Marzipankartoffeln (German Marzipan Potatoes Rolled in Cocoa)
Why this recipe works
- Fast no-cook method: The sweets are shaped entirely by hand, with no baking, boiling or setting time required.
- Only three ingredients: Marzipan provides the flavour and structure, icing sugar makes it easier to handle, and cocoa creates the distinctive potato-like finish.
- Sweetness with contrast: The cocoa coating adds a dry, gently bitter edge that keeps the almond sweetness from feeling too heavy.
Get the most out of this recipe
Ingredient notes
- Choose workable marzipan: Softer marzipan is easier to knead and shape; if it feels firm, warming it briefly in your hands helps make it more pliable.
- Dust lightly with cocoa: A thin, uneven coating gives the most natural look and prevents the cocoa from overpowering the marzipan.
Texture tips
- Knead until smooth: Work the icing sugar into the marzipan until no dry patches remain and the mixture no longer feels sticky.
- Chill for a neater finish: If the shaped sweets feel too soft to handle, refrigerate them briefly before packing or serving.
Make-ahead tips
- Make ahead: These keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 10 days, making them useful for gifting or advance entertaining.
- Freeze if needed: Freeze in a single layer until firm, then transfer to a sealed container and thaw overnight in the fridge.
Timing notes
- Serve slightly softened: Let the marzipan potatoes sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes before serving so the texture is firm but not hard.
Equipment you'll need
Ingredients
Instructions
- Put the marzipan in a mixing bowl and knead in the icing sugar until smooth and no longer sticky. If it feels dry, keep kneading for a minute to warm it slightly with your hands.
- Pinch off small pieces and roll into balls about the size of a small new potato, then gently elongate them into slightly uneven oval shapes. Aim for natural-looking imperfections rather than perfect spheres.
- Put the cocoa powder into a bowl and roll each piece lightly to coat, tapping off any excess. Serve straight away, or leave them uncovered for 10 minutes to dry slightly before packing.
Recipe notes
Tips
- For a more realistic finish, dust lightly rather than heavily so the marzipan still shows through in places.
- If making these for vulnerable groups, use heat-treated marzipan and cocoa powder from a freshly opened pack, and keep the sweets chilled once made.
Substitutions
- Replace Cocoa powder with Icing sugar for a pale, snowy finish.
- Replace Icing sugar with Cocoa powder kneaded into the Marzipan for a chocolate marzipan version, then dust with Icing sugar.
Storage
- Refrigerate up to 10 days
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge to keep them firm and prevent the cocoa powder from becoming patchy. Let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving. Freeze in a single layer until solid, then transfer to a sealed container; thaw overnight in the fridge.
Ratings & reviews
Liked this recipe? Share your feedback to support our cooking community.
Tried this recipe?
Choose 1–5 stars. A comment is optional.
Stay inspired
Discover new recipes, seasonal favourites and cooking inspiration every day. Follow JustRecipes on Pinterest and Spillt.
Recipe overview
- Servings: 20 pieces
- Yield: marzipan potatoes
- Total time: 10min (10min active)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cuisine: German
-
Allergens:
Tree nuts
Plan your meals and get a complete grocery list automatically.
Add to meal plannerEquipment you'll need
Got ingredients left?
Find recipes using ingredients from this recipe or what you already have at home.
Find recipes with these ingredients →
Mixed Vegetable Cutlets (Breadcrumb-Coated Potato, Carrot and Pea Patties)
Crisp vegetable cutlets with potato, carrots, peas and breadcrumbs
Rollmops (Pickled Herring Rolls with Gherkins and Onion)
Pickled herring rolls filled with gherkins and onion
Air Fryer Herb Falafel
Crisp air fryer falafel with chickpeas, herbs and spices.
Nem Ran Hanoi (Vietnamese Fried Spring Rolls)
Crisp fried spring rolls with pork, prawns and glass noodles
Turrón de Jijona (Soft Almond Nougat)
Soft Spanish almond nougat made with honey and sugar
Peanut Butter Fudge
No-bake peanut butter fudge set in the fridge
Pan de Elote (Mexican Corn Cake)
Mexican corn cake made with sweetcorn
Matcha Castella Cake (Japanese Green Tea Sponge)
Matcha castella sponge cake with honey
Sonhos de Natal (Christmas Doughnuts)
Portuguese Christmas doughnuts rolled in warm cinnamon sugar
Julebrød (Norwegian Christmas Bread with Raisins and Mixed Peel)
Norwegian Christmas bread with raisins, peel and cardamom
Ontbijtkoek (Dutch Spiced Breakfast Loaf)
Moist spiced loaf cake made with brown sugar and milk
Pflaumenkuchen (German Yeast Plum Cake)
German yeast plum cake topped with fresh plums and cinnamon sugar
Bûche de Noël (Yule Log Cake) with Chocolate Buttercream
Chocolate sponge roll filled and coated with chocolate buttercream
Torta Caprese (Flourless Chocolate and Almond Cake)
Flourless chocolate and almond cake with a fudgy centre
Yule Log (British Style)
Chocolate Swiss roll filled and coated with chocolate buttercream
Nordic Yule Log Cake (Chocolate Swiss Roll)
Cocoa Swiss roll filled with whipped cream and buttercream
Air Fryer Chocolate Cake
Small chocolate cake baked in the air fryer with icing.
Zuccotto (Florentine Dome Cake)
Florentine dome cake with cocoa sponge and ricotta filling
You might also like
Mixiotes de Pollo en Salsa Verde (Steamed Chicken Parcels in Salsa Verde)
Steamed chicken parcels in tangy salsa verde
Air Fryer Fish and Chips
Crispy breadcrumb fish with chunky air fryer chips.
Pear Oat Breakfast Smoothie
A filling pear and oat smoothie with yoghurt and cinnamon.
Côtelettes d’Agneau with Flageolet Beans (Lamb Cutlets and Beans)
Seared lamb cutlets served over flageolet beans with rosemary
Prawn Masala Curry
Prawns in a spiced onion and tomato masala sauce
Coconut Barfi (Indian Coconut Fudge Squares)
Coconut barfi squares made with condensed milk
Make this recipe easier next time
AdvertisementThese tools help you get better results with less effort.
KitchenAid Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls
- Non-slip base
- Stainless steel
- Not microwave safe
Pyrex Glass Mixing Bowls with Lids
- Microwave safe
- BPA-free lids
- Glass is heavier
OXO Good Grips Stainless Mixing Bowl Set
- Non-slip base
- Comfort grip
- Higher price
Enjoy cooking with JustRecipes?
Add JustRecipes as one of your preferred Google sources to discover our recipes more easily across Google Search.
Add JustRecipes to GoogleEvery recipe on JustRecipes follows the same structured editorial process. Learn how recipes are created, validated, translated, illustrated, and continuously improved across the platform. How we create recipes.
