PISTACHIO MARZIPAN CHRISTMAS TREES

Pistachio Marzipan Christmas Trees

Well there really is no need to keep mentioning it I fear…but if you like, bury your head in the sand and pretend it isn’t upon us again. Hopefully these may inspire you to get cracking and get your Christmas on! I love Christmas and I decorate like a mad woman, but this year I have a lounge full of brand, shiny, new, Kleenmaid appliances in boxes waiting for an install (scheduled) and so I am waiting to put the decorations up until that has happened….but in the meantime, my kitchen is taking on the role of Christmas prep quite nicely, and all, so that you amazing reader, can be organised your end! Now go and order a Dinner Spinner for all your Thermomix owning friends and family, attach a link to my site on a cute little card and you have Christmas REALLY sorted!

NEED:

250g sugar

130g blanched almonds

130g pistachios, shelled

½ tsp orange blossom water

½ tsp almond essence

1 tsp Heilala vanilla bean paste

20g cornflour

1 egg white

Granulated sugar crystals to roll

Small sugar stars or daisies as used in cake decorating

A large piping tip as a mold is useful

DO:

Place sugar into Thermomix bowl and mill 10 sec/speed 10.

Add almonds and pistachios and mill 20 sec/speed 7.

Add orange blossom water, almond essence, vanilla, cornflour and egg white and blend 40 sec/speed 5.

Refrigerate until marzipan is not oily and can be worked with easily, around 30 minutes.

Either push into the piping tip to make each ‘tree’ or form by hand. Roll in sugar. Use a little egg white to ‘glue’ the star to the top of the tree. Allow them to air dry. (NOTE: I did try to bake these and they collapsed. So I have concluded that raw is better! Certainly cuter!)

These will keep several weeks in an airtight container…in fact, what are you waiting for? Get cracking, Christmas is only a month away!