What Is Marzipan? Ingredients, Uses and Carbs
What is marzipan? Marzipan is a sweet, firm paste made mainly from ground almonds and sugar, often bound with egg white or whole egg. It can be rolled, shaped or coloured. In the UK it's best known as the layer under the icing on a Christmas cake, and it also covers a Battenberg and decorates a Simnel cake. Because most of it is sugar, CoFID lists homemade marzipan at 50.1g of carbohydrate per 100g.
At a glance
- Made fromground almonds and sugar, often with egg
- Also calledalmond paste (UK), marchpane (old English)
- Say itMAH-zi-pan (UK)
- 50.1gcarbs per 100g of homemade marzipan (CoFID)
On this page
It turns up every November in blocks next to the ground almonds, ready to go under the icing on the Christmas cake. But what is marzipan, exactly? This guide explains what marzipan is made of, how it differs from almond paste and frangipane, the many ways it's used across Europe, how to put it on a Christmas cake, where the name comes from and how many carbs it has.
What is marzipan?
Wikipedia describes marzipan as a confection made mainly of sugar and almond meal (ground almonds), sometimes with almond oil or extract added. BBC Food calls it a thick paste, also known as almond paste, made from ground almonds, sugar and whole egg or egg whites, and used in cakes and pastries. The Cambridge Dictionary gives the UK pronunciation as MAH-zi-pan, with the stress on the first syllable.
Its firm, pliable texture is what makes it so useful. You can roll it into a thin sheet to cover a cake, mould it into fruit, animals or flowers, colour it, or cut it into pieces and dip them in chocolate.
What does marzipan taste like?
Marzipan tastes sweet and strongly of almonds, with a dense, smooth and slightly oily texture. Wikipedia explains that part of its distinctive aroma and flavour comes from benzaldehyde, a flavour compound found in almonds. BBC Good Food notes that bought marzipan often has almond essence or extract added to strengthen the flavour.
What marzipan is made of
BBC Good Food says marzipan needs only ground almonds and sugar or honey, plus a binding of egg white or whole eggs. It's often scented with vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and other sweet spices, or with orange, lemon or lime zest, rose water or orange flower water. BBC Food adds that marzipan made with egg yolk has a richer colour.
Factory-made marzipan is made a little differently. Wikipedia describes blanched almonds being ground with sugar, roasted and cooled, before more sugar and sometimes a binding agent such as starch syrup or sorbitol are added. It says marzipan should have a moisture content of less than 10% and must be kept airtight so it doesn't harden.
Why is some marzipan yellow?
In the UK you'll usually find both golden (yellow) and white marzipan. BBC Good Food explains that the bright yellow colour is usually added to imitate egg yolk, and that naturally coloured marzipan is becoming easier to find. Both are used the same way.
Most UK marzipan recipes call for ground almonds. If a recipe from the US asks for almond flour, our guide is almond flour the same as ground almonds? explains the difference and when you can swap one for the other.
Marzipan vs almond paste
In the UK, marzipan and almond paste are usually treated as the same thing: BBC Food and BBC Food's Christmas cake icing guide both use almond paste as another name for marzipan. Elsewhere the names mean different products, and the difference comes down to how much almond is in the paste.
| Paste | What sets it apart |
|---|---|
| Marzipan (UK) | Almonds and sugar, often egg; same as almond paste |
| US almond paste | More almonds, less sugar than US marzipan |
| Lübeck marzipan | Protected name; no more than 30% sugar |
| Toledo marzipan | Protected name; at least 50% almonds |
| Persipan | Apricot or peach kernels in place of almonds |
Based on Wikipedia (Marzipan and Lübeck Marzipan) and BBC Food. Checked 12 November 2026.
Wikipedia says marzipan isn't officially defined in the US, where it's generally made with more sugar than almond paste. It gives one brand as an example, with 28% almonds in its marzipan and 45% in its almond paste. Two European marzipans have protected status: Lübeck marzipan in Germany, protected since 1996, and Mazapán de Toledo in Spain. Wikipedia says Lübeck manufacturers such as Niederegger guarantee their marzipan is two-thirds almonds by weight.
Marzipan vs frangipane
Frangipane is a different thing altogether. It's a soft almond cream of butter, sugar, eggs and ground almonds that's spooned into tarts and baked, whereas marzipan is a firm paste that's usually rolled or shaped. Our guide to what frangipane is compares the two side by side.
How marzipan is used
Wikipedia lists a wide range of uses, from sweets and chocolate-covered marzipan to thin glazed sheets for icing birthday, wedding and Christmas cakes. These are the ones you're most likely to come across in the UK and Europe.
| Bake or sweet | How marzipan is used |
|---|---|
| Christmas cake | Layer between the fruit cake and the icing |
| Battenberg | Wrapped around a pink and yellow sponge |
| Simnel cake | A layer inside, one on top and 11 balls |
| Stollen | A soft log baked inside the loaf |
| Marzipan fruits | Moulded and painted to look like fruit |
| Mozartkugeln | Marzipan balls dipped in dark chocolate |
Based on Wikipedia (Marzipan, Battenberg cake and Simnel cake) and BBC Good Food. Checked 12 November 2026.
Battenberg and Simnel cake
Wikipedia describes Battenberg as a light sponge cake with coloured sections held together with jam and covered in marzipan, giving a pink and yellow check in cross section. It originated in England and is said to have been named after the marriage of Princess Victoria, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, to Prince Louis of Battenberg in 1884. Simnel cake is a light fruit cake for Lent and Easter, with a layer of marzipan baked in the middle, another on top, and traditionally 11 marzipan balls for the apostles, leaving out Judas.
Marzipan around Europe
According to Wikipedia, marzipan is a Christmas treat in many countries. In Denmark, Sweden and Norway it's customary to eat marzipan pigs at Christmas, and in Germany marzipan is given as small loaves or as little potato shapes. In Palermo, marzipan is shaped and painted to look like fruit, called frutta martorana, and Austria's Mozartkugeln are marzipan balls dipped in dark chocolate.
Marzipan on a Christmas cake
BBC Good Food explains that in the UK, marzipan gives a flat base between a fruit cake and its icing, and stops moisture from the cake staining the icing. BBC Food says you don't have to use it, but without it the finish won't be as smooth, and dark oils and liquids from the cake can leak out and discolour the icing over time. It recommends covering the cake with marzipan first so crumbs don't get into the icing.
How to marzipan a cake
BBC Good Food's method for covering a round fruit cake uses 500g of marzipan, 3 tablespoons of apricot jam and a little icing sugar:
- Glaze the cake. Boil the apricot jam with a splash of water and sieve it. Turn the cake upside down on a board for a flat top, then brush it all over with the jam and leave it to set for a few minutes.
- Measure. Use a piece of string to measure across the top and down both sides, so you know how big to roll the marzipan.
- Roll out. Dust the worktop with icing sugar and roll the marzipan slightly wider than the string. BBC Food suggests about the thickness of a pound coin.
- Lift and smooth. Lift it over the cake on the rolling pin, unroll it, ease it down the sides and smooth the surface.
- Trim and dry. Trim the excess from the base. BBC Food says to let the marzipan dry before icing, which can take one to five days, longer for homemade marzipan. It's ready when it no longer feels oily.
Mary Berry's classic Christmas cake on BBC Food uses 675g of marzipan for a deep 23cm cake and leaves it loosely covered for a few days to dry before adding royal icing. If you'd like to make your own, our keto Christmas cake recipe includes a homemade marzipan made with ground almonds and a powdered sweetener.
Where marzipan comes from
Wikipedia says marzipan's exact origins are disputed. One line traces it through the Turks into Eastern Europe, and another to the parts of Spain known as Al-Andalus, where Toledo's first written reference to it dates back to 1512. It later became a speciality of the Hanseatic League port towns, particularly Lübeck and Tallinn.
The old English name was marchpane, which Wikipedia says appears in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (Act 1, Scene 5) before the German name, marzipan, largely replaced it. The origin of the word itself is unclear. Wikipedia notes that the Italian marzapane is recorded earlier than in any other language, with pane meaning bread, and gives several competing theories for the rest of the word.
Carbs in marzipan
CoFID, the UK's official food composition dataset, has figures for homemade marzipan and for white and yellow retail marzipan, so you can see where the carbs come from.
| Per 100g | Carbs | Sugars | Fat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marzipan, homemade | 50.1g | 48.7g | 25.7g |
| Marzipan, retail | 67.6g | 67.6g | 12.7g |
| Almonds, ground | 6.9g | 4.2g | 55.8g |
| Battenberg, retail | 65.9g | 56.8g | 9.9g |
| Royal icing, homemade | 93.4g | 92.4g | Trace |
CoFID 2021 codes 14-893 (Marzipan, homemade), 14-875 (Marzipan, white and yellow, retail), 14-870 (Almonds, flaked and ground), 11-835 (Cake, battenberg, retail) and 17-805 (Icing, Royal, homemade). UK carbohydrate figures don't include fibre. Checked 12 November 2026.
Almost all of the carbohydrate in marzipan is sugar. Ground almonds on their own come in at 6.9g of carbohydrate per 100g in CoFID, so the more sugar a marzipan contains, the more carbs it has. That's why the retail marzipan, with 67.6g of sugars per 100g, has more carbohydrate and less fat than the homemade version, which CoFID lists at 10.4g of protein and 460kcal per 100g.
Is marzipan keto?
Traditional marzipan isn't a keto food: at 50.1g to 67.6g of carbohydrate per 100g in CoFID, it's mostly sugar. On a Christmas cake it also usually sits under royal or fondant icing, which CoFID lists at more than 90g of carbohydrate per 100g. Keto bakers usually make their own with ground almonds and a powdered sweetener in place of the sugar, as in our keto Christmas cake recipe.
Marzipan with our products
We don't sell marzipan, but these products can stand in for icing sugar and chocolate when you make your own, based on what each product page says. Our keto Christmas cake recipe uses a powdered sweetener for its marzipan because, as the recipe notes, a granulated one stays gritty.
- For homemade marzipan. Powdered Erythritol & Stevia Blend is a fine powder of erythritol and stevia in a 1kg pouch. Its product page says to use it 1:1 in place of icing sugar, both in the marzipan and for dusting the worktop when you roll it out.
- For chocolate-covered marzipan. Keto Dark Chocolate Buttons are 64% cocoa minimum, sweetened with erythritol and stevia, and come in a 210g pouch. The product page suggests melting them, so you can dip pieces of homemade marzipan.
- For an almond sponge. Keto Vanilla Cake Mix is made with almond flour and coconut flour; you add 3 eggs and butter and bake at 175°C for 20 to 25 minutes. We haven't tried it as a Battenberg, but it makes a simple sponge to finish with marzipan.
Product details are as shown on each product page. Free delivery on orders over £30.
Making a Christmas cake this year? Our last order date for Christmas delivery is 18 December 2026.
Marzipan is made from almonds, and the NHS lists almonds among the tree nuts that can cause food allergies. Many homemade recipes also contain egg. If a recipe uses raw egg, the Food Standards Agency says vulnerable groups, such as young children, older people and those who are pregnant or have underlying health conditions, can safely eat raw or lightly cooked hen eggs if they have a British Lion mark or are produced under the Laid in Britain scheme. Our Powdered Erythritol & Stevia Blend contains erythritol, a polyol, and excessive consumption of polyols may produce laxative effects. The Keto Dark Chocolate Buttons product page says they contain sweeteners and that excessive consumption may cause a laxative effect. Always check the pack for full allergen information.
Key takeaways
- Marzipan is a firm almond and sugar paste. Many recipes bind it with egg.
- In the UK it's also called almond paste. In the US, almond paste has more almonds and less sugar.
- It sits under the icing on a Christmas cake. It gives a flat base and stops the cake staining the icing.
- It isn't frangipane. Frangipane is a soft almond cream baked in tarts.
- The carbs are mostly sugar. CoFID lists homemade marzipan at 50.1g per 100g.
Frequently asked questions
What is marzipan made of?
Marzipan is made mainly of ground almonds and sugar. BBC Good Food says it needs only almonds and sugar or honey, bound with egg white or whole eggs, and it's often flavoured with vanilla, spices, citrus zest or rose water. Shop-bought marzipan may use a syrup binder instead of egg, so check the label.
Is marzipan the same as almond paste?
In the UK the two names are often used for the same thing, and BBC Food calls marzipan almond paste. In the US they're different products: Wikipedia says American almond paste has more almonds and less sugar, giving one brand's figures as 28% almonds in its marzipan and 45% in its almond paste.
Why do you put marzipan on a Christmas cake?
BBC Good Food says the marzipan layer gives a flat base between the fruit cake and the icing and stops moisture from the cake staining the icing. BBC Food adds that without it, dark oils and liquids from the cake can leak out and discolour the icing if you keep the cake for a while.
Is marzipan vegan?
Not always. Many homemade recipes bind the almonds and sugar with egg white or whole egg, which isn't vegan. Some recipes leave the egg out: the marzipan in our keto Christmas cake uses ground almonds, a powdered sweetener, almond extract and water. For shop-bought marzipan, check the ingredients list on the pack.
How do you store marzipan?
Keep it wrapped and airtight so it doesn't dry out and harden, and away from direct light. BBC Good Food says marzipan lasts for months at least if kept cool or in the fridge, but at warm room temperature the almonds slowly oxidise and develop off flavours. Follow any storage advice on the pack.
Sources
- Wikipedia. Marzipan (definition, production, almond paste, protected marzipans, persipan, uses, origins and name), Lübeck Marzipan, Battenberg cake and Simnel cake. Checked 12 November 2026.
- Cambridge Dictionary. Marzipan (meaning and UK pronunciation). Checked 12 November 2026.
- BBC Food. Marzipan, How to ice a Christmas cake the easy way and Mary Berry's classic Christmas cake. Checked 12 November 2026.
- BBC Good Food. Marzipan glossary and How to marzipan a cake. Checked 12 November 2026.
- NHS. Food allergy. Checked 12 November 2026.
- Food Standards Agency. Food fact check: can you get salmonella from eggs? (August 2026). Checked 12 November 2026.
- Public Health England / Office for Health Improvement and Disparities. Composition of foods integrated dataset (CoFID) 2021 (codes 11-835, 14-870, 14-875, 14-893 and 17-805). Checked 12 November 2026.
- Groovy Keto product pages: Powdered Erythritol & Stevia Blend, Keto Dark Chocolate Buttons and Keto Vanilla Cake Mix (sizes, ingredients, suggested uses and label lines as shown). Checked 12 November 2026.
