French Macarons are by far my most favorite and dainty cookies. They are sophisticated, light and amazing little treats that you can serve for special occasions especially the holidays!
The recipe I’m sharing here is from Martha Stewart’s however, I deviated a little from the original recipe. Believe me when I tell you that I have baked thousands of these cookies and I learned a few things along the way from experience:
1- I let the macarons sit a bit after piping on a baking sheet so they’ll form a skin on top. This will allow the cookie to have “feet” and to puff up in the oven.
2- I preheated the oven to 350 degrees F then lowered the temperature to 320 degrees F before baking the macarons for 17-18 minutes. Keep in mind that oven temps vary, so be careful.
3- I did not rotate the cookie sheets while baking, nor did I open the oven. The result was outstanding.
4- Make sure you don’t add the extract nor the flavoring until your egg whites get stiff otherwise they’ll deflate.
5- I always bake double recipe so I will have enough to go around because everyone loves them!
Good luck!!!
Ingredients:
- 2/3 cup sliced blanched almonds (71 grams)
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar (117 grams)
- 2 large egg whites, room temperature
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (53 grams)
- 1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 2 drops leaf-green gel-paste food coloring
- Bittersweet chocolate, for grating
Filling:
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 1/2 ounces finely chopped bittersweet chocolate
- 1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter
Mehod:
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees with rack in lower third. Place almonds in a food processor; process until as fine as possible, about 1 minute. Add confectioners’ sugar; process until combined, about 1 minute.
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Pass almond mixture through a fine-mesh sieve. Transfer solids in sieve to food processor; grind and sift again, pressing down on clumps. Repeat until less than 2 tablespoons of solids remains in sieve.
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Whisk egg whites and granulated sugar by hand to combine. Beat on medium speed (4 on a KitchenAid) 2 minutes. Increase speed to medium-high (6) and beat 2 minutes. Then beat on high (8) 2 minutes more.
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The beaten egg whites will hold stiff, glossy peaks when you lift the whisk out of the bowl. Add peppermint extract and food coloring, and beat on highest speed 30 seconds.
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Add dry ingredients all at once. Fold with a spatula from bottom of bowl upward, then press flat side of spatula firmly through middle of mixture. Repeat just until batter flows like lava, 35 to 40 complete strokes.
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Rest a pastry bag fitted with a 3/8-inch round tip (Ateco #804) inside a glass. Transfer batter to bag; secure top. Dab some batter remaining in bowl onto corners of 2 heavy baking sheets; line with parchment.
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With piping tip 1/2 inch above sheet, pipe batter into a 3/4-inch round, then swirl tip off to one side. Repeat, spacing rounds 1 inch apart. Tap sheets firmly against counter 2 or 3 times to release air bubbles.
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Finely grate bittersweet chocolate over half of unbaked rounds.
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Filling: Heat heavy cream in a saucepan until bubbles begin to form. Add bittersweet chocolate and butter; stir to combine. Let cool until thick and spreadable.
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Bake 1 sheet at a time, rotating halfway through, until risen and just set, 13 minutes. Let cool. Pipe or spread filling on flat sides of half of cookies; top with remaining half. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate.
Linda
Waw!
won’t forget its taste!
maj
Linda,
Appreciate your comment and I hope you will give this recipe a try and keep me posted.