Marcipanhjerter Marzipan Hearts

Elevate your holiday baking game this season with the delightful and traditional Danish treat – Marcipanhjerter, also known as Marzipan Hearts. These sweet and buttery almond marzipan treats are a beloved Christmas baking staple in Denmark, perfect for gifting or adding a touch of Nordic charm to your festive spread. Whether enjoying them with a cup of hot cocoa by the fireside or creating an edible gift for a loved one, these Marzipan Hearts are sure to bring a touch of warmth and sweetness to your holiday season.

**Ingredients:**
– 250g almond paste
– 100g powdered sugar
– 1 egg white
– Red food coloring
– Granulated sugar, for dusting

**Instructions:**

1. **Prepare the Almond Dough:**
– Start by grating the almond paste into a mixing bowl. Add the powdered sugar to the grated almond paste.
– Use clean hands to knead the almond paste and sugar together until you achieve a smooth and uniform dough. If the dough feels too dry, you can add a few drops of water to help bind it together.

2. **Color the Dough:**
– Divide the almond dough in half.
– Add a few drops of red food coloring to one half of the dough. Knead the dough until the color is evenly distributed, adding more coloring as needed to achieve your desired shade of red. Leave the other half of the dough plain.

3. **Shape the Hearts:**
– Roll out each portion of dough into a 1/4-inch thick sheet on a clean surface dusted with powdered sugar to prevent sticking.
– Use heart-shaped cookie cutters to cut out heart shapes from each colored dough sheet. Place the hearts on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

4. **Assemble the Marzipan Hearts:**
– Place a plain heart-shaped marzipan cutout on top of a red heart-shaped marzipan cutout to create a layered effect.
– Use your fingers to gently press the two layers together to form a stacked heart shape.
– Repeat this process with the remaining dough until you have formed all the Marzipan Hearts.

5. **Finish and Decorate:**
– Lightly beat the egg white in a small bowl.
– Brush the surface of each Marzipan Heart with the beaten egg white using a pastry brush.
– Sprinkle granulated sugar over the top of each heart to add a sparkling finish.

6. **Bake the Marzipan Hearts:**
– Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
– Place the baking sheet with the Marzipan Hearts in the oven and bake for about 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly golden.

7. **Cool and Enjoy:**
– Once baked, remove the Marzipan Hearts from the oven and let them cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes.
– Transfer the Marzipan Hearts to a wire rack to cool completely before serving or wrapping them as gifts.

Indulge in the rich, nutty flavor of these Marzipan Hearts as you savor the magic of the holiday season. These delightful treats are not only delicious but also make lovely decorations for your festive table or thoughtful presents for friends and family. Enjoy creating and sharing the warmth of Danish tradition this Christmas with these charming Marzipan Hearts!