French Macarons

Ingredients:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• ¾ cup almond flour (regular flour cannot be substituted)
• 2 egg whites, room temperature
• Pinch cream of tartar (optional)
• ¼ cup super-fine sugar

Options for Coloring and Flavoring the Cookie:

• 3-4 drops of red food coloring (for pink macarons)
• 4 drops of green food coloring (for green macarons)
• 4 drops of yellow food coloring (for yellow macarons)
• 1 whole vanilla bean, scrape out inside only (for white macarons)
• 2 tsp cinnamon (for brown macarons)
• 2 Tbsp cocoa powder (for brown macarons)

Basic Meringue Filling:

• 6 egg whites, large
• 1½ cups sugar
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• or other prefered filling such as flavored buttercreams, mixtures of jellies and other cream filling.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Measure all ingredients so they are ready before you begin. Separate the eggs whites and keep at room temperature until ready to incorporate.
2. In a food processor, pulse powdered sugar and almond flour. Sift combined mixture 2 times.
3. Whip the room-temperature egg whites on high with a mixer until foamy and then add cream of tartar.
4. Slowly stream in superfine sugar and whip until stiff and shiny, about 2 minutes on high.
5. Gently fold in desired food coloring and/or flavor extract, sugar and flour mixture into egg white mixture. Fold the ingredients as little as possible until it is smooth, shiny and slightly runny. If it holds its form, it is under mixed.
6. Scoop into piping bag fitted with a small round tip.
7. Pipe onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, holding the piping bag in one place while applying pressure. Release pressure when a 1” cookie has been formed and gently swirl the tip out of the mixture without forming a peak. This will allow the cookie to remain smooth on top. Let stand at room temperature 30-40 minutes.
8. Bake in preheated oven at 325 degrees for 5-10 minutes, until cookies are firm and crisp. Be sure to keep a close eye on the cookies – they should not brown on top. Remove cookies from oven and cool.
9. For a basic meringue filling, place egg whites and sugar in a heatproof bowl over a pan of simmering water. Whisk until sugar dissolves and mixture reaches 160 degrees on a candy thermometer.
10. Remove from heat, whip on high speed until mixture is cool and stiff peaks form, approximately 6 minutes. Beat in vanilla extract. Use immediately.
11. Sandwich 2 same-size macaroons with 1 teaspoon meringue, flavored buttercream or other desired filling.
12. Serve immediately, or stack between layers of parchment, wrap well in plastic, and freeze for up to 3 months.