French Macarons

🥘 Ingredients

• confectioners sugar 205 g
• ground almonds 190 g
• egg whites 144 g
• food coloring paste (optional)
• water 60 ml
• granulated sugar 190 g
• granulated sugar ½ cup
• water 3 Tbsp
• egg yolks 5
• unsalted butter 1 cup
• vanilla 1 tsp
• salt 1 pinch

1. 1

   Macarons: Clean all utensils with vinegar to remove all oils.
2. 2

   Blitz the confectioners sugar and ground almonds in a food processor .
3. 3

   Pulse 16 times. Should look like bread crumbs.
4. 4

   Sift the confectioners' sugar and ground almonds into a large bowl .
5. 5

   Divide the egg whites into two equal portions (72 g each). Some people use aged egg whites.
6. 6

   Add one half of the egg whites to the almond and sugar mixture to make a paste. Can add food coloring paste (optional) at this moment.
7. 7

   Note: Liquid color can change the consistency of the paste.
8. 8

   Cover with plastic wrap .
9. 9

   Make an italian meringue by adding sugar syrup by adding water and granulated sugar to large heavy saucepan .
10. 10

    Bring sugar syrup to 230°F (110°C) on medium heat.
11. 11

    Add the second half of the room temperature egg whites into a very clean bowl .
12. 12

    Using an electric mixer , whisk egg whites. Once the sugar syrup reaches 245°F (118°C) and the egg whites begin to foam, SLOWLY add the sugar syrup by pouring it along the wall of the bowl.
13. 13

    Continue to beat for 5 to 6 minutes until meringue is glossy and flops over nicely and the bowl comes to room temperature.
14. 14

    Begin folding a small spoonful of the Italian meringue into the almond mixture. Can be quite vigorous and don't need to be too gentle.
15. 15

    Be careful to add the remaining meringue and fold in gently.
16. 16

    The final mixture should look like flowing lava, and be able to fall into a figure eight without breaking. Spoon into a piping bag with a medium round piping tip (around 1 cm in diameter) and you’re ready to start piping.
17. 17

    Pipe 1.5 inch dollops onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (this should be glued down with dabs of batter). Tap on counter several times to release air bubbles. Use a toothpick to pop any air bubbles and fill any gaps. Allow to sit for about 40 minutes , so that a skin forms, before placing in oven. They should be dry when touched with a finger.
18. 18

    Bake at 325°F (165°C) for 12 to 15 minutes , rotate tray after 7 minutes. They are ready when you touch them and the top comes away from the bottom. Allow to cool completely before removing from baking sheet, about 10 to 15 minutes .
19. 19

    French Buttercream Filling: Combine granulated sugar and water in medium saucepan . Heat over low heat while stirring until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to medium- high and bring to a boil
20. 20

    Put egg yolks in a stand-mixer fitted with a whisk attachment and beat until thick and foamy.
21. 21

    Cook the sugar and water syrup until it reaches 240°F. Immediately remove from heat. With mixer running, SLOWLY drizzle hot syrup into bowl with yolks.
22. 22

    Continue mixing until the bottom of the bowl is cool to the touch and the yolk mixture has cooled to room temperature.
23. 23

    Add in unsalted butter one cube at a time allowing each piece to incorporate before adding the next. Add vanilla and salt . Continue mixing until buttercream is smooth and creamy. (About 5 to 6 minutes .) Add food coloring if desired.
24. 24

    After assembly, refrigerate overnight or for a full 24 hours so that the filling solidifies.