Almond Macarons Recipe. All Variations
Much ado about Macarons!
You will never think of macarons as institutional fare after you taste these elegant and easy treats, close cousins of the amaretto cookies, and distinct from the often institutional coconut-based macaroons.
Gluten-free without even trying!
If you get lazy and would rather use store-bought ground almonds, also called almond flour or almond meal, use 2½ cups ground and mix everything by hand. If you are fond of hazelnuts, or pecans or cashews, simply substitute them for the almonds. The trademark of macarons is their sandwiched presentation, with jam to make them stick together, or very simple fillings, like this one. No problem making them on Passover, if you use nut butter for filling. And if you want to eat un-sandwiched plain macaron cookies, sans filling, this is your life, so go right ahead!
Ingredients
- 2 cups unblanched almonds
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon instant coffee powder
- 3 egg whites
- Good pinch salt
- 1⁄3 cup sugar
Chocolate filling:
- 1 cup chocolate chips, best quality melted, on a very low flame or in a microwave
- 1 teaspoon coffee powder
- ½ cup dairy-free cream cheese
Whisk while the chocolate is still warm. Let the mixture cool before filling the macarons.
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 325°F.
In a food processor, grind the almonds, powdered sugar, and flavoring to a fine powder, making sure you do not over mix. Beat the egg whites and salt in a bowl with an electric mixer, then add the sugar and beat again until the mixture is firm. Fold in the almond mixture until thoroughly combined.
Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper. Drop the cookies through a pastry bag fitted with a plain round tip, the size of walnuts. Bake 20 minutes, until golden. Do not allow the cookies to darken. Let the cookies cool.
Spread half the cookies with the filling (recipe below), and top them with another cookie. Store at room temperature in an airtight cookie tin. Makes 18 macarons.
Amaretto Cookies:
No sandwiching, no filling. Skip the coffee in the macarons, and use 2 to 3 tablespoons amaretto liqueur.
Lemon Almond Cookies:
No sandwiching, no filling. skip the coffee. Add 2 tablespoons lemon zest and 3 tablespoons lemon juice
Dear Levana.
These sound amazing but I’d love to substitute something for the pareve cream cheese that I haven’t seen for Pesach. Any ideas?
Sallie dear, I hate to say this, but this my idea: Don’t make it fit for Pessach! You can make the macarons, and you can make other fillings. So this is what you should do! What about the filling with the cream cheese in it? Make it BEFORE AND AFTER Pessach!
Dearest Levana,
Thanks tons for those delightful almond macaroons recipe!
Can’t keep away from them.And the coffee gives it such
amazing twist!!!
Love,
Paulette
Dearest Paulette, My baker extraordinaire friend: You’ll LOVE’em! Let’s talk soon xoxoxo
I love it when cookies go creative. And this time it’s chocolate coffee filling? Crazy! Haha. This is a must try recipe. I have a great feeling this would be my family’s next favorite. ^_^
If you’d like what our kids’ favorite is too, here’s the recipe: http://www.gourmetrecipe.com/recipes/chewy-chocolate-cookie-recipe-easy-chocolava-cookies
Hope you like it! =>