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Strawberry Macarons Recipe

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Delightfully delicate and colorful Strawberry Macarons featuring crisp almond meringue shells filled with a luscious homemade strawberry buttercream. This recipe guides you through creating the perfect French macarons with a flavorful freeze-dried strawberry buttercream filling for a classic treat that impresses.

Ingredients

For the Macaron Shells

  • 1 2/3 cup (200 grams) powdered sugar
  • 1 cup (110 grams) almond flour
  • 3 large (100 grams) egg whites
  • 1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
  • Red or pink food coloring (optional)

For the Strawberry Buttercream Filling

  • 4 tablespoons (56 grams) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup freeze-dried strawberries
  • 1 cup (113 grams) powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon heavy cream or milk

Instructions

  1. Prepare baking sheet: Line a cookie sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper for a non-stick surface ideal for macarons.
  2. Combine dry ingredients: Process powdered sugar and almond flour in a food processor until smooth and lump-free, then sift the mixture into a large bowl to ensure lightness.
  3. Make French meringue: Using a hand or stand mixer, beat egg whites on low until frothy, gradually add granulated sugar while increasing speed, and beat until stiff peaks form—peaks should stand with a slight curve without falling.
  4. Add color (optional): If desired, gently fold in red or pink food coloring sparingly to avoid overly liquid meringue.
  5. Macaronage process: Gently fold the meringue into the dry ingredients using a silicone spatula until the batter is smooth and can flow slowly off the spatula, resembling molten lava, without breaking.
  6. Pipe the shells: Transfer batter into a piping bag fitted with a round tip and pipe 1-inch diameter disks onto the prepared baking sheet.
  7. Remove air bubbles: Firmly tap the baking sheet several times to release trapped air; pop any remaining bubbles with a toothpick to ensure smooth shells.
  8. Rest the shells: Let the piped macarons sit at room temperature for about one hour to form a dry, non-sticky crust before baking.
  9. Preheat oven: Set oven to 280°F (approximately 138°C), adjusting as needed for your oven type.
  10. Bake shells: Place macarons in the oven on the middle rack and bake for a total of 15 minutes, rotating the baking sheet every 5 minutes to ensure even cooking. The shells should be dry and lift off the mat easily without coloring.
  11. Cool: Remove from oven and let completely cool before assembling.
  12. Match shells: Peel the shells gently off the mat and pair shells of similar size for filling.
  13. Prepare strawberry filling: Pulse freeze-dried strawberries in a food processor until finely ground.
  14. Beat butter: Using a hand mixer, beat softened butter until creamy and fluffy.
  15. Add strawberries and sugar: Mix in half the powdered sugar and ground strawberries, then add the rest of the powdered sugar, beating on medium speed for 5-6 minutes until light and smooth.
  16. Adjust consistency: If the buttercream is too thick, add heavy cream or milk gradually one tablespoon at a time to reach desired pipeable consistency.
  17. Fill macarons: Transfer buttercream to a piping bag, pipe a small amount onto one shell of each pair, then sandwich with the matching shell.
  18. Serve or store: Repeat filling for all macarons and enjoy immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container to enhance flavor.

Notes

  • Resting time is crucial for developing a smooth shell surface and preventing cracking during baking.
  • Humidity can affect drying time and final texture; extend resting time on humid days.
  • Use a scale for best measurement accuracy, especially with almond flour and sugars.
  • If batter is over-folded, shells will be flat and lack the typical macaron “feet.” Under-folded batter will crack and have peaks.
  • Freeze-dried strawberries add intense flavor without adding moisture which could ruin the shell texture.
  • Macarons can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 1 month.

Find it online: https://cozyplatter.com/strawberry-macarons-recipe/