Mad about Macarons….and Happy Feet!

A tale of Macarons, with a very happy and steady ending!

IMG_9983

Nerve-wracking, time-consuming, causing many a ‘twijfels’ (doubt).

IMG_0009‘I’ll never do this again’, I say when I’m afraid it will all fail…..even when I see the feet, I’m still not convinced.

IMG_9487

I make 4 batches and I learn a lot. Finally, they’re all ready and I can taste them. Each batch…to his own. Some have the perfect macaron bite, right out of the oven and the others are way too crisp. Many are shell shiny…and others have the crisp outer but a dull brown.

I must say that I LOVE them…………….and I know for sure now that regardless of the mess they caused me to make, or how I need to go take piping lessons, I will make them again :-). Oh yes, I will!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don’t know what exactly it was that pushed me over the edge and into the camp of feet-seekers, I suspect it was Mowie! By the time I started clicking open all the recommended reading material, I was enlightened but overwhelmed . With each open page, I felt my confidence ebb away….with such forceful torrents but still I forged on, eager to tick off another French Conquest!

You know I’m a Geologist, right? Thankfully not a Volcanologist for when I got to the point when the recipes mention ‘….should flow like Lava’, I did some serious soul searching. Was I really int he right profession? Did I know my stuff? Doubts and more doubts plagued me!

It wasn’t helped by my desire to do so much with this first batch. I wanted to make different flavours, requiring sharing the batter up into 3 portions….. Eventually, I realised that for sure, there was the path to failure – over ambition and so I settled on chocolate.

So after all the research, I decided on going with Crista and Julia, who had made Italian meringue macarons. Somehow, I trusted them. Why? Well, Cristina @ From Buenos Aires to Paris worked in restaurant in Buenos Aires, where she made 500 macarons every Friday and Julia @ Melanger presented us with 12 days of holiday macarons. It also happened that both of their recipes used the same technique, so perfect choice!

The recipe (adjusted from Julia’s)

Ingredients
100g egg whites
122g almond meal
122g icing sugar
3 teaspoons cocoa powder (I used Hersey’s unsweetened)

For the syrup:
150g sugar and 50ml water

Directions

Prepare you baking trays and templates if need be by lining with parchment or using silicone mats.

Process the almond meal and icing sugar together.

In a mixer, whip half the egg whites to soft peaks.

Meanwhile, in a saucepan bring the water and sugar for the syrup to 117C (or 242F) on a candy thermometer.

Once ready, slowly add the boiling syrup to the egg whites and continue to whip on medium speed until they thick and shiny and are completely cooled (about 10 minutes).

Mix the remaining egg whites to the sifted almond mixture and fold into the meringue in four parts.

Pipe macarons on lined baking sheets.

Let your macarons sit at room temperature for 30-60 minutes, if you can. I couldn’t for all my batches so…I did as I could.

Bake at 140C or 280F for 15-18 minutes. Scream and dance in amazement, when you see the feet. Remember to turn the tray halfway through baking.

Fill with ganache or filling of your choice.

Refrigerate to set.

What I learnt:

#1 – Age is everything, apparently.

If there was one thing I knew I had to do, it was age my egg whites and almond meal 3 days before.

For the egg whites, I weighed them to make sure I had the required amount and just in case, I aged an extra one, which I set apart in a different bowl. I covered them in cling film and pierced holes, to allow them aerate.I left the egg whites at room temperature overnight and then popped them into the refrigerator for a couple of nights and brought them out on the morning in question, for the egg whites should be at room temperature.

If there is one thing I’ll do differently next time, it is pass the egg whites through a sieve before the aging (for the tension for me on the day was too much, leading to an accident but thankfully, I had the extra white I’d put aside).

I will also ensure I sieve the almond meal before I age it. I think it would make it easier than doing it uncountable times on the day…again!

#2 – It can be a messy process, but be prepared!

On the day, yesterday, I was up early, my loins already girded.. Ready for battle. By the time I’d found all the individual elements of my food processor; my piping set and my thermometer, I was frazzled. I could even have taken on the weirdness of Miss Frizzle, though I wasn’t sure I would be performing any magic. I then proceeded to set up the baking sheets and mark my circle templates on to my silicone sheet….which has been offered up to eternal macaron making, or should I say mini micro-mini macaron making for I used a permanent marker! Next time, and yes there will be a next time, I will make larger circles.

IMG_9341

I set my piping bag and tube in a glass and then continued on.

IMG_9414IMG_9407

In the process of getting non-white bits out of my egg whites, I spilled some….thankfully, I had forseen this and could react well. Then I split them into two bowls, making sure they were of equal weight.

IMG_9366IMG_9369

Then I sifted the almond meal, twice and weighed it. Followed by the icing sugar. Twice., also weighed both times. Then I mixed the almond meal, icing sugar and cocoa powder and sifted again, twice and did final weight measurements. Each time I passed the material through the sieve, I discarded the larger particles….haven read somewhere that you DO NOT want them in. This was tiring, frustrating and as the minutes ticked on I was so sure I would fail. To be honest, I considered throwing the towel in at this stage but I knew my family members would be disappointed, especially since I had given such stern warnings about no one touching my almond meal!

I completely forgot to add the 1/8 teaspoon of cream of tartar (to each egg white)…in all my excitement and anxiety.

IMG_9345 IMG_9346IMG_9347IMG_9351IMG_9355 IMG_9359 IMG_9364

#3 – Whipping the egg whites, making the meringue and the syrup.

When I was sure everything was ready and clean, I put the sugar and water into a saucepan and the egg whites into the mixer. Then I proceeded to turn the food processor on, at medium speed. I then turned on the sugar-water mix and stuck my thermoeter in. At first, I put only the tip…and then realised perfaps the whole arm should sit in. It took a matter of minutes and we had reached the magic 117 degrees centigrade. I was shocked to see the syrup was mere seconds from caramelising as I walked ever so slowly to the mixer, right by my side. I paused a second or two, and then I drizzled in the syrup, slowly. A few random drops instantly hardened but most of it got in. Now I understand why perhaps macarons have that unique chewy texture…or maybe not!

IMG_9392 IMG_9394IMG_9399 IMG_9406 IMG_9431

I let the mixer run for 8-9 minutes, feeling the outside of the mixing bowl to see how cool it was.

Finally, when I turned off the machine and took off the lid, I could finally see the shiny, glossy white meringue. For the first time on this adventure, hope flared in my breast but I knew the worst was yet to come. Lava. Lava. Lava.

#4 – Do not panic at the ‘Mix the remaining egg whites to the sifted almond mixture and fold into the meringue in four parts’.

I tell you, I panicked.  First off all, the mixture looked a bit dreadful and stodgy and I refused to believe this would ever yield the delicate beauties I sought. So I re-read the recipe and decided that no mistakes were made. I managed to fold the mixture in, in 4 batches and then filled my piping bag.

IMG_9428 IMG_9429IMG_9434IMG_9435IMG_9437IMG_9438 IMG_9440

#5 – Piping….is not for me, I think

I put the oven on to preheat at 140 degrees centigrade. My tray was ready and I proceeded to pipe, completely forgetting all I’d read about how to pipe them. I made circles and ended in the centre as opposed to piping in the centre and letting them spread out. The templates really helped. I kept thinking they would ‘expand’, spread out and so I wasn’t overly worried with my 2.5cm circles. I found this part so tricky that I managed to pipe turtles, animals with tails and even a thumbs 2nd finger up…albeit with stunted 4th finger!

IMG_9441 IMG_9443

I set these aside when I was done, leaving them to age…but I was in a hurry. We had to go out and I needed to bake them all in about an hour and so, I hastily put together another sheet and leaving Batch 1 to ‘rest’, I baked these straight away in paper-lined, tripled-up brownie trays, using a wooden spoon to leave the oven door open. Please don’t ask me why.

IMG_9455

Five minutes or so later, I was screaming and dancing….shouting for all the world to hear ‘They have feet, they have feet’!!!!!!!!!! Common on, how tired is that? I think we should all put together an anthem, one we can bellow out loud while we bake. I will put something together, ok, leave it to me.

When Batch 1 was done,Batch 2 went it and baked while I prepared Batch 3 and 4. Batch 3 macarons were baked on a tart tin, placed on a pizza pan, without paper and Batch 4 was made by swapping the brownie tins (one at bottom to top).

Here’s a brief description of each

Batch 1 – Baked immediately after piping. Had feet and shiny tops with a rich brown colour…but were lopsided, a bit like burger tops on the beef. Think issue with instability may have been because the baking paper I used was a bit wobbly. Tasted delish. Like a macaron. Crisp shell, chewy bottom. Amazing. Wasn’t easy to take off the paper. Especially ’cause I was in a hurry. Had to use a knife to get them off.

IMG_9449 IMG_9458IMG_9463

Batch 2 – Rested for half an hour, Had feet and duller tops with a lighter brown colour. Were well-balanced. Were very light and crisp, even after a day in fridge (without the filling though), with only a slight, ever so slight chewiness. Left super light footprints on the silicone sheet and came off a treat, with no damage to the crisp top at all.

IMG_9540 IMG_9545IMG_9557

Batch 3 – Rested. By the time I got to these, my piping nozzle had come off the bag, I also saw that the cookies didn’t spread and so I piped just using the bag. Men, was this easier. I got macarons of non-uniform size but I knew I’d be able to crudely pair them! The were ok. Very chewy and when I tried to get them off the tray, all the shells cracked, which I didn’t mind at all…..I have a super-dessert in mind for these so….I just packed them up and kept them out of sight and harm’s way (speaking of which my kids worked their way through the unfilled shells……with joy!)

Batch 4 – Same story as Batch 3. Since I put them into the oven at the same time…..May have been a mistake 🙂 but at this stage, I couldn’t care less. Victory was had and I knew I would still use them. Now with my piping bag sans nozzle, I ended up making twinned macarons…. But these overall were the best sized and more uniform shapes than any of the others (ignore the tails!)

IMG_9570

I was also a bit nonchalant about opening and closing the oven to check on the progress….For the first time in a while, I had no fear of ‘centre collapse’….

IMG_9517 IMG_9528IMG_9559 IMG_9582

Till of my own volition, I poked them too soon when they exited the oven!

IMG_9579

Now though they had feet, the feet came in a variety of forms. Some were more

‘Foot in mouth and head’ than ‘…on the ground’!

IMG_9494 IMG_9485

Others were like whales and dolphins, feet/mouth wide open! Can you see how lop-sided they are? They are the children of Batch 1.

IMG_9525

2 cheers to he who spots the alien snake or creature first?…and better not say ‘I see them everywhere’ ’cause that would be so, so wrong!

IMG_9486 IMG_9490IMG_9472


And thats almost all of it.

When it came to filling them, I made a quick matcha cream with matcha powder, a little hot water, icing sugar and creme fraiche, all mixed together. This was nice but a bit too bitter for my liking….next time I’ll ease up on the Matcha;

IMG_9955 IMG_9968IMG_9970IMG_9971IMG_9975 IMG_9977IMG_9990

I also used some chestnut puree for a filling. I especially enjoyed these….they blended so well with the chocolate with a balance of sweet and only a hint of cocoa bitterness!

IMG_9997

And finally, the last filling was clementine and cranberry curd and it had a nice, light refreshing tang which also worked well!

IMG_9995

Remember that I have a batch saved for another day and my kids had their fill. Pity the husband who let me see macs up close and personal (by bringing me some boxes back from Paris), didn’t get to enjoy them but like I said, I will do this again! Next week, I’ll be dishing up the lovely dessert I made for Macattack3, so please come back for a bite of something!

Lots of Love. Oz

IMG_9441 IMG_9442 IMG_9443

[wpurp-searchable-recipe]Mad about Macarons….and Happy Feet! – – – [/wpurp-searchable-recipe]

41 Comments

  1. I have a related thermometer that was my token for my first journey to the US. I didn’t understand that we have to place it to the chicken while it is cooking until I saw it being used in a movie.

  2. Phew – I feel as if I’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster with you! Very well done on your macs – even if your oven did give birth to the two-fingered-open-mouthed-alien-snake-creature 🙂 I take my hat off to your bravery and fortitude!

  3. Hello Kitchen Butterfly !!! Just by chance, I got to know you had mentioned me in this post!! Oh, I feel honoured !!! Thanks a lot !!!! The photos of all the process are lovely, and even if the first try is never perfection…practice, practice, practice…..
    Learning to control the piping bag is practice too, but I must be honest !!! when we have, next to us, somebody to correct us, to show us, it is much easier….!
    One thing a pastry chef taught me is “trust your eyes more than instruments” We see in the photo that the syrup was too hot…you are right, so remove the pan at 115°C….when I was working at the hotel Caesar Park, the chef did not let use the thermometer for syrups…he used to say:”look! the answer is in what you see! not in the thermometer….at 115°C the bubbles are big, very dense…they take longer to burst….did you see that at the beginning they are small and burst instantly? passing the 110°C, they become dense, and big, throghout the pan,not only in the rim….they take time to burst…check that! so one day, you won’t even need your thermometer…
    I don’t know you, but you must be such a lovely person!

  4. Wow, ok, I am inspired. One of these days, I will chase my husband from the apartment as I do not want him around when I’m doing this – and I will bake macarons! I discovered them in Paris and have eaten many ever since but have always been too intimidated to try, but you convinced me. I’m not sure if I should thank you now =)

  5. Thanks for the info. Now I know what Matcha is, I now realise I have some in the cupboard from when my husband went to Japan. I’ve drunk enough of it but never thought of using it cooking – especially sweet stuff. As for the Macarons, my confusion in this is that I always think of macaroons as made of almonds.

  6. Congrats, congrats! I miss macarons so much! I used to buy the mixed pack at Paul every Tuesday when I would go through Paddington station. Now that I’m Texas, don’t get too many of them. Looking at these pictures is totally making my mouth water! Again, well done!

  7. Thanks for your kind offer to send me some of the checkered baking sheets! I’m so touched by your kindness & generosity. But we’re so far away (i’m in Singapore & u r in Netherlands right?) and i won’t want you to spend on postages either. Thanks for the thought, really appreciate it! 🙂

  8. Congrats you got feet! LOL! Your macarons look great! 🙂 I love your checkered baking sheet! i don’t see them around here where i live.

  9. HH dear, it is well. I wish you all the best ok and I will be sure to check on you, ok?

    Choclette, Macarons are French cookies (like the ones I made), Macaroons are made of coconut and look a bit like rock cookies!

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macaron
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macaroon

    Matcha is powdered Japanese green tea. Healthy, a bit bitter but it is all the rage 🙂
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matcha

    Pedro, wow. High praise, thank you very much!!!!!!!

  10. Still trying to get to grips with the difference between Macarons and Macaroons. Yours look good though – the chestnut theme keeps cropping up at the moment and I like it. What, exactly, is Matcha?

  11. OMG, I feel your pain daaaaaaahling. Attempt number 10 for me tomorrow. Here’s my problem. They look perfect, but on the inside they are hollow, and thats horrid because they shouldn’t be like that. I am trying some new things tomorrow. If that is still not a success, next time i am going to start the italian meringue method… but i need to buy a thermometer. Your inside texture looks just right.
    I have started working on half batches so i waste less ingredients now (as all 9 attempts were failures :P). I am going to get this right if its the last thing I do though.

  12. Ann (Ben’s Mom), enjoy the Alps and see you soon!

    Krista dear, thanks. Sisters in arms, we are!

    Mireya, I’m glad you find this post useful, looking forward to seeing yours, ok?

    Mimi, it is a lifetime affliction. Can you believe I’m already thinking of making them again

    KMS,you’re making me smile. Honestly!

  13. Once your bitten by the macarron bug, it’s a life time affliction! Your macaroons look lovely. Can’t wait to see what you make next time.
    Mimi

  14. I want to conquer macaroons this year – thank you for sharing step by step instructions, as well as things you learned along the way! This is so so helpful!!

  15. I love it! I am currently with my uncle in the Alps. He is a fantastic cook, although not by trade. We did our first batch of macarons yesterday! Yeah! Not as yummy appealing as yours, though. We also did use Matcha, but in our dough. Amazing! Thanks for sharing , I learned a lot about how to improve our recipe, can’t wait to be home and try your version. =)

  16. Hi everyone, thanks a lot. Can you believe I’ve already got itchy feet….as in I desperately want to make them again!

    Catherine, thanks. Please go mad for them 🙂

    Leslie, I too was scared alive but finally decided to give it ago, I figured that if it failed, it wouldn’t be a first! But I understand perfectly!

    Velva dear, I am so excited about my box. Big hug and many kisses…

    Christine, thanks for you kind words. You guys make it all worth it 🙂

    Julia, thanks so, so much for the tips. I will remember

    mademoiselle délicieuse, you did say it….thanks for your confidence in me. I kept thinking of it the whole time…

    Meeta, thank you…can you believe I’m raring to go again :-). How addictive!

    Sarah dear, macarons are fickle but endearing! Thanks for warning me and good luck with the DBs challenge!

    Mowie. Mwah, though your macarons and mine are light years apart….but I’m glad I’m finally in the game

    Trissa, oh, what a dance I did…..hoping the neighbours wouldn’t call the police!

    Barbara – thanks a lot. Glad you like the photos, in my opinion, this is the most disorganised set of photos 🙂 considering the panic, the different days for the different elements so….but I’m so glad I’ve overcome!!!

    Beth dear, try them, oh, you will be smitten.

    Thanks Magda, I too was afraid. It took me months to drum up the courage to even consider making them.

  17. They are beautiful! Such fantastic results from a first try! I got a kitchen scale for Christmas, so I’m ready to start trying recipes like this that need very exact measurements!

  18. Wow Oz! What a post! I’m so glad I could inspire you to take on the macaron plunge =) I love how you did the separate batches And there is something very addictive about making them, isn’t there? Can’t wait to see your next ones.

  19. Fabulous! I’m so pleased you got feet straight away! My first ones in September did have feet but they’ve elluded me ever since, until last night when I did get feet but most of them cracked. They were too hard too. I too watched Mowie’s video links yesterday and I also read a few things in your post that I’d not considered before like poking holes in the cling film. I am hoping to do a better batch in time for Mactweets but in the meantime going to start my Daring Bakers challenge!

  20. Apologies if my comment comes through twice, but little internet issue here.

    Well done on your macarons. The chocolate version is the hardest to make. If you’re having trouble piping them, here’s a hint. Hold the tip of the pastry bag close to the baking tray, almost right on the paper. Then gently squeeze. It helps control the shape and keeps it uniform.

    So looking forward to more macarons from you! Thank you for the lovely mention.

  21. Ozoz, my hat is off to you! There would be no way that I would have had the patience. I would have been cursing and my feet would be stamping (laugh). I have seen a trend on teh food blogs taking on the challenge of making macarons. You did a good job. I think I will just enjoy the pleasures of eating these delights with a good cup of coffee.

    P.S. I am hoping to mail your box tomorrow. I will send you an email.

  22. Better you than me..I am too much of a scardy cat to make Macarons!!!
    They look divine. I am glad you got to finally get to do the happy dance

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.