Mini Marzipan Carrots Recipes

Steps:

• Tint marzipan with orange and red food coloring, a drop at a time, to reach desired color. Divide into 12 pieces. (Cover with plastic wrap when not using.) Shape each piece into a ball, then roll into logs, tapering 1 end, to resemble carrots.
• Dip a paring knife into cocoa powder. Make tiny indentations in each carrot with cocoa-dusted knife to evoke the vegetable's texture. Carrots will keep, covered, for up to 1 week. Push fronds into top of each carrot before serving.

Steps:

• Roll out the marzipan until 3/4 inch thick, using confectioners' sugar to dust the work surface and rolling pin to avoid sticking. Cut into rectangles, about 1 1/2 by 3 inches each, or cut into other shapes.
• Meanwhile, melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler or in the microwave until smooth. Set a rack on a sheet of parchment paper or on a baking sheet. Using two forks, dip each piece of marzipan in the chocolate to cover completely. Transfer to the rack and decorate with pistachios and dried rose petals. Allow to set until firm, about 30 minutes.
• In a food processor, blend the nuts until they're finely ground and just starting to clump together (but don't over-blend them or you'll end up with nut butter). Add the confectioners' sugar, extract, rosewater (if using) and salt; pulse to combine.
• With the motor running, drizzle in the corn syrup and blend to form a dough. It may still look crumbly in the food processor, but if you squeeze it in your hand, it should stick together. (You may find that you don't need all of the corn syrup.) Form the marzipan into a ball or log and wrap it tightly in plastic wrap until ready to use. Store in the refrigerator.

Steps:

• Divide orange marzipan into 24 pieces. Using your hands, roll each piece into a carrot shape. Using a paring knife, make crosswise grooves in each carrot.
• On a work surface lightly dusted with confectioners' sugar, roll out green marzipan to 1/4 inch thick. Using a small leaf-shape cookie cutter, cut out 24 leaves. On one side of each leaf, make 1/8-inch-long slices with a paring knife, and gently fan to create a fernlike effect.
• Using a toothpick, make a tiny hole (about 1/4 inch deep) in the top of each carrot. Gently push stem end of each leaf into a carrot with toothpick. Carrots can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container between layers of parchment paper up to 2 weeks.