It's best to cover the cake with marzipan first so you don't get crumbs in the icing. Royal icing is more likely than fondant to absorb colour from the cake, so if you don't want marzipan go for a thicker layer of icing to ensure any discolouration doesn't show through – and don't ice too far ahead.

How do you store a cake after marzipan?

The traditional coat of almond icing (marzipan) should be put on the cake a week before you want to ice it, to allow its oiliness to dry out. Cover the marzipan surface with a clean tea cloth and store out of the tin or container. Icing is best left to the last few days – in my case often until Christmas Eve.

Why must marzipan be kept wrapped in plastic?

Like sugarpaste, marzipan will start to harden when it is exposed to the air so keep any unused marzipan tightly wrapped in plastic food bags. It does not need to be kept in the fridge. ... The two can react together to create mould and cracking in the marzipan.