Marzipan
Marzipan is one of our favorite sweets in the whole world, and we love any baked good made with it. It’s just so sweet and the almond taste is absolutely delicious. You may be wondering – why do you post so many recipes with marzipan? Well, it’s an incredibly popular flavor in Denmark and in Scandinavia in general. Plus, we love it! Especially when it is baked into a cake (like this one) or a pastry (like tebirkes or spandauer). If you’ve only ever tried raw marzipan layered onto a cake and you aren’t too sure if you like that very much, we would recommend trying one of our recipes! When the marzipan is warmed up it’s even more delicious and just melts in your mouth.
Origin of the Name “Mazarinkage”
Today’s recipe is for mazarinkage, or Mazarin cake. While it is a marzipan cake, the word “mazarin” doesn’t mean marzipan in Danish. Instead, the cake is named after the Italian cardinal Jules Mazarin, who was a minister to two kings of France. It’s unclear why this cake was named after him, but it first appeared in a Danish cookbook in 1888, so it’s likely that it originated somewhere else first. It’s now a classic cake that you can find in most bakeries in Denmark!
The Recipe
This Mazarin cake is super moist because of the marzipan added to the batter. The dark chocolate on top balances perfectly with the sweetness of the cake and the overall taste is just amazing. It pairs perfectly with a hot cup of coffee or tea. It’s also incredibly simple to make! Start by creaming together the softened butter, sugar; then add in soft marzipan. Add the eggs one at a time, incorporating each one well before adding the next. Then add the flour and cornstarch and fold or incorporate into the mixture. Bake this in a cake tin, then allow it to cool before topping with melted chocolate. You can also make a chocolate ganache if you prefer the softer texture of the chocolate! Slice it up and enjoy!
Mazarinkage (Mazarin Cake)
Ingredients
- 200 grams marzipan (can also be storebought!)
- 200 grams (1 cup) granulated sugar
- 200 grams (14 tbsp) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 100 grams (1/2 cup + 3 tbsp) all purpose flour
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- Pinch of salt
TOPPING
- 200 grams dark chocolate (corresponds to about 2 chocolate bars or 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350 F (176 C). Note: If using a convection setting or if you know your oven runs hotter, preheat the oven to 325 F (160 C) to avoid the cake browning too quickly.
- If using homemade marzipan, make your marzipan by combining all ingredients in a food processor or kneading together by hand. You can use the marzipan immediately! It is best if the marzipan is on the softer side, so if you use store-bought marzipan that is a bit tougher, you can knead it to get it to a softer consistency.
- Add sugar and softened butter to the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat together using the paddle attachment for about 5 minutes on medium speed until light and fluffy.
- Add your marzipan and continue beating together until fully combined. (As noted above, it is best if the marzipan is soft so it can mix together with the butter and sugar without leaving lumps!)
- Add eggs to the mixture one at a time, fully incorporating before adding the next. Make sure your eggs are room temperature, or your batter may split!
- In a medium bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, and salt. Sift into the butter mixture in two parts, mixing together on low speed in between or folding with a spatula to incorporate. Once the mixture is fully incorporated, make sure to fold a few times with a spatula to make sure there are no dry spots at the bottom!
- Pour batter into a prepared cake pan (we used a 9 inch round pan) buttered and lined with parchment paper on the bottom.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes until a knife inserted in the cake comes out clean. If the cake starts to brown too quickly, you can cover the top of the cake with aluminum foil.
- Let your cake cool. Once cool, melt 150g of chocolate over a double boiler or in the microwave. Add the remaining 50g and mix together until that has melted. Pour over the top of the cake and decorate with anything else you like, such as chopped nuts, candied lemon, or sprinkles! Enjoy!
