My First Time Baking Chocolate Macarons

chocolate macarons

When I was a kid and we’d go to the big city (a.k.a. Rouen), we’d come back with a massive box of macarons. There was a family owned company called Auzou Chocolat that made delicious macarons. It was the absolute treat. My favorites? Salted caramel, lemon, passion fruit and chocolate macarons. And I was always told how tricky there are to make.

The title is lying. It wasn’t my first time. I tried once when I lived in Glasgow. I achieved the right consistency and taste after cooking but the shape was a miss. For so many reasons.

This time, however, a few years later, I took it very slow. A lot of space, all the ingredients ready in separate containers and a full day ahead of me. Plus, I had the right equipment this time, i.e. a food processor, which of course, helped a lot.

And this time, the macarons turned out very well! They tasted good, they had the right shape and the right consistency! Chewy in the middle just how you want them. So below is how I did it!

Ingredients

For the macaron shells For the chocolate frosting

-3 (or 100g) small egg whites

-1/2 cup white sugar

-1 cup almond flower

-1/2 cup and 2 tbsp powdered sugar

-2 1/2 tbsp cocoa powdered

-5 tbsp unsalted butter

-1/3 tbsp cocoa powder

-2 3/4 powdered sugar

-1/2 tsp vanilla extract

-4 tbsp milk

Method

1. For the chocolate macarons. Before you start baking, make sure you have all the ingredients ready to the exact measurements in individual containers, along with all your equipment ready.

2. Sift powdered sugar, almond flour, and cocoa powder together in a bowl. Set aside.

3. Place a glass bowl over a pan of simmering water. Make sure the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Put the egg white and white sugar in the bowl and whisk until the sugar has completely melted and the liquid is frothy. Transfer the liquid to a food processor and beat at high speed with the whisk attachment. When the meringue becomes glossy and stiff peaks form, stop the whisk.

4. Add the dry ingredients to the meringue little by little. Use a silicon spatula to fold gently, forming a J, until all the dry ingredients are incorporated. Pick some batter with the spatula and try to form a figure 8. If the ribbon doesn’t break while forming the 8, the batter is ready.

5. Place parchment paper on a baking tray or use a silicon mat. Put batter into a plastic piping bag. You can just cut the tip instead of using a nozzle. Pipe circles according to preferences or drawings on silicon mat.

6. When you’re done piping, bang the tray against the table or counter a few times to release air bubbles that are in the batter. This is a very important step. You don’t want your shells to grow hollow and crack after cooking. Set aside for 40 minutes.

7. Pre-heat your oven to 160°C. Bake one tray a time. Bake for 4 minutes, then rotate the tray and bake for another minute. Check the macarons to see if some sides need more cooking and whether you need to rotate the tray again. Cook for another 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool at room temperature.

8. For the chocolate frosting. Sift the powdered sugar, and cocoa powder in a small bowl and set aside.

9. In the bowl of a food processor, add the softened butter and whisk on medium-high speed for about a minute. Add in progressively dry ingredients and whisk at slow-medium speed. 

10. Add in vanilla extract and milk. Whisk at high speed until smooth. If the frosting is too thick, add more milk; if too runny, add more powdered sugar. Put the frosting into a piping bag with any nozzle.

11. Pipe on to of half the macarons. Top each shell with another macaron.

12. You can eat the macaron right now, or put them in the fridge for a few hours, and let them outside at room temperature to obtain a more chewy texture.

chocolate macarons

 

 

Have you ever tried to bake macarons? Did you manage? How did they turn out? What flavor? Do you like macarons? What is your favorite flavour?

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Thanks a lot for stopping by. Hope you liked this post.

See you soon,
Love,
Corinne

19 Comments

  1. June 12, 2019 / 3:42 pm

    They look amazing and delicious and I am totally 100% jealous of your baking skills! Congrats on getting them so perfect looking, and it’s great that they tasted good too.
    I think I’d probably go for chocolate flavoured, because well… Chocolate.
    Cora | http://www.teapartyprincess.co.uk/

  2. June 13, 2019 / 4:16 pm

    They look so good! Especially for a first (or second) try. I’ve never tried to make any myself. Would be interesting to see if i can manage to make some vegan ones ❤️

    Sophie
    http://www.glowsteady.co.uk

  3. June 13, 2019 / 4:35 pm

    Yummy. I love macarons and I do find them easy to make but a bit time consuming.

  4. June 13, 2019 / 4:47 pm

    These look great! I’ll definitely have to try this recipe!

  5. June 13, 2019 / 4:58 pm

    Wow your macaroons look amazing! Whenever I’ve read the recipe on how to make them before it always sounds so complicated but you made it sound really simple, I would love to give these a go! X

  6. June 13, 2019 / 5:08 pm

    These look absolutely stunning! I’ve always found that macarons are something I love to look at but not to eat.

  7. June 13, 2019 / 5:13 pm

    These look delicious!! I always thought they were way more difficult to make, this recipe is super accessible 🙂 Might give it a go myself soon!

  8. June 13, 2019 / 5:17 pm

    Macarons seem far too complicated for me to make but I LOVEEEE chocolate macrons a lot! These look absolutely perfect – tea shop worthy!

  9. June 13, 2019 / 6:16 pm

    These look delicious! Lovely ❤️?

  10. June 13, 2019 / 6:57 pm

    Yum! These look absolutely delicious and gorgeous. I’ve never attempted to make them since I live at high altitude and that’s a notoriously difficult combination, but I get them at every chance I can. Thank you for sharing!

  11. June 13, 2019 / 8:24 pm

    Oh wow these look absolutly perfect! I’ve never tried making them because I always assumed it would be really difficult but this recipe make it look not quite as hard as I imagined! Will have to bookmark this one!
    Soph – https://sophhearts.com x

  12. June 14, 2019 / 5:54 am

    Omg these look amazing! They look so well done, I’ve never tried making them before but I’ve heard they’re so much harder than it looks so make! Amazing!

    Jessica & James | http://www.foodandbaker.co.uk

  13. June 15, 2019 / 8:43 am

    These look incredible! I imagine it must be so difficult to get the right consistency and texture, but it looks like you nailed it! Craving some macaroons now haha.

    Evie x | http://www.eviejayne.co.uk

  14. June 15, 2019 / 2:23 pm

    I’ve been craving macaroons and these looks so delicious. I can’t wait to try this recipe because I need to get back into cooking some good desserts.

  15. June 15, 2019 / 10:54 pm

    My children love chocolate macarons, can’t wait for them to try these!

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