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Wednesday, March 20, 2013

French Macaroons


 Infamous Macaroons, I REALLY struggle when making them, I used this book and they never worked using these recipes. The mix was always too runny and all it was helpful with was diagnosing what I had done wrong, not overly helpful. I have tried both the French and Italian methods for making Macaroons and I do not recommend the Italian version, I found it impossible, it was like a chemistry class not baking fun. Anyway, for these Macaroons I used  this recipe and I found it worked quite well.

Ingredients:

140g egg whites
70g caster sugar
230g icing sugar
120g ground almonds
pinch of salt

So tips to start, older eggs work better than fresh eggs and climate apparently makes a difference so if you are doing a lot of baking in one day I would start with the meringue base because baking other things before whipping your egg whites will make your kitchen humid and might effect the rising of the meringue. Macaroons are such women, so fussy and difficult. Anyway, recipe:
Preheat the oven to 150 degrees C
Weigh egg whites into a bowl (I used a metal one because I heard it helped the meringue hold it's shape more) and whipped with electric mixer while adding the caster sugar gradually. I stopped once it made stiff peaks, you could hold it upside down over your head but that is optional.

 In a separate bowl I sifted the ground almonds, icing sugar and salt twice, ensuring that this dry mixture was well mixed. Then fold the dry mix into the egg whites, only mixing between 30-50 times because apparently this matters. The mixture should remain viscous and not too runny as well as smooth. Then carefully place the mixture into a piping bag trying to limit how much air you lose.


I highly recommend this Silicone mat for the Macaroons (seen above). I ensures that the Macaroons are uniform in size, and I don't know about anyone else but I can make the mix but I can never get the Macaroons off the baking parchment, this mat is amazing as they just peel off and it really easy to clean. I actually tested this mat out by piping some of the same Macaroon mix onto baking parchment and well as on the mat and the parchment ones did not work at all, they just fused to the paper. So for people, like me, that have not cracked the Macaroon this aid is amazing as all your efforts will not be wasted.

Once on the mat or baking parchment tap the tray on the table to get out air bubbles and smooth the top. Bake for 20 minutes. This recipe is good, ones I have tried previously asked the macaroons to be rested for 30 minutes to give them a foot, others told me to leave the oven door slightly open... I didn't do any of this and the Macaroons still had a foot. 

I made a chocolate ganache filling, to do this just warm 30ml of double cream in a saucepan and add 100g of dark chocolate to the cream and mix until combined. If you were fancy you could pipe the ganache in, I didn't, a spoon worked pretty well!


If anyone makes them, take a picture and tag me on Instagram (Highland_Fling) so I can see them! I'd love that!

With love from,

Emma x

32 comments:

  1. Love macaroons! Yours look perfect and not to mention yummy!

    www.georginaclare.com
    .Georgina Clare.

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  3. Omg i love it, i've been searcing for their recepie for so long, thank you! can't wait to try them :)
    http://merilinzz.blogspot.com/

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  4. I'd love to bake - I've no patience and sure to do it wrong.. yours look fab,great job

    Dawn
    www.dressmeperfect.com

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  5. These look amazing! Macarons are my weekend challenge this week- I need something to focus on!! x

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    1. Yay Alice! I will be there with you, a cyber Macaroon comfort and aid!

      Emma x

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  6. Good god they look amazing!

    www.fashion-underdog.blogspot.co.uk
    Emma
    x

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  7. Thanks for this, I've always wanted to make some! xx

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  8. These turned out really well and they look pretty tasty too! xxx

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  9. these look so nice!! Thank you for your comment on my shoe post! my email wont let me reply or maybe I'm doing something wrong! :)

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  10. Yummy yummy, I made them once but they weren't as pretty :(

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    Replies
    1. Haha, mine are rarely this pretty. They could still do with some work too, kinda look like nipples...

      Em x

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  11. I've been wanting to try making these for awhile now but haven't had the chance! These look delicious!

    SarahSee. Beauty

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  12. Looks delicious!
    Really impressive blog, love your style. If you want check mine and we could follow each other:-)
    Kisses
    Aga

    New post
    Spring trends!
    Studs and animal motif
    Follow me at Bloglovin!
    www.agasuitcase.com

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  13. So this is kinda epic, because the last time I tried to make these they appeared more like mint thins than actual macaroons! May need to tackle them again for Easter!

    x

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    1. THAT HAPPENED TO ME TOO! I added peppermint flavouring and all the air came out. I couldn't even get them in the oven, the mix ran everywhere... it was a bad day!

      E x

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  14. I once had a go at making macaroons and they were a total disaster haha not sure what I did wrong. Yours however look amazing and super tasty!hello macaroon cravings!xxx

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    1. Haha, most of mine are disasters too, it's a bit rich of me posting this really since I am not great at making them... And I know those Macaroon cravings well!

      E x

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  15. These look so pretty, I love making macaroons! xxs
    http://unstitchedd.blogspot.co.uk

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  16. Hi dear! Thank you for the commment in my blog! :) You found my Kanelbullar and i found your Macaroons!:)
    I'm following, will you follow back?
    Elly
    http://elenatorelliphoto.blogspot.it/

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    1. Yours looked much fancier though, the name is better too. Take that the French! Thanks Elly!

      E x

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  17. I've always wanted to give these a go, perhaps I will! x

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  18. These look so yummy but I don't think I have the skills to master them!

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  19. I've never tried them before but I keep seeing people blog about them and it makes me want to try!

    Corinne x
    www.skinnedcartree.com

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  20. They look lovely! I think they'll annoy me about how difficult they are to make! haha xx

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  21. Woow,this looks like a pretty hard recipe to do,but it`s worth the outcome!
    Oh and thanks for leaving such a sweet comment on my blog!Have you ever been to Iceland or Japan yet??

    xoxo

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    1. It is just so temperamental, so many things that can go wrong, on paper the recipe is simple.
      No!!! I haven't, I almost booked Iceland last christmas but didn't, I am determined to go in Winter. Indulge my inner geography nerd. Have you been to either?

      E x

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  22. They look so delicious! Nice blog :) following!

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    1. Thank you honey, I hope you enjoy my upcoming posts!

      E x

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  23. Thank you for the kind comment on my blog
    Yum! Love this recipe

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