In the last 6 months, I have had a roller coaster love/hate relationship with making Macarons. There is all this taboo around them, and I tend scoff at anything that has unnecessary stigma surrounding it. But I'm going to be real with you, here. French Macarons haven't been easy for me. I don't have schooling when it comes to baking, I learn as I go and use some kind of common sense and follow the recipe to a T. However, I am used to things turning out, usually on the first go. I guess that's why i have stuck with baking/decorating for so long, because it's easy. French Macarons are not easy. Even though I vowed to just follow the recipe, I find myself talking to the cookies, willing them to come out right. Voodoo, hoodoo, knock on wood, I do it, because I don't care what anyone says, these cookies are temperamental and I get very frustrated when they don't come out perfectly.
I went from having a 50% success rate when I first learned how to make them, to having about a 90% success rate. Yowza! Sometimes I have bad days and they just don't turn out. The foot isn't developed, or I over mix my base. It happens. I don't worry to much about it. Trash them, start over. But I have actually started liking the process. I enjoy finding the perfect consistency, and piping the right size, letting them rest just long enough.
Yesterday, or the day before, I can't remember now, all of my days are blending together, I made these mocha macarons. They came out pretty darn good, if I do say so myself. Just the perfect bland of espresso and cocoa, with a sweet chocolate buttercream.
I don't have too much of a sweet tooth, and my teeth tend to hurt when I eat a lot of sugar, BUT, I took a itty bitty bite from one and they tasted just like a mocha!
That's all for now. Back to the work table for some Mad Men and making sunglasses. Also, I am interested in doing a lot more dessert recipes on here. Any requests??
xo,
Beca
ohlalala they look amazing!! :)
ReplyDeleteOh my WOrd! I have never tried one bc they are too colorful...but i would try a mocha one!!!!
ReplyDeleteYes more dessert recipes!!!
xo
b
The colorful macarons can be a little intimidating for people who don't like food coloring. I personally like them more when they are neutral and you can see the bits of walnut flour peeking through. :)
ReplyDeleteOh my, these look DELICIOUS!!! I tried a macaroon for the first time this year - so good! I've never made my own, I've only had store bought, but these sound fantastic!!!
ReplyDeletei want to call you and have you tell me the secrets of making perfect macaroons.
ReplyDeleteim also used to being able to make anything on the first try and this is the one thing i cant seem to grasp. theyre so foreign to me.
are you game?
anytime. do you still have my number?
ReplyDeleteLovely! I've never tried making macarons before, but from how you described the process, I think am up for the challenge because I would feel so proud if ANY of them came out all right. Haha!
ReplyDeletePlease do share more baking recipes! I don't have any requests specifically, just yummy baked goods. :]