Description
Learn how to make perfect French Almond Macarons with this detailed recipe.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 large egg whites, at room temperature
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Food coloring (optional)
- For the filling:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1–2 tablespoons heavy cream (adjust for consistency)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, sift together the powdered sugar and almond flour. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer on medium speed until frothy. Add the cream of tartar and continue beating until soft peaks form.
- Gradually add the granulated sugar while continuing to beat until stiff peaks form and the mixture is glossy. If using, add food coloring until the desired shade is achieved.
- Gently fold the almond flour mixture into the egg whites in three additions. Be careful not to overmix; the batter should flow like lava and form a ribbon when lifted.
- Transfer the batter to a piping bag fitted with a round tip. Pipe 1.5-inch circles onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving space between each. Tap the baking sheets on the counter to release any air bubbles.
- Let the piped macarons sit at room temperature for 30-60 minutes until a skin forms on the surface.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, rotating the sheets halfway through. The macarons should have risen and formed feet.
- Allow the macarons to cool completely on the baking sheets before removing them.
- For the filling, beat the softened butter until creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and heavy cream until smooth and spreadable.
- Pair the macarons by size and pipe or spread the filling onto the flat side of one macaron, then sandwich it with another.
Notes
- For best results, use aged egg whites for better stability.
- You can customize the filling by adding different extracts or flavorings, such as almond or lemon, or even using fruit preserves for a fruity twist.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 macaron
- Calories: 100
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 0mg