Recipe

Spring Macaron

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Recipe
2 Questions

Photo by StrangeLove

This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Almond Macaroons
A&M's Testing Notes: The cookie is perfectly formed -- smooth, footed, with a crisp-chewy texture -- and quite sweet. The raspberry-cream cheese filling is very sweet too but the little girl in me wanted to keep...
The cookie is perfectly formed -- smooth, footed, with a crisp-chewy texture -- and quite sweet. The raspberry-cream cheese filling is very sweet too but the little girl in me wanted to keep licking the spoon anyway. Velvet Macaron doesn't say when to add the fresh raspberries so I just threw them in with the butter and cream cheese, which worked fine. This recipe makes a good deal more filling than you need -- freeze it for another use or just make a much smaller batch. This is not a subtle, grown-up cookie, but kids (or the kids in all of us) will go crazy for it. - Kristen

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Chef
StrangeLove's Notes:
I have devoted an entire year to perfecting the macaron. I am about half way through. Each week a little bit better than the last. This is my idea of the most perfect spring macaron.

Serves 20 (1 1/2inch macarons)

Lemon Macaron:

65 grams Egg whites Ask a question about this ingredient

115 grams Powdered Sugar Ask a question about this ingredient

65 grams almond flour Ask a question about this ingredient

40 grams sugar Ask a question about this ingredient

1/4 teaspoon lemon extract Ask a question about this ingredient

1 pinch salt Ask a question about this ingredient

1 pinch cream of tartar Ask a question about this ingredient

yellow food paste color Ask a question about this ingredient

Leave egg whites on counter covered with plastic wrap for 24 hours. Aging them helps the process. Preheat oven to 325. Line two baking sheet with parchment paper. I like to trace 1 1/2 inch circles on paper. Prior to whipping egg whites, prepare your almond flour and powdered sugar. I always use a scale to weigh ingredients. In a food processor, blend almond flour and powdered sugar. Sift into a large bowl. If there are any large almond flour pieces, I grind in a espresso/ nut grinder. The finer the better. Whisk one more time, set aside.
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Place egg whites in stainless steel bowl. Beat with mixer till foamy. I like to use a hand mixer for macaron making, it gives me more control. Add cream of tartar and salt. Beat to soft peaks. Add sugar slowly,add lemon and dye. Beat just before stiff peak, yet still wet. Overwhipping will leave you with an oily-looking macaron.
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Fold 1/3 of the almond flour mixture into the egg white mixture. Stir rather briskly, fold from the bottom and push mixture on the inside of the bowl. This takes a little air out of white. Fold 1/3 until incorporated, and then fold the last 1/3. Mixture should be slightly runny.
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Pipe circles on parchment paper. Let macaron circles sit out at room temp for about 30 minutes or until they no longer stick to the finger when touched. Bake for about 12 to 15 minutes. If macaron barely wiggles when touched, it is done. Leave on parchment until completely cooled. Gently peel off. They will be very delicate and breakable.
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Raspberry Cream Cheese Buttercream:

15 raspberries Ask a question about this ingredient

4 ounces softened cream cheese Ask a question about this ingredient

4 ounces softened butter Ask a question about this ingredient

3 to 4 cups powdered sugar Ask a question about this ingredient

3 tablespoons milk Ask a question about this ingredient

1 tablespoon vanilla extract Ask a question about this ingredient

Cream butter and cream cheese together. Add milk, vanilla and 2 cups of powdered sugar. Beat to combine. Add 1 more cup of powdered sugar. If it is too thin, add more powdered sugar. I like mine a bit thicker for macarons. Chill for about 2 hours.
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When time to assemble the macarons. Pipe about a tablespoon of buttercream onto bottom of macaron. Find a top and very very lightly squeeze together.
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13 Comments on Spring Macaron

belen added about 1 year ago

those are a must make! gorgeous!

Jennifer Ann added over 2 years ago

So beautiful! They remind me of Paris. Thanks for posting such a wonderful and easy to follow recipe.

Annelle added over 2 years ago

I have always wanted to try to make macarons--now I think I've found the perfect tutorial! Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe!

monkeymom added over 2 years ago

these are perfection. What brand of almond flour do you use and where can you find it?

StrangeLove added over 2 years ago

Thank you so much. I use Bob's Red Mill. I just process and grind it several times to make it almost powder.

monkeymom added over 2 years ago

Thanks, and thanks for sharing your recipe as well. I checked out your blog and it is impressive! What is your favorite flavor so far?

StrangeLove added over 2 years ago

It is so hard to chose a favorite mac, but i loved the raspberry with the champagnes mousse filling. the filling was really fun to make and they were so pretty

ChezSuzanne added over 2 years ago

Wow! Absolutely stunning job. And you capture tips I've read about on how to have the best success with macarons like using egg whites allowed to *age*. If I was going to cheat with my nut allergies, it would be with this recipe!