Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Macarons - Success Finally


I made a batch of Macarons a couple of weeks ago and let's just say they were embarrassingly bad. They didn't rise, they tasted like straight sugar and they were all different sizes.  I scratched them off the make again list until I saw Debbie - Squirrel Bakes post Macarons and my French baking class.  I knew right away I would prefer this method because I have worked with Italian meringue before.

I wasn't sure if my first failure was the recipe I used or operator error.  But I did notice a couple of difference between the two.  The batter for the first recipe was much thicker and didn't pipe nicely.  I used parchment the first time and Debbie thought silpats worked better for release, I'd have to agree with Debbie.

I used paste food coloring which I think is a little more saturated in color than the drops Debbie recommended, but I say use what you have.

I couldn't find almond flour with blanched almonds (no skin), but luckily I found some today, so my next batch won't have the brown specks.


My first batch was lacking the feet everyone talks about.  I realized the oven temperature for the first recipe was too low.  I also found in my oven, if I cooked them one tray at a time and put the tray on the upper rack of the oven the feet formed right away.  I moved them to the middle rack after about 8 minutes so they didn't brown.


I let the shells cool before placing on racks and made the dark chocolate ganache.  I did make one change to her ganache recipe, I put the ganache in my mixer with a whisk attachment and whisked it for a couple of minutes until it was completely cooled and it also becomes silkier.


If I hadn't tried Debbie's recipe I might not have been a fan; the other recipe I used really was that bad.  I can't wait to try them again in a different variation.

Do you have a favorite way to flavor them or mix up the flours used, let me know; I'm looking for some ideas.

You will have to go copy down the recipe for yourself and be sure and tell her how good I said they were.

Enjoy,

Gina





47 comments:

  1. These look great Gina! I love the vibrant pink color that you used. Aren't macarons so fun to make? I just made another batch today... I made matcha flavored shells and filled them with red bean paste. They were undermixed... but they turned out ok, so I guess I'm ok with it :)
    So glad you didn't give up and kept at it!

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  2. Gina, those macarons look heavenly! So perfect with feet!
    p.s Have you noticed that your blog link on your profile with "wwww"...

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  3. Gina - these look wonderful. Macarons are on my list of things to conquer. I appreciate the helpful hints and the website referral. Will let you know when I am as successful as you were with yours. :)

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  4. Can't wait to see your Roxan. Thanks so much Angie, I fixed it. Can't wait to see your Lisa.

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  5. I wouldn't have noticed it if I hadn't been told that the server of your site couldn't be found...;-) Once I thought it's the problem with blogger or my connection...but then same thing happened a few times...I thought it couldn't be...then I noticed it. ;-))
    Angie

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  6. Hey those look perfect! Glad you didn't give up after the first batch!

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  7. Those are picture perfect, they look amazing indeed! Congrats on your success!

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  8. Hi Gina-Wow! These macs are incredible! I don't think the brown specks are an issue. They look so vibrant and delicious:)Can't wait to see what else you come up with:)

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  9. Fabulous Gina! I have been tempted for so long to try these, but I hate failure and I'm afraid to mess up.
    I am so impressed you had the courage to try again. Go Girl; you're good!
    Rita

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  10. They're beautiful, Gina! A definite success. I love how bright they are.

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  11. Bravo on absolutely perfect macarons! I've never tried making them and am sure that my first attempt (and maybe second and third) would be disasters. I'm not very patient with baked goods.

    Personally, I liked the little specks in them. They look like real raspberries. :)

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  12. They look super:)
    Congrats on job nicely done....it is not easy to make them right:)

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  13. I've never tried making macarons because they sound so finicky! But great job trying again and ending up with this pretty little treats. Love the bright pink color!

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  14. Gina you just made my day! I am so happy that the macarons came out as perfect as they did for you. I love the bright pink color and brown specs and even that ganache really does look silky! Can't wait to see your flavor variations now!

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  15. Wow, Gina! These are gorgeous! Practice makes perfect. I love the chocolate ganache inside. I'm not a perfectionist, so I would have a hard time making these!

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  16. Gorgeous Gina!! I'm going to have to check out what Debbie has been up to over there.. I feel so out of the loop because I'm so busy with work and what not! Definitely going to try this out as soon as I get my hands on a silpat!

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  17. Perfection, Gina!!! These are on my to-bake list, too...hope mine look half as good as yours!

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  18. These are just so pretty and perfect, Gina. Well done! I've had a misadventure with macarons myself and am now too scared to try again.

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  19. They look absolutely spectacular! Seriously they are just too cute

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  20. I think you did a fabulous job on this batch. I keep promising myself to try, when I find the time!

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  21. These macarons look great! Glad you gave them another go =)

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  22. They look perfect! I actually like the little brown flecks in them because it makes them stand out against the pink color. Congratulations on your success. I still need to try making some.

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  23. These little babies look just perfect Gina, I love the bright color!
    I read Debbie's macaron post and I agree The Italian meringue method is a good one and I'm glad it worked out so nicely for you, congratulations;-)

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  24. You did great. So brave of you to keep going despite the bad first attempt. Hey, we don't get better unless we keep trying, right?
    I have to say I like the little specks in them!

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  25. It took me three full days of macarons making to get a good batch. I would say you did an amazing job at your second attempt! I'm glad you did not give up. And I love the pretty pink color :)

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  26. I actually like the little flakes! They're super cuto! Sounds like they taste just as good as they look too :) Well done!

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  27. Congratulations and you have some really tips to add to the whole macaron process.

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  28. Gina, these macarons are BEAUTIFUL! The pink color is so cute and by adding blue table runner, the pink color even stands out more! I love this post very much.

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  29. Wow looks so yum ...just so pretty

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  30. Congratulations on Top9 on your macarons. Great going!

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  31. Hi Gina,
    so happy you shared this recipe. The macaroons look perfect. I have to try Debbie's version too, have bad memories from my past attempts :(
    Hope you'll have a wonderful rest of the week.

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  32. Only your second try...wow girl :) These came out beautifully!

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  33. This is really wonderful Gina..I love how you made them! Congrats again on top 9!!! You totally deserved to be on #1 ...

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  34. These are so beautiful! Great job and congrats on Top 9!

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  35. They look fabulous! Great job on the top nine.... well deserved!

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  36. Thanks everyone, such a nice surprise today.

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  37. Gina, these macarons are gorgeous!
    Congrats on Top 9!!!

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  38. Hi Gina, Congrats on successfully making macarons. I've never tried myself. I wanted to tell you that you can easily make your own almond flour. Also blanching almonds is super easy too. Just boil the almonds for about 5 minutes and then rub the almonds with a clean kitchen towel and the skins will peel right off. After the almonds have dried pulse them in a food processor to make almond flour. Congrats on making the Top 9 today. You deserve to feel proud.

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  39. Hi! gina this macarons looks very creative and unique:). delicious cupcakes..Lovely color too.

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  40. Wonderful job and I adore the pink color.

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  41. These look amazing. Glad you finally had some success. I have never tried to make these before. They are on my To-Bake list (better than a To-Do List.

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  42. Sooooo pretty!! Love that shade of pink. So french, so fabulous. Glad I came across your blog. :)

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  43. Woo hooo!! That's great Gina, they look so pretty too :) I still haven't attempted Macarons, but I do love them. In Paris they were my favorite dessert and I miss them since I haven't found them in Prague. I'm going to really have to give it a go and try it with all your tips.

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  44. These look awesome! I haven't attempted macarons yet, but I definitely need to plan on baking some soon. I'm sure there will be many attempts before I come up with a batch worthy of sharing!

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  45. Whaaat...another macaron success?? I've got to get my act together and try out that recipe, Gina. I made macarons 4 times already and they've steadily gone from bad to worse! Your pink ones look stupefyingly amazing, the pressure's on now! LOL.

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  46. So pink, so french, so perfectly delicious looking!

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