basic macaron recipe
Prep:1 hour
Cook:18 minutes
Total :1 hour 20 minutes
INGREDIENTS
·
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for
up to 2 days.
·
Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
·
▢100 g super fine almond flour Note 1
·
▢75 g powdered sugar/confectioners sugar Note
2
·
▢70 g egg whites, at room temperature (about
1/3 cup)
·
▢75 g fine granulated sugar Note 3
·
▢¼ teaspoon cream of tartar optional
(Note 4)
·
▢¼ teaspoon coarse kosher salt
·
▢Gel food coloring if desired
For buttercream filling:
·
▢2 large egg yolks
·
▢¼ cup (50g) sugar
·
▢3 ½ tablespoons milk
·
▢½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
·
▢1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Note: I test all my recipes with
both measurements for the most precise and accurate result!
INSTRUCTIONS
1. To make macaron shells, line 2 baking sheets with
parchment paper, or teflon sheet, or silicone mat. (TIP 1: For
even air circulation, flip the baking sheets upside down.)
2. To prepare dry ingredients, sift together almond flour and
powdered sugar twice. Note: If you have up to 2 tablespoons
of chunky dry ingredients left in the sifter, you don’t have to replace it.
Simply discard those chunky bits.
3. To make meringue, in a clean mixing bowl with a
whisk attachment, beat the egg whites on medium low speed until foamy. (I
set it to speed 2 or 4 on my KitchenAid stand mixer.)
4. When egg whites are foamy, add
cream of tartar and salt and continue to whisk.
5. Then slowly add sugar one
tablespoon at a time, while mixer is still running. Allow the sugar to dissolve
after each addition.
6. If you’re making colored shells,
add gel food coloring when the meringue reaches soft peaks.
7. Continue beating the egg whites
on the same medium low speed until hard peaks form. Visual cues: Meringue
should ball up inside the whisk, and when you lift the whisk, the meringue
should hold a pointy end and have sharp ribs. (See pictures above or watch
this meringue video for more information.)
8. To make batter, sift almond flour mixture into
the meringue. Using a silicone spatula, fold the dry ingredients into the
meringue until fully incorporated. Then continue to fold the batter until it’s
runny enough to draw a figure eight. To test, take a small
amount of batter and drop it into the bowl. If the small peaks dissolve into
the batter on its own in about 10 seconds, the batter is ready. If not, fold
couple more times and test again. Be careful not to over-fold the batter.
(TIP: Making french macarons is all about the technique.
This is one of the most crucial step. Let me try to describe the folding motion
as best as I can: run the spatula clockwise from the bottom, up around the
sides and cut the batter in half. If you’re beginner macaron-baker, I suggest
to count every fold. It takes roughly about 50 folds to reach the proper
consistency. After 50 folds, start testing the batter, and continue testing
after every couple folds.)
9. To pipe macaron shells, transfer the batter into a pastry
bag, fitted with a round tip. (I used this Wilton 2A tip.)
10. Hold the pastry bag at straight
90° angle and pipe about 1.5-inch rounds about an inch apart on prepared baking
sheets. (TIP 2: I made a perfect macaron template for you.
Simply pipe the batter to fill inner circle.)
11. Tap the baking sheets firmly on
the counter (or using your hand) a few times to get rid of any
air bubbles. You can also use a toothpick to burst some large air bubbles. This
step ensures smooth tops.
12. Let the macarons sit out on the
counter for at least 15-30 minutes, maybe up to couple hours, depending on
humidity. When you lightly touch the macarons and the batter does not stick to
your finger, then it’s ready to go into the oven.
13. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to
300°F (150°C). Note: I don’t use convection settings. I set
my oven to heat from top and bottom.
14. To bake, working one baking sheet at
a time, place one tray with macarons on the middle rack. (TIP: To
prevent browning, place an empty baking sheet on top rack to shield the heat.)
Bake for about 15-18 minutes. It’ll take longer for larger macarons. To test
for doneness, touch a macaron lightly and try to move it. If it slides and
wobbles, bake a minute or so longer. The cooked macarons should be firm to
touch and the base shouldn’t move. (TIP: It’s always better to
slightly over-bake macarons than under-bake them!)
15. Cool the macarons on the sheet
for 10-15 minutes, and then transfer onto a wire rack to cool completely.
16. To make the buttercream filling, in a medium bowl, beat the
egg yolks slightly with a whisk and add sugar. Continue to whisk until the
mixture is pale and sugar is mostly dissolved. Stir in the milk. Transfer
the egg yolk mixture into a small saucepan and heat over low heat, stirring
frequently. Continue to cook until it’s thick like pudding, about 5 minutes.
Transfer the mixture back to the bowl and bring it to room
temperature. Stir in the butter in three batches. Add vanilla extract
and continue to mix until smooth. Transfer the buttercream into a pastry bag
with round tip.
17. To assemble macarons, pair the macaron shells by size
and arrange them on a wire rack. Line them up so that bottom shells are
upside down.
18. Pipe a dollop of filling on
bottom shells. Place the top shell over the filling and press lightly so the
filling spreads till the edges.
19. Store the filled macarons in an
airtight container in the fridge for at least 24 hours to mature, which allows
the filling to soften and flavor the shells.
20. To serve, bring the macarons out about 30
minutes prior to serving.
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