Raspberry Macarons

Raspberry Macarons

Crisp almond shells with ruffled feet, sandwiched around a tangy raspberry buttercream.

Total 3 hr Makes 24 cookies Calories 110/serving

Dietary

Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Wheat free, Halal, Kosher

Allergens

Tree nuts, Eggs, Dairy

These French macarons rely on a careful meringue and a resting period to develop their signature smooth shells and ruffled feet. Freeze-dried raspberries lend natural color and tart flavor to both the shells and the buttercream filling. They suit afternoon tea, gift boxes, or a special dessert table.

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 cups almond flour
  • 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
  • 3 large egg whites, room temperature
  • 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons freeze-dried raspberries, finely ground
  • 1/2 teaspoon pink gel food coloring
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons seedless raspberry jam
  • 1 tablespoon freeze-dried raspberries, finely ground
  • 1 teaspoon heavy cream

Method

  1. Sift almond flour and powdered sugar together into a bowl, discarding any large almond pieces that won't pass through the sieve.

  2. In a clean, dry mixing bowl, whip the egg whites and cream of tartar on medium speed until foamy.

  3. Gradually add the granulated sugar, then increase speed to high and whip until stiff, glossy peaks form.

  4. Beat in the 2 tablespoons of ground freeze-dried raspberries and the pink gel food coloring until evenly combined.

  5. Sift the almond flour mixture over the meringue in three additions, folding with a spatula after each addition using a scraping, deflating motion.

  6. Continue folding until the batter flows in thick ribbons off the spatula and a dropped ribbon melts back into the batter within 10 seconds.

  7. Transfer the batter to a piping bag fitted with a 1/2-inch round tip and pipe 1.5-inch circles onto parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them 1 inch apart.

  8. Tap the baking sheets firmly on the counter several times to release trapped air bubbles.

  9. Let the piped shells rest at room temperature until they are dry to the touch and no longer tacky.

  10. Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).

  11. Bake the shells one sheet at a time until they have risen on ruffled feet and the tops are set but not browned.

  12. Cool the shells completely on the baking sheet before peeling them off the parchment.

  13. For the filling, beat the softened butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy.

  14. Add the powdered sugar, raspberry jam, ground freeze-dried raspberries, and heavy cream, and beat until light and fluffy.

  15. Pipe or spread the raspberry buttercream onto the flat side of half the macaron shells.

  16. Top with the remaining shells, pressing gently to sandwich the filling to the edges.

  17. Refrigerate the filled macarons in an airtight container to mature their texture before serving.

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    Raspberry Macarons

    These French macarons rely on a careful meringue and a resting period to develop their signature smooth shells and ruffled feet. Freeze-dried raspberries lend natural color and tart flavor to both the shells and the buttercream filling. They suit afternoon tea, gift boxes, or a special dessert table.

    3 hr 24 cookies 110 cal

    Ingredients

    • 1 3/4 cups almond flour
    • 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
    • 3 large egg whites, room temperature
    • 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
    • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
    • 2 tablespoons freeze-dried raspberries, finely ground
    • 1/2 teaspoon pink gel food coloring
    • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
    • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
    • 2 tablespoons seedless raspberry jam
    • 1 tablespoon freeze-dried raspberries, finely ground
    • 1 teaspoon heavy cream

    Method

    1. 1

      Sift almond flour and powdered sugar together into a bowl, discarding any large almond pieces that won't pass through the sieve.

    2. 2

      In a clean, dry mixing bowl, whip the egg whites and cream of tartar on medium speed until foamy.

    3. 3

      Gradually add the granulated sugar, then increase speed to high and whip until stiff, glossy peaks form.

    4. 4

      Beat in the 2 tablespoons of ground freeze-dried raspberries and the pink gel food coloring until evenly combined.

    5. 5

      Sift the almond flour mixture over the meringue in three additions, folding with a spatula after each addition using a scraping, deflating motion.

    6. 6

      Continue folding until the batter flows in thick ribbons off the spatula and a dropped ribbon melts back into the batter within 10 seconds.

    7. 7

      Transfer the batter to a piping bag fitted with a 1/2-inch round tip and pipe 1.5-inch circles onto parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing them 1 inch apart.

    8. 8

      Tap the baking sheets firmly on the counter several times to release trapped air bubbles.

    9. 9

      Let the piped shells rest at room temperature until they are dry to the touch and no longer tacky.

    10. 10

      Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).

    11. 11

      Bake the shells one sheet at a time until they have risen on ruffled feet and the tops are set but not browned.

    12. 12

      Cool the shells completely on the baking sheet before peeling them off the parchment.

    13. 13

      For the filling, beat the softened butter on medium speed until smooth and creamy.

    14. 14

      Add the powdered sugar, raspberry jam, ground freeze-dried raspberries, and heavy cream, and beat until light and fluffy.

    15. 15

      Pipe or spread the raspberry buttercream onto the flat side of half the macaron shells.

    16. 16

      Top with the remaining shells, pressing gently to sandwich the filling to the edges.

    17. 17

      Refrigerate the filled macarons in an airtight container to mature their texture before serving.