You might think making cookies like that should be reserved for professional pastry chefs. While the process takes a bit of time and patience, you can learn how to make macarons at home. Follow our tutorial for making French macarons step-by-step to nail down the delicate cookie-making basics. Soon you’ll be on your way to creating all sorts of French macaron flavors for your friends and family.
How to Make Macarons
A tiny French cookie that requires several steps might seem intimidating, but trust us, you’ll quickly get the hang of making macarons. You can use any macaron recipe with this method, but here’s a great basic macaron recipe to get you started. Test Kitchen Tip: To avoid breaking the yolks when separating eggs, carefully crack one egg into a bowl. Use clean hands to carefully remove the yolk. Transfer the whites to a separate bowl. Continue cracking and separating eggs one at a time. Wash your hands well when you’re done. Buy It: KitchenAid Classic Plus 4.5-Quart Stand Mixer ($330, Target) Test Kitchen Tip: Check the baking aisle or natural food/gluten-free section of a large grocery store for almond flour ($12, Target). It is typically made from blanched almonds (without skins). Almond meal, on the other hand, often has the skins ground in and might be a coarser grind. Are macarons gluten-free? You bet they are! Your friends with allergy restrictions can also enjoy these gluten-free cookies without worry.
How to Store Macarons
Store filled cookies in an airtight container ($3, Target) in the fridge up to 5 days or freeze up to 2 months.
Macaroons vs. Macarons
If you grew up in the United States, there’s a chance you found this article and were thinking of those sweet coconut treats found on the holiday cookie table. Not only is the French macaron (mah-kuh-ROHN) pronounced differently than macaroon (mac-uh-roon), they’re made of different ingredients. So what are macarons made of? The French macarons we made here are crispy, slightly chewy cookies from beaten egg whites mixed with sugar and ground almonds with a ganache or buttercream filling. On the other hand, the macaroon is a dense drop cookie made with shredded coconut, egg whites, and granulated sugar. After mastering macarons from scratch, you’ll have to try all the flavor variations. For example, go fruity with cherry-filled macarons, or try cocoa-hazelnut macarons for a real treat for your sweet tooth.
