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A stack of French macarons in different colors, with buttercream fillings, on a ceramic plate

Classic French Macarons

A delicate French dessert made with almond flour, confectioners' sugar, and egg whites, sandwiched with a variety of fillings.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings: 20 servings
Calories: 120
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 1 /2 cups (190g) almond flour
  • 1 1 /2 cups (200g) confectioners' sugar
  • 3 large egg whites
  • 1/2 cup (120g) granulated sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Food coloring (optional)
  • 1 cup (200g) unsalted butter softened
  • 2 1 /4 cups (280g) confectioners' sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 -3 tablespoons milk or heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method
 

Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C).
  2. Sift almond flour and confectioners' sugar into a large bowl.
  3. Whisk egg whites and granulated sugar in a separate bowl until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes.
  4. Add a few drops of food coloring to the egg mixture, if desired, and whisk until combined.
  5. Fold the egg mixture into the almond flour mixture until well combined.
  6. Transfer the mixture to a piping bag fitted with a round tip.
  7. Pipe small, round circles onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
  8. Tap the baking sheet gently to remove any air bubbles.
  9. Let the macarons sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to an hour to form a skin.
  10. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the tops are firm and the edges are lightly golden brown.
  11. Allow the macarons to cool completely on the baking sheet.
  12. Pair the macarons by size and sandwich them together with a small amount of filling, if desired.
  13. Serve the macarons