Dawn Foods targets bakery innovation with marzipan and nut-free alternative

Dawn Foods UK & Ireland has announced a significant expansion of its ingredients portfolio with the launch of a premium marzipan range and a highly functional, nut-free kernel paste.

The launch is designed to provide industrial and craft bakers with vertically integrated solutions that offer both high almond integrity and allergen-sensitive versatility.

By managing the entire production process — from the initial blanching of almonds to the final paste — Dawn Foods is positioning itself as one of the few global manufacturers to offer “pick of the crop” consistency and a transparent supply chain for the confectionery sector.

The new range is split into two distinct tiers to meet specific functional requirements in the bakery:

• Dawn marzipan 58%: a high-concentrate, intense-flavour product with a dense texture. Engineered specifically for baking and fillings, its high almond content ensures the flavour remains robust under high temperatures.
• Dawn marzipan 29%: a traditional, ready-to-use formulation designed for moulding, covering, and cake decoration. This tier offers the pliability required for intricate finishing while still allowing manufacturers to make “contains almond” claims.

The products utilise a blend of Californian and Spanish almonds. Critically for the clean-label market, the range is free from added colours, flavours, and preservatives, and is naturally vegan.

Addressing the growing demand for nut-free alternatives that do not sacrifice traditional flavour profiles, Dawn has introduced its Confectionery Kernel Paste.

Crafted from a blend of apricot kernels and white beans, this paste replicates the sweet, almond-like organoleptic properties and functional texture of traditional marzipan. This provides a cost-effective solution for manufacturers looking to produce marzipan-style fillings, coverings, and modelled figures in nut-free environments. Like the core range, the kernel paste is vegan-friendly and clean-label.

To support the launch, Dawn’s technical team has developed a suite of recipes designed to push marzipan beyond its traditional seasonal associations. The “rethink” applications include:

• Flavoured marzipan-filled cookies: utilising the 58% concentrate for a gooey, indulgent centre.
• Frangipane Forest Fruits Clafoutis: demonstrating the product’s stability in wet, fruit-heavy batters.
• Lemon or Passionfruit Amaretti Cookies: showcasing how the pastes can be aerated and flavoured for modern biscuit production.

“Managing the process from blanching to production ensures premium quality and consistency,” a Dawn Foods spokesperson stated. “By using only freshly blanched almonds, we ensure the natural oils and flavours are preserved for the end-user.”