French Macarons

Ingredients

Cookie

3 large eggs room temperature, egg whites only
1 1/2 cups almond flour, finely sifted
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
gel food coloring, optional

Buttercream Filling

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
5 egg yolks
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons water
1 pinch salt
gel food coloring, optional

Instructions

Cookie

Sift the confectioners sugar and almond flour into a bowl.
Add the room temperature egg whites into a clean bowl.
Using an electric mixer, whisk egg whites. Once they begin to foam add the cream of tartar and then SLOWLY add the granulated sugar.
Add food coloring if desired, and vanilla then mix in. Continue to beat until stiff peaks form.
Begin folding in 1/3 of the dry ingredients. Be careful to add the remaining dry ingredients and fold gently.
The final mixture should look like flowing lava, and be able to fall into a figure eight without breaking. Spoon into a piping bag with a medium round piping tip and you’re ready to start piping.
Pipe one inch dollops onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (this should be glued down with dabs of batter). Tap on counter several times to release air bubbles. Allow to sit for about 40 minutes before placing in oven.
Bake at 300 degrees for 12-15 minutes, rotate tray after 7 minutes. Allow to cool completely before removing from baking sheet.

Buttercream Filling

Combine sugar and water in medium saucepan. Heat over low heat while stirring until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil.
Put egg yolks in a stand-mixer fitted with a whisk attachment and beat until thick and foamy.
Cook the sugar and water syrup until it reaches 240 degrees. Immediately remove from heat. With mixer running, SLOWLY drizzle hot syrup into bowl with yolks.
Continue mixing until the bottom of the bowl is cool to the touch and the yolk mixture has cooled to room temperature.
Add in butter one cube at a time allowing each piece to incorporate before adding the next. Add vanilla and salt. Continue mixing until buttercream is smooth and creamy. (About 5-6 minutes.) Add food coloring if desired.

Assembly

Pipe your filling onto the back of half the shells. Form a sandwich and repeat. Macarons should be aged in the fridge for 1-2 days for best results. This allows the filling to soften the shells inside.

Comments

Just WOW. Rowell found this recipe and they are melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Try adding various flavorings for a fun twist.


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