Marzipan Acorns
Iain Bagwell
These little beauties add a lot of charm to the oak tree bûche. A V-shaped bottle opener (church key) is helpful for scoring “shingles” into the caps.
How to Make It
Step 1
1
Put 3 tbsp. almond paste in a small bowl. Using end of a toothpick to dip into jar of food coloring, add 2 small smears yellow food coloring and a dot of green to tint almond paste; squeeze into paste to blend well, wearing disposable gloves, if you like, to prevent staining your hands. Add more coloring if needed until paste is the color of green acorns. Shape generous 1/2-tsp. portions into 12 tapered acorns about 1 1/4 in. long; set aside, covered.
Step 2
2
Put remaining 3 tbsp. almond paste in bowl and tint with yellow, green, and brown coloring to create tan for caps (start with 4 smears of yellow and a dot each of the other colors).
Step 3
3
For each cap, roll a generous 1/2 tsp. -almond paste into a ball. Poke a small finger into center to form a cap, then set cap over largest end of an acorn. Pat cap into place and tap edges to join acorn. Score "shingles" in cap with V-shaped end of a church key or tip of a small knife. Repeat to make remaining caps.
MAKE AHEAD Up to 1 week, airtight at room temperature (store in a single layer).
*Find Wilton gel paste food coloring at Michaels stores and on amazon.com.
Ingredients
6 tablespoons almond paste, at room temperature, divided
Golden yellow, leaf green, and brown gel paste food coloring*
Directions
Step 1
1
Put 3 tbsp. almond paste in a small bowl. Using end of a toothpick to dip into jar of food coloring, add 2 small smears yellow food coloring and a dot of green to tint almond paste; squeeze into paste to blend well, wearing disposable gloves, if you like, to prevent staining your hands. Add more coloring if needed until paste is the color of green acorns. Shape generous 1/2-tsp. portions into 12 tapered acorns about 1 1/4 in. long; set aside, covered.
Step 2
2
Put remaining 3 tbsp. almond paste in bowl and tint with yellow, green, and brown coloring to create tan for caps (start with 4 smears of yellow and a dot each of the other colors).
Step 3
3
For each cap, roll a generous 1/2 tsp. -almond paste into a ball. Poke a small finger into center to form a cap, then set cap over largest end of an acorn. Pat cap into place and tap edges to join acorn. Score "shingles" in cap with V-shaped end of a church key or tip of a small knife. Repeat to make remaining caps.
MAKE AHEAD Up to 1 week, airtight at room temperature (store in a single layer).
*Find Wilton gel paste food coloring at Michaels stores and on amazon.com.
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