Easy Macaron Recipe Step by Step

Homemade French macarons with a crisp, glossy shell and chewy interior. This is a French meringue method that uses just five ingredients. Sandwich them with your favorite filling for endless flavor combinations. Makes around 15 filled macarons (30 shells).

📝 Ingredients

• 100 g ground almonds
• 180 g confectioners sugar
• 90 g egg whites
• 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
• 50 g granulated white sugar

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Sift the almond flour and confectioners sugar together into a bowl. If your almond flour is coarse, pulse it in a food processor with the confectioners sugar until fine, then sift. Take care not to over-blend or the oils in the almonds will release and the mixture will clump.
2. 2In a clean, dry bowl, whip the egg whites and cream of tartar with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Gradually add the granulated sugar, a tablespoon at a time, while continuing to whip. Keep whipping until you have stiff, glossy peaks and the sugar has fully dissolved. Rub a little between your fingers to check for grains. Stop once you reach this stage.
3. 3Add about a third of the sifted almond mixture to the meringue. Fold it in with a spatula (don't whisk) until well incorporated. Add the remaining almond mixture and continue folding until the batter flows like thick lava and falls in ribbons. You should be able to draw a figure 8 in the batter that dissolves back into itself after about 10 seconds. If adding color, fold in a few drops of gel food coloring during this stage.
4. 4Spoon the batter into a piping bag fitted with a 1/4-inch round tip. Line two baking trays with parchment paper or silicone mats (use a dab of batter to stick the parchment down). Pipe 1-inch (2.5 cm) circles onto the trays, holding the bag straight down.
5. 5Bang the trays firmly on the counter two or three times to release air bubbles. Pop any remaining bubbles with a toothpick.
6. 6Let the piped macarons sit at room temperature for about 40 minutes, or until the surface is dry to the touch and no longer sticky. On humid days, this may take longer.
7. 7Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). Bake one tray at a time for 15-17 minutes. The macarons are done when the tops are set and they don't wobble on their feet when gently nudged. Let them cool completely on the tray before peeling off the parchment.
8. 8Match shells by size. Pipe or spoon filling onto the flat side of one shell and sandwich with a matching shell.