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Mandelhörnchen
Marzipan almond crescents
Chewy marzipan crescents with flaked almonds and chocolate tips
Look along the glass counter of almost any German bakery and you will find these: fat crescents of almond paste, crusted in toasted flaked almonds, with both horns dipped in dark chocolate. Inside they stay soft and chewy, almost like a macaroon, while the outside crunches. People buy one to eat with a coffee on the way home rather than keeping them for a festival, though they turn up on Christmas plates too. They need no flour, so they are naturally gluten free. Chef's tip: take them out when the almond flakes are golden but the crescents still feel soft; overbaking is the common mistake, and they set hard as they cool.
- Total time
- 39 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
For the dough
- 7 oz marzipan (raw almond paste)at room temperature, grated or chopped
- 3 ½ oz ground almonds
- 3 ½ oz icing sugar
- 2 egg whitesone for the dough, one for coating
- ¼ tsp almond extract (optional)
To finish
- 3 ½ oz flaked almonds
- 3 ½ oz dark chocolatechopped
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Method
0/8 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 350°F (325°F fan) and line a tray with baking paper.
Step 2: Knead 7 oz marzipan (raw almond paste), 3 ½ oz ground almonds, 3 ½ oz icing sugar, one of 1 egg whites and ¼ tsp almond extract if using into a smooth, sticky paste. Chill for 10 minutes so it is easier to shape.
10 minStep 3: Lightly beat the remaining 1 egg whites in a shallow bowl and spread 3 ½ oz flaked almonds on a plate.
Step 4: With damp hands, divide the paste into 12 pieces and roll each into a 10 cm sausage, a little thicker in the middle.
Step 5: Dip each one in egg white, roll it in the almonds and press so they stick, then bend into a crescent on the tray.
Step 6: Bake for 12–14 minutes, until the almond flakes are golden and the crescents feel just set on the outside but soft underneath.
14 minStep 7: Cool completely on the tray; they firm up as they cool.
Step 8: Melt 3 ½ oz dark chocolate in a bowl over barely simmering water or in short bursts in the microwave. Dip both tips of each crescent and lay them on baking paper until set, about 30 minutes.
30 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 245 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 22 g
- Fat
- 15 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does mandelhörnchen take?
- About 39 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 14 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of ground almonds?
- Ground cashews, same amount.
- What can I use instead of icing sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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Perfect for:Christmas