
Adam
I'm glad you called this sugar free marzipan as I would never have found it on Google if it had another name. I'm going to try it with dried dates and skin my own almonds.. Thank you
Kim Nielsen
You are welcome :-)
Claudia
I haven't even tried this yet but I can practically taste it. What a great idea! Thank you for sharing it.
Kim Nielsen
You are welcome - I hope that you like the recipe :-)
Jane
Nice and a healthier idea. Thanks.
Carine
Thank you very much for this helpful recipe which I plan on trying. Any suggestions on how long this marzipan paste might last in the fridge? Planning to make marzipan fruits as Christmas gifts. Thank you.
Kim Nielsen
That is actually a good question. Normally I use the marzipan right away. However, my guess is that it will be good for at least 1-2 weeks in the fridge. Regards Kim (NordicFoodLiving.com)
Carine
Many thanks Kim for the suggestions. Just made a batch and it's delicious! Ended up having to use a pestle and mortar as my blender couldn't make the flour fine enough. Next will try dyeing it with natural food colouring. Thank you.
Marc Ernest Neal
I am very happy that you had posted this. These days everyone had bad things to say about everything... I thank you very much for this recipe. Very well done...!!!
Kim Nielsen
I'm happy about you comment - I agree with you! Regards Kim (Nordicfoodliving.com)
Karen
Absolutely loved this! So super easy with ground almonds & a bit of almond essence! Really tasted like marzipan - with my first processed-sugar free Christmas I didn't feel deprived at all :) Thanks so much for sharing and making it really simple xx
Kim Nielsen
You are very welcome - I'm just happy that you like the recipe for marzipan and that you can use it. Regards Kim (Nordicfoodliving.com)
Delphine Neufeld
Love it! I added 2 tsp. cherry brandy. I used some in a artizan bread that I made with dried cherries, cinnamon and lemon rind. Yum!
AJ
Having read some of the nonsense and being Diabetic myself it seems no one bothers to research anything before commenting.
Almonds can and does reduce blood sugar levels.
Furthermore natural sugar from fruit is far less damaging than refined sugars.
Also using 3 dates coupled with the almonds the sugar is negated.
Thus leaving a diabetic person like myself from any danger.
Please use Google in the future people before having a go at this amazing person who has shared such an amazing recipe.
Kim Nielsen
Thanks for sharing your comment! I am not diabetic myself so I am not into all the facts behind sugar types. Regards Kim (NordicFoodLiving.com)
Valerie
Thank you for this recipe, I cannot wait to try it. I went sugar free, apart from birthday cake :-) in June and haven't looked back. Marzipan is such a big part of Christmas so I am pleased I can make them now.
I also cannot believe the outright criticism about being "sugar free". For me this uses natural ingredients, I am sugar and all types of processed sweetener free. I don't want uber-processed food and it can be hard to find alternatives that are truly sugar + processed sweetener free. Thank you!
Kim Nielsen
Thanks for you comment on my recipe for marzipan. I'm happy that you can use it. :-) Regards Kim (NordicFoodLiving.com)
Elle
I want to say thank you, im sugar/ glucose intolerant and for me this the perfect recipe xxxx
Kim Nielsen
You are welcome. I'm glad that you can use the recipe. Regards Kim (NordicFoodLiving.com)
Ana
Thanks you for putting this recipe on the internet! It is exactly what I was looking for as we all love marzipan and my son's birthday is coming up. I have removed refined sugar from my diet and I'm trying to remove it from the diet of the rest of my family in a pleasant tasty way. As my son is already not a fan of icing and very sugary sweet cakes, so I always make him a nut-flour based cake with marzipan decoration. Now I know I can make it with dates I am excited to see what tasty things I can create,
Kim Nielsen
You are welcome. I hope that you will like the homemade marzipan without refined sugar. :-) Congrats on your son's birthday. Regards Kim (NordicFoodLiving.com)
Walter
I needed Marzipan for my favorite Scone recipe. Most of the recipes I saw used 1.5 C ground almonds + 1.5 C confectioners sugar + 1 egg white. With the 1.5 C sugar, it was not edible. I made your recipe with giant Medjool dates, and voilà! My Almond Scones are filled with Yummy Goodness.