Cake Recipe:
Home made almond paste ('Marzipan') — French

Mix almonds and sugar. Beat egg whites with almond essence and add to mixture. Blend to form a paste. Knead well.

Marzipanning a cake

Divide mixture in half. Shape and roll out half to a circle about 1 cm (¼") larger than the top of the cake. Brush top of cake with warmed jam. Place circle of almond paste onto the cake and smooth down.

Measure the height of the sides of the cake and the circumference.

Roll out remaining paste into an oblong twice as wide as the height of the cake and as long as the measurement all round the cake. Cut in half lengthwise.

Brush the sides of the cake with jam and press on strips, joining neatly. Either leave plain to ice, or pinch with fingers to decorate.