German Marzipan Potatoes (Marzipankartoffeln)

by: Sylvie Fulson  /  Oma Gerhild's daughter-in-law and plant-based cook

German marzipan potatoes (marzipankartoffeln) are a VERY popular Christmas treat that also happen to be naturally vegan. They are delicious little candies shaped and dusted to resemble very small potatoes, thus the name!

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German marzipan potatoes (Marzipankartoffeln) are an easy traditional Christmas treat made with marzipan and coated in cocoa.

These no-bake German Christmas treats are so quick and easy to make that you can easily enjoy them anytime of the year.

Top Tips for Best Results

• Use homemade marzipan: Since homemade usually always tastes better than store-bought, use my easy marzipan recipe as the base for these German marzipan potatoes.
• Make sure to sift the powdered sugar: It’s important to sift the powdered sugar to avoid lumps and ensure a nice smooth dough.
• Add just a little water at a time: If the dough is crumbly and not coming together, make sure you add water just a little at a time. Too much water and the dough will be too sticky. If this happens, add in a little almond flour or powdered sugar. The dough should be nice and smooth, not crumbly or sticky.
• Serve at room temperature: Serve homemade marzipankartoffeln at room temperature for optimal flavor and texture.

Oma Says

Homemade marzipankartoffeln make such a lovely little Christmas gift. They’re easy to make, but tucked into a pretty jar with a ribbon, they look like something extra special.

They’re also a nice gift to have ready for a neighbor or friend during the holidays. Just fill a small jar with these little “potatoes,” dress it up for Christmas, and you have a delicious homemade treat to share.

And, of course, be sure to make enough to keep some at home. These have a way of disappearing quickly!

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How to Make German Marzipan Potatoes

(Find the printable recipe with measurements in the recipe card below.)

To make this delicious German holiday candy, you will need homemade  or store-bought marzipan, powdered sugar, water, and cocoa powder.

Start by placing the marzipan in bowl.

Then sift in the powdered sugar.

Knead the marzipan and sugar together…

...until it comes together in a smooth ball.

Put a bit of cocoa powder in another bowl.

Pinch off a small portion of dough and roll it into a small ball (it doesn’t have to be perfectly round) and add it to the bowl. Repeat this process with the remaining dough.

Place a plate or lid (if the bowl comes with one) over the bowl and give it a good shake to evenly coat the balls with the cocoa powder. If needed, place the German marzipan potatoes in a sieve and gently shake to remove any excess cocoa powder.

Enjoy immediately with a cup of coffee or tea, or place in the fridge or freezer for later use.

Storage Tips

• Room Temperature: You can keep marzipankartoffeln in an airtight container at room temperature for several days, if your kitchen is not too warm.

• Fridge: For longer storage, keep them in the refrigerator in an airtight container for several weeks.

• Freezer: For even longer storage, keep them in the freezer for several months. First freeze them on a baking sheet in a single layer, then transfer them to a freezer bag or airtight container.

Substitutions and Variations

There are no substitutions for traditional German Marzipan Potatoes, but for something a little different, you could always roll the balls in powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, or coconut sugar. Another option is to cover them in a chocolate glaze. Yum! 

For a fun twist, you can add some rum or vanilla extract, orange zest, or cinnamon along with the powdered sugar.

Other Traditional German Christmas Treats

Check out these other holiday treats for a traditional German Christmas:

• Vanillekipferl (Vanilla Crescent Cookies)
• Lebkuchen (Gingerbread Bars)
• Bethmännchen Cookies (Marzipan Cookies)
• Nussecken (German Nut Corners)
• Quarkstollen with Marzipan

Print Recipe

German Marzipan Potatoes (Marzipankartoffeln)

This traditional German Christmas candy is super easy and quick to make, which makes them a perfect addition to your holiday platters.

Prep Time:

10 minutes

Total Time:

10 minutes

Servings:

25 pieces

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 homemade marzipan recipe or 7.5 oz (214 g) store-bought marzipan
• ¾ cup (93 g) powdered sugar, sifted
• water, as needed
  
• 1 tbsp (7.5 g) cocoa powder

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Place the marzipan in a bowl.
2. Sift in the powdered sugar.
3. Knead the marzipan and sugar together until it comes together in a nice smooth ball. If the dough is not coming together, add some water – just a little at a time – until you get the right consistency. It should not be crumbly or sticky.
4. Put the cocoa powder into another bowl.
5. Pinch off a small piece of dough and roll it into a ball. It should measure roughly ¾ inch in diameter. Add it to the bowl with the cocoa powder. Repeat with the remaining dough.
6. Place a lid or plate over the bowl and give the bowl a good shake until all the balls are evenly coated with the cocoa powder.
7. Place a few marzipan balls at a time in a sieve and gently shake to remove any excess cocoa powder.
8. Store in an airtight container at room temperature or in the fridge, or enjoy immediately.

*  *  *  *  *

Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

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Hi, I'm Oma Gerhild! As a food writer and cookbook author, I'm always looking to find ways to pass on my German heritage using local ingredients. Quick and easy. That's my goal. Wunderbar food. That's the result.