Alternative To Marzipan

I'm making a three tiered wedding cake for my brother's wedding next July. I want to under-ice the tiers in order to get as smooth a surface as possible to decorate, but my brother doesn't like marzipan. Is there an alternative to marzipan I could use instead? Thanks
How to apply wedding cake icing and marzipan

Simple wedding cake decorations

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Answer:

Marzipan is ideal for applying under fondant for several reasons. First, it protects the fondant by sealing any moisture from the cake, therefore allowing the cake to be iced weeks in advance.

Secondly, it keeps the cake from bleeding through your icing, preventing discolouration of the outer layer. Finally, it is the basis of a smooth finish. That being said there are alternatives that will work.

Chocolate ganache or chocolate plastique can be used in place of marzipan. They can be made with dark, milk or white chocolate. White chocolate can be tinted to match the colour of the cake. This can be applied two days before the cake is served.

Buttercream icing is another alternative to marzipan that can be used as a base layer. Apply one coat of buttercream thinly on the cake as a crumb coating and allow to dry before adding a second thin coat. As with the ganache and plastique, buttercream should not be exposed to high temperatures or it will become soft and ruin the finish of the cake.

 

In countries where marzipan is popular, especially around the holidays, mock marzipan was used at times when nuts were very expensive or not available. Although it has the consistency and texture of marzipan it does not contain nuts and can be flavoured with vanilla, orange zest or rum instead of almonds. I have never seen or heard of this being on sale so you will probably have to make it. There are loads of different recipes if you search for it on the internet. I have never had any reason to try them so would recommend making a small amount first to see if you like it. It is applied in the same manner as you would traditional marzipan.

When choosing which alternative to use, consider how the flavour of the icing will go with the wedding cake you are making. Try making a small practice cake first to get the best results.

An alternative is to make the top tier a Madeira cake or chocolate cake and covering with buttercream and icing. The cake will look the same, but for your brother there will be some lovely wedding cake with no marzipan just for him.

Good luck and I hope these different options help.

Image credits:

Cutting the cake: © Lucy Clark | Dreamstime.com