MarsepeinShaped almond paste
On pakjesavond, the Sinterklaas present evening on 5 December, Dutch children find marzipan in every shape: little pink pigs for luck, pieces of fruit, potatoes rolled in cocoa, and the first letter of their name. Homemade marsepein is simply finely ground almonds kneaded with icing sugar and a little egg white, then coloured and shaped, a lovely job to share with children. This recipe uses pasteurised egg white so it is safe raw. Chef's tip: knead in the colour with a toothpick's worth at a time; marzipan takes colour very quickly.



