Springime in Paris Strawberry Macarons

Happy Thursday, friends! This week has really flown by! This exciting news first, we got the keys to our house late Tuesday night! I've started writing down all the decorating ideas I want to do in each room, I can't wait to get started!

It has come to my attention that the correct spelling of these delightful cookies is Macaron, with only one O. When my husband asked me what they were called I said macaroon with a suave and sophisticated French accent, and all he did was looked at me, raised one eyebrow, shrugged his shoulders, and stuffed one whole cookie in his mouth and inhaled it!

This is the second time I've made Macarons. I am equating my love of all things French for enjoying these lovely cookies. While these cookies may not be the simplest of cookies to make, and require patience and a gentle touch, the result is beyond amazing! These cookies melt in your mouth with all their decadent goodness.

These cookies reminded me of Spring in Paris, with their lovely, pastel pink color and how one day I would love to stroll down the Champs-Elysee. Do a lot  some shopping; stop in a café for some lunch, enjoy a café au lait with a couple of these beauties, and I'd be in heaven.

Strawberry Macarons (adapted from Sandra Lee)

For the macarons:

1 cup almond flour

1 2/3 cup powdered sugar

1 1/2 tsp. strawberry JELLO

3 egg whites at room temperature

1/4 cup of granulated sugar

For the strawberry buttercream filling:

1/4 cup butter, not chilled, but not at room temperature

2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

3 cups. powdered sugar

2 Tbls. fresh strawberry puree

For the strawberry puree:

1 1/2 cups. fresh strawberries, quartered

1 Tbls. granulated sugar

1 tsp. lemon juice (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

In a separate bowl, sift together the almond flour, powdered sugar and Jello.

2. Separate eggs, placing the whites in a stand up mixer, fitted with a wire whisk. On medium high speed, whip egg whites until they are at soft peaks. Continue whipping eggs, adding the granulated sugar gradually, until stiff peaks form, and the egg whites are nice and shiny.

3. This is a tip I got from my pastry chef, when folding in meringue. Fold half the meringue into the almond flour mixture, gently. You want to preserve as much air in the egg whites as possible. My pastry chef instructed us to NOT cut or chop the meringue, rather using the spatula to scrape around the edges and gently fold in. The almond flour will soften, and the meringue will loose some of its airiness, but not to worry.

4. In a pastry bag fitted with Wilton tip #12, (I like to fold the top of the bag down, creating a cuff, to keep the top of the bag from getting all sticky and messy), spoon the macaron dough into the pastry bag. Kneed the air out of the bag.

5. Pipe round circles out onto the parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake for about 5 minutes. I check mine after 3 minutes. The first sight of browning, take the cookies out. Set aside to cool.

6. For the strawberry puree: Halve and quarter strawberries. Sprinkle them with the granulated sugar and macerate them, for about 5 minutes, then puree them. Store unused puree in the refridgerator for up to 3 to 5 days.

7. For the buttercream: In a stand up mixer, beat butter, until creamy, on medium high speed. Add the pure vanilla extract and the strawberry puree. Slowly add the powdered sugar, and beat until, stiff, but not too stiff to be piped out. If it is too stiff, add 1 tsp. of milk. Store unused frosting for up to one week in the refrigerator.

8. Pipe buttercream onto one cookie half, and top with another cookie. Enjoy right away, as the meringue softens with the frosting.

Here are a few more inspiring Springtime Macaron recipes to check out!

Lemon Macaron

Egg Shaped Macarons via @MarthaStewart by @butterbakedgoods Photo by: @kateberryberry

Enjoy your Easter Weekend! Until next time! xo Christine

Sharing these with:
Metamorphosis Monday
Amaze Me Monday
Marvelous Monday
Merry Monday
Inspire Me Monday
Treasure Box Tuesday
Wake Up Wednesday
Home and Garden Thursday
Full Plate Thursday
Feathered Nest Friday
Foodie Friday and Everything Else

Friday Favorites
Thursday Favorites
Share Your Style
Roses of Inspiration
City of Links
Your Time to Shine
Freedom Fridays
Show and Tell Friday
Home Sweet Home
 Creative Collection
Shabbilicious Friday
What to Do Weekends
Sunflower Supper Club
Home and Garden Thursday
Snickerdoodle Sunday
Sunday Showcase
Sweet and Savoury Sundays
SilverPennies SundaysLoulou Girls