*  Exported from  MasterCook  *

                        Colorful Marzipan Fruits

Recipe By     :
Serving Size  : 24   Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : Candies

 Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
                       -----BASIC MARZIPAN-----
 16       oz           Almond paste
  2                    Egg whites
    1/2   ts           Extract, almond
  4       c            Sugar, powdered
                       -----CANDY MAKING-----
                       Cloves, whole
                       Egg whites
                       Food coloring, paste
                       Kirsch -- or vodka
    1/2   c            Water
    1/4   c            Syrup, corn, light
                       Sugar, red

 TO AVOID HARMFUL BACTERIA, BE SURE EGGS ARE NOT
 CRACKED BEFORE USE.

 There are 4 steps to making colorful marzipan fruits: making basic
 marzipan, shaping fruits, coloring fruits; glazing fruits.

 MAKE THE BASIC MARZIPAN

 Break up almond paste in large bowl. Add egg whites and almond
 extract and mix thoroughly.  Add sugar 1 cup at a time, kneading
 well after each addition; add enough sugar to make a solid, heavy
 dough. (The mixture is quite sticky and hard to handle at first,
 but as you add sugar, it dries and becomes workable.)  At this
 point you may store the dough for up to 7 days by wrapping in
 plastic and storing in plastic bag in fridge. Bring to room temp
 and knead again before using.

 SHAPE MARZIPAN FRUITS

 Break off 1" balls of marzipan and shape to look like lemons,
 oranges, apples, pears, and strawberries. Too much while you are
 shaping balls, chill briefly in fridge.

 Shaping tips:

 Lemons and oranges: roll on fine grated to create pebbly texture;
 insert cloves, star-shaped ends up, for stem ends.

 Apples: indent tops, insert cloves pointed ends up to represent
 stems.

 Pears: insert cloves pointed ends up for stems.

 Strawberries: shape little flat marzipan stars to make caps; attach
 caps with cloves and a dab of egg white.

 COLOR FRUITS

 Use small, soft paintbrush and paste food coloring diluted with a
 little kirsch.  Mix colors (a gem muffin pan makes a good palette)
 and paint each fruit completely. Don't forget to paint the
 strawberry caps green.  Place painted fruits on wire rack to dry
 overnight; turn occasionally so they dry evenly.

 GLAZE FRUITS

 In small saucepan, sitr together water and corn syrup to make
 glaze. Bring to boil, remove from heal, and allow to cool until
 just warm.  Brush warm glaze on red part of each strawberry;
 sprinkle with red sugar and place on wire rack to dry overnight.
 Brush warm glaze on each fruit and let dry overnight on wire rack.
 When glaze is dry on strawberries, paint glaze on strawberry caps
 and let dry overnight. Put marzipan fruits in paper candy cups and
 store in airtight container. Brightly colored marzipan fruits are
 so festive and pretty, somehow they suit the holiday perfectly.



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