French Macarons

 

French cookies

 

 

We did it!

We made those pesky French macarons with French buttercream. We made them four times in a row.

Trying to perfect it takes time and patience.

The first batch was not perfect, but they tasted just fine.

The second batch was fantastic in every way; They had the foot, the shine, the smooth top, and the melt-in-your-mouth wonder.

We were proud of ourselves, so we attempted make them a third time, we were that cocky.

We were singing, "We are the champions…"

But, the third batch did not produce the look we wanted.

They had the foot/ruffled bottom, but the taste of almond was too pronounced, and the top was bumpy and not smooth.

So we did them a fourth time.

We were determined to create perfection like the first time.

We used the same ingredients; nothing changed, not the weather, the age of the eggs, the oven heat, the bowl we used…

Except our cookies never came out the same twice.

The fourth batch flopped, completely flopped; the filling was good. They turned out to be a flat cookie with a filling. It's edible but not a macaron.

Have you ever made French Macarons?

There are 100s of little tricks, and we did many of them but never had the same result twice.

 

 



Comments

12 responses to “French Macarons”

  1. Wow…those look so professional! Just beautiful.

  2. I am wondering if the weather is a factor. Have seen some recipes for bread etc. where they say to not make if it is rainy or cold outside. That could be cause of varying macaron success. The ones in the photo look magnifique

  3. We’ve had macarons in France — too sweet for our taste, though.
    Agree with Kippy re humidity possibly being a factor.
    Also, did you keep notes re each batch as you made them, so you can identify the reason(s) the second batch was so successful? Farmboy Husband, being a trained biochemist, does that with every batch of each bread recipe he makes, until he’s identified precisely the best techniques.

  4. FWIW, among Farmboy Husband’s favorite sources for initial recipes from which to improvise — and he always makes them as directed the first time! — are King Arthur’s. They even have one for macarons: https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/macarons-recipe

  5. Romany de Silva

    Corey, happy new year – and welcome to the world of macarons. my partner is a patissier and has trouble sometimes – they are not trendy at the moment in Sydney, although they fly off the counter in the cafe he works at any time they are there. I am not a patissier and have much the same outcomes as you have had. Everything depends on the age of th whites, the temperature in the room, the bowl you are whisking in being totally devoid of any fat – i usually clean with with a bit of kitchen paper and a few drops of apple cider vinegar. Such finicky things!
    but bon chance with your next batch – courage!!

  6. Kristin Yates

    I have similar experiences! It is a process, and there are many recipes. Last time I
    I made Strawberry Rose

  7. Félicitations; I understand that one must “know” their oven.
    My macaroon recipe ?
    LAC !
    https://www.patisseries-lac.com/

  8. Fabulous. Everything you touch is golden. They look so lovely and I am sure were delicious.
    Proud of you in your accomplishments in life
    Love Jeanne

  9. Annafromindiana

    Brava! Brava —- especially for your persistence!

  10. Annafromindiana

    Brava! Brava —- especially for your persistence!

  11. Yes, the weather can be a factor! I remember back in the day of making candy.

  12. Judith Bryant

    I’m betting that none of the batches went to waste!

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