French Macarons Recipe

Time for dessert! Snack on these decadent French Macarons, a summer picnic must.

Recipe courtesy of Chef Lisa Resch, Carolina Catering Co., Naples
Photography by Vanessa Rogers

French Macarons

  Macarons

• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 3/4 cup almond flour
• 2 large egg whites, room temperature
• Pinch of cream of tartar
• 1/4 cup superfine sugar

Method:

Piping the perfect macaroon takes a little practice. Treat it as you would a rosette, bringing the pastry tip to the side of the circle, rather than forming a peak, to finish.

   Pulse confectioners’ sugar and almond flour in a food processor until combined. Sift mixture twice.

   Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Whisk whites with a mixer on medium speed until foamy. Add cream of tartar, and whisk until soft peaks form. Reduce speed to low and add superfine sugar. Increase speed to high, and whisk until stiff peaks form, about 8 minutes. Sift flour mixture over whites, and fold until mixture is smooth and shiny.

   Transfer batter to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain round tip, and pipe 3/4-inch rounds 1 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets, dragging pastry tip to the side of rounds rather than forming peaks. Tap bottom of each sheet on work surface to release trapped air. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Bake 1 sheet at a time, rotating halfway through, until macarons are crisp and firm, about 10 minutes. After each batch, increase oven temperature to 375 degrees, heat for 5 minutes, then reduce to 325 degrees.

   Let macarons cool on sheets for 2 to 3 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. (If macarons stick, spray water underneath parchment on hot sheet. The steam will help release macarons.)

   Sandwich 2 same-size macarons with 1 teaspoon filling. Serve immediately, or stack between layers of parchment, wrap in plastic, and freeze for up to 3 months.

For variations:

• Vanilla: Add 1/4 tsp. vanilla paste and the seeds scraped from one vanilla pod to egg whites before beating.
• Blueberry: Add 2 tbsp. finely ground freeze dried blueberries to the almond meal sugar mixture, and add desired amount of blue food coloring to the egg whites before beating.
• Rose Water: Add 1 tsp. Rose Water and gel food coloring to the egg whites before beating.

Buttercream Filling

• 12 ounces (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 pound confectioners’ sugar, sifted
• 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Method:

Beat butter with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and creamy, about 2 minutes.

   Reduce speed to medium. Add sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, beating after each addition, about 5 minutes. (After every 2 additions, increase speed to high, and beat for 10 seconds, then reduce speed to medium-high). Add vanilla, and beat until buttercream is smooth. Use immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. (Bring to room temperature, and beat on low speed until smooth before using.)

   Use above gel colors and flavorings to match the macarons.

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