By Libbie Summers
Photography by Chia Chong

Did you know it’s customary in Germany, Norway and Denmark to give the gift of a marzipan pig to bestow good luck and fortune on someone? I took that notion and ran with it and how stinkin’ cute are these marzipan pigs?!!
To make them less German and Scandinavian and more French and American, I add a little black beret and always share them in 3’s –Massepain Trois Petits Cochons (Marzipan Three Little Pigs). Below is a step by step on how to mold them so you can also spread a little sugary good luck!

Massepain Trois Petits Cochons 
(marzipan three little pigs)
makes 3 pigs, but sugary hog size enough to feed 6

Ingredients:
1 (7 ounce) tube Odense marzipan
1 pair latex gloves (optional)
Pink food coloring (gel)
Black food coloring (gel)
Clay molding tools (a toothpick or bamboo skewer works great too)
6 blue (2mm) dragées (for pig’s eyes)

STEP ONE:

Pinch off a small piece of marzipan (about the size of a gum ball) and set it aside (this is to make the berets). Wear gloves if you mind getting your hands stained. Work the large pieces of marzipan into a ball, kneading it to soften. Using your finger, make a well in the middle and add 1 drop of pink food coloring gel. Start with just a small drop; you can always add more. Work the color into the marzipan by kneading the marzipan back and forth between your hands. Set aside. Now, working with the small ball of marzipan, add a drop of black food coloring gel and work the coloring in the same way. Set aside.

STEP TWO:

Pinch off a 2-inch ball from the pink colored marzipan and set aside for the feet, ears and tail of each pig. Divide the remaining pink marzipan into 3 equal pieces and mold each into the shape of a jug. These will become each pig’s snout and body.

STEP THREE:

Using a clay molding tool, press two holes in each pig’s snout to make his nostrils.

STEP FOUR:

Pinch off four small balls from the leftover pink marzipan and press them into the underside of one pig’s body for his feet. Use the tip of a bamboo skewer to make a notch in the front two feet. Repeat on the other two pigs.

STEP FIVE:

Pinch off two pea-size pieces from the leftover pink marzipan. Press each piece into a small circle and pinch each end together to make the ears. Press these ears into the top of the pig’s head. Repeat on the other two pigs.

STEP SIX:

Pinch off a very small piece of the leftover pink marzipan and roll it into a tail. Coil the tail and press it into the butt of the pig to attach. Repeat on the other two pigs.

STEP SEVEN:

Press two blue dragées into one pig’s face for eyes. Repeat on the other two pigs.

STEP EIGHT:

Divide the black marzipan into three pieces and mold three small French berets by shaping a flat disk around the tip of your forefinger. Place the berets between the ears on all three pigs.

Massepain Trois Petits Cochons! Share your pigs with friends. The sweet creamy marzipan in one pig alone is enough to satisfy the sweet tooth of two . . . or three . . . or even four people. May you all be happy, healthy, and prosperous in 2016.
For More Good Fortune in 2016 follow my Lucky 2016 Pinterest Board!
Follow Libbie’s board Lucky 2016 on Pinterest.