Flamingo Musings

Cooking, Canning, Baking - It's All Kosher

Valentine Macarons


Love is in the air and it’s time to consider what delectable sweet treats to share with the ones we love. It’s also time for the monthly MacTweets challenge!

For those of you unfamiliar, Mac Tweets is made up of people all over the world mesmerized and obsessed with a little French cookie called the macaron. For February, the Mac Tweets theme is – and how could it not be – Valentine’s Day!

These simple little cookies can produce such frustration, that even the most accomplished baker approaches the oven with not a little trepidation when the timer goes off. I have tried all the famous recipes, and some not-so-famous ones. But, I have finally refined the basic recipe and technique to a point where I’m getting consistent results and feel comfortable sharing what I’m doing, with you:

RJ’s Basic Macaron Recipe

Ingredients:

1 rounded cup blanched, slivered almonds
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

3 egg whites
1/8 tsp. cream of tartar
2 Tbs + 1 tsp. granulated sugar

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 300º. Prepare 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.

Place the almonds and powdered sugar in the bowl of a food processor, and run until the nuts are superfine and combined with the sugar. Sift the mixture into a bowl and set aside.

In a larger glass or metal bowl, beat the egg whites until frothy. Sift in the cream of tartar and sugar, and continue beating until glossy, stiff peaks form.

Fold half of the nut/sugar mixture into the egg whites until nearly incorporated. Add the other half and continue to fold until the whites are completely incorporated, with no white streaks showing. The batter is the right consistency when a bit of batter dropped from a spoon onto a flat plate loses its peak in a few seconds. If the peak remains, give the batter two or three additional folds and test again.

Load the batter into a pastry bag with a large round tip and pipe into circles about 1-1/2″ in diameter onto the baking sheets, keeping them about 1-1/2″ or more apart. If decorating your macs, this is the time. For these Valentine Macs, I placed a 1/2″ heart-shaped cutter on top of the mac, and lightly sprinkled red sanding sugar inside till the surface was completely covered, then gently removed the cutter in a straight-up motion.

Leave the macarons out on the counter for at least 45 minutes to dry. You may have to let them sit longer in higher humidity. They’re ready to bake when they’ve formed a light skin over the top. Touch one lightly with your finger. If it feels dry and not sticky, you’re good to go.

Bake for 18 – 20 minutes. Allow to cool, remove from pans with offset spatula and fill if and how desired.

Filling continues to be my personal bugaboo. So I didn’t fill these. But they’re so light and crispy – yet chewy on the inside – that I decided to leave well enough alone.

For more Valentine’s Day cookie options, try these Linzer Torte Cookies, cut in heart shapes, or these Stained Glass Lemon Cookies, with heart cut-outs!

 

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Comments

  7. Gorgeous macs and excellent work on the heart design. I don't think I'll have the patience and the expertise to make that on macs. Someone really has to be special for me to go to that extent. hehe. 🙂

  8. WOW, if your recipe consistently produces macs like that – I must try! For a great while I was getting beautiful and consistent results with Helen's recipe, but the last 2 months, something's gone awry.That said, your red hearts are perfection on those gorgeous, smooth shells. I have utter mac envy. Amazingly beautiful!

  12. Holy Macaronnnnny … take a look at those gorgeous macarons! Wow, I love how you've mastered them, or should I say, tamed them. I have yet to see sucj pretty, perfct & beautiful Valentine macarons! Excellent stuff Renee.Thanks for joining us at Mactweets & for sharing your recipe. I'd love to grow feet like yours! {HUGS}

  13. Fanmactastic! You have my heart going pitter pat and I have now broken out in a sweat! These macs are incredibly gorgeous! MacPerfect Renee! And the red hearts on the white shells are stunning! You are the Valentine Queen!

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