topic Re: Never made French Macarons, have you made them? in Recipes

Never made French Macarons, have you made them?

Barbarainnc — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 14:11:57 GMT

It amazes me when little kids on baking shows can make French Macarons. I have never tried, but if they can, I can. Searched for recipes online. Your favorite recipe?

What is the best almond flour to buy?

Silpat mat or Parchment paper and printed off circle template.

What size of piping tip?

Any other recipes, sites or tips to share.

Re: Never made French Macarons, have you made them?

Lucky Duck — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 16:14:28 GMT

I have never tried a French Macaron. A gal that I used to work with went to France and fell in love with them. She has been experimenting with recipes and posted pictures on Facebook. They look delicious! Good luck finding the right recipe!!!!

Re: Never made French Macarons, have you made them?

deepwaterdotter — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 17:05:53 GMT

This recipes comes from a friend. I have never made them, but her's are very tasty:

7 oz almond paste

3 egg whites

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/4 cup flour

Mix paste and egg whites in food processor until smooth. Mix in sugar and flour until thickened and smooth. Place in pastry bag with plain tip and refrigerate for 1/2 hour to firm up.

Pipe 2-3" rounds on parchment-lined baking sheet and sprinkle with sugar. Bake in 325 degree oven 25 minutes until barely golden in color. Place parchment on lightly damp large kitchen towel for 5 minutes for easy removal. Remove from parchment to wire rack to completely cool.

Re: Never made French Macarons, have you made them?

loriqvc — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 19:13:20 GMT

@Barbarainnc - My first attempt was with a recipe from Cook's Illustrated (America's Test Kitchen); it involves grinding your own almond flour, which is really simple, as is the rest of the recipe. I will look up the details and post them when I get home tonight.

Re: Never made French Macarons, have you made them?

novamc1 — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 19:33:41 GMT

This traditional French cookie seems to have recently become very popular........or perhaps I have been blind to them before now. Seem to see them everywhere lately.

Noticed that Costco was selling them from a refrigerated case yesterday.

Re: Never made French Macarons, have you made them?

Hoovermom — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 21:18:02 GMT

They are really delicious....made in Paris. These kids are amazing with their culinary skills. No, I have not made them nor would I attempt to do so.

Re: Never made French Macarons, have you made them?

Sammijo10 — Fri, 19 Apr 2019 14:39:23 GMT

Wow,@deepwater, that recipe is different than any other French Macaron recipe I've ever seen or used! Are you thinking of maybe just plain macaroons?

I've never used almond paste, or wheat flour and the sugar is always cofectioners (icing) sugar.

Barbarainnc, here's my best tip - after piping, they need to sit at room temp for at least a half hour to develop a firm top. That's how you get the 'feet' on the bottom.

Also don't try to make them on a rainy or humid day - they just won't dry out enough to make the feet.

I have good luck with Bob's Red Mill almond flour. Or you can whiz up some blanched almonds in your food processor until very fine, but don't go too far or you'll have almond butter!

Watch a couple You tube videos on the process so you are clear before you start. They can be finicky, but in my experience, the sitting out at room temp beore baking is the key. Good luck!

Re: Never made French Macarons, have you made them?

deepwaterdotter — Fri, 19 Apr 2019 14:49:20 GMT

@Sammijo10 I don't know if the recipe I posted is for true "French Macarons". She titled the recipe "Macaroons", so these may just be her version of the cookie.

Re: Never made French Macarons, have you made them?

loriqvc — Sat, 20 Apr 2019 17:13:48 GMT

Sorry I haven't had a chance to post the recipe yet—I promise it is on my "to do" list for tomorrow, so watch for it then. Keeping this topic on my mind is making me want to use the recipe, too...

ETA: I just searched my computer for this recipe and can't find it anywhere! I'll keep looking, but if anyone has a Cook's Illustrated subscription (mine has lapsed), perhaps you could post the recipe from the website; I believe it is called "Almond Macarons."

Re: Never made French Macarons, have you made them?

SXMGirl — Sat, 20 Apr 2019 17:12:28 GMT

I just picked up a pack from Costco with $4 off. The selection in the box is good, but they are a little too sweet for me. I don't remember ever having them in France.

Re: Never made French Macarons, have you made them?

sally in philly — Sat, 20 Apr 2019 21:07:26 GMT

No tips -but I did make them once with my granddaughter after we came back from our trip to France. It was fun doing them with her but it was more difficult then I thought it would be .

I do love them. Buy them every time I can find them.

Re: Never made French Macarons, have you made them?

sfnative — Thu, 25 Apr 2019 21:37:56 GMT

Tips:

The eggs whites should not be beaten in with other ingredients, but rather folded in to provide some loft or lightness to the batter.

Prior to piping, prepare each flat (no groves) cookie sheet with parchment paper. On the paper, draw circles the size of the desired size of the macaron, then flip the parchment over. You'll still be able to see the circles.

When piping, use a "plain" medium tip. Do not start piping on the line, but way inside the line.

Follow around, quickly progressing to the center, holding the tip close to the surface of the macaron.

When at the center, rather than just stopping, move the tip quickly around in the teeniest of circles right in the center and in a counter clockwise motion, almost 360 degrees, then pull up abruptly. There will be a little tail protruding up. Some choose to leave it there. Others will very slightly moisten one finger and press it down lightly.

As others have said, your macarons, pronounced "mak-ah-roh," (soft "a" in the "mak") which is also the plural, need to sit at room temp about 30 minutes in order to develop a slight "skin." After 30 minutes, test 1 or 2 of your macaron by slightly touching with an index finger. If you're unable to detect a "skin," then leave them out for another 10 minutes.

Happy Baking!

Re: Never made French Macarons, have you made them?

Mothertrucker — Mon, 06 May 2019 18:16:15 GMT

Macaron and Macaroon are not the same thing

Re: Never made French Macarons, have you made them?

lovesrecess — Mon, 06 May 2019 18:37:01 GMT

just don't use a Silpat; I now use only parchment paper; I threw away my Silpat; was impossible to keep clean

Re: Never made French Macarons, have you made them?

Mothertrucker — Mon, 06 May 2019 23:27:53 GMT

@lovesrecess wrote:
just don't use a Silpat; I now use only parchment paper; I threw away my Silpat; was impossible to keep clean

Interesting- While mine never really gets very dirty, Its never going to look brand new. I guess I dont worry about it too much...