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Has anyone made these? I'm going to try them, but if you have any special tricks, ideas up your sleeve, would love to hear about them before I start. Thanks!

They are one of my favorites. But I have never made them preferring to pay big bucks to buy ready made ones (LOL)

Martha

quote:

Originally posted by Linderhof:
They are one of my favorites. But I have never made them preferring to pay big bucks to buy ready made ones (LOL)

Martha

I agree with you Martha! We don't have any local bakeries that sell them so if I want them I have to mail order them and they're simply not the same as when you get them fresh from the bakery. First time I had them was when we were in Paris a few years ago and although I'm not really into sweet foods, these caught my eye simply because they were so pretty, so we bought a few and ate them while walking... immediately my husband and I turned around and went straight back to the bakery for a dozen more to bring back to our hotel! I'm going to give them a try so I can have them at home for holidays and such! I don' think they could be that difficult, if I have to try it a few times I'm willing too to have this sugary confection at home!

I'm lucky as I have a store that sells nothing but macaroons nearby. You can see their web site here. I have no vested interest in the company other than as a customer.
http://www.lettemacarons.com/

quote:

Originally posted by Graciepj:
I'm lucky as I have a store that sells nothing but macaroons nearby. You can see their web site here. I have no vested interest in the company other than as a customer.
http://www.lettemacarons.com/

They all look so good, that makes me want to learn to make them even more, especially since they include the flavors of the insides yummy!!

I have attempted to make them in my kitchen, using many different recipes.
No success, at least to something similar to the French ones.

But each time I have been to Paris...It was one of the first things I bought there and again right before the trip home.

On our cruise, they had macaroons every day at tea time! Sigh! Almost 18 days of them every afternoon!

Martha

Macarons are the pastel meringue French sandwich cookie with ganache or other filling.
Macaroons are the almond paste or coconut type cookie mound.
The two words are similar, but the kind of cookies are not synonymous.

I think we're all talking about the same French cookie even though we seem to be spelling it wrong! Sigh! I still love them (as well as the coconut ones that I DO make) but still have never made them. And I did have them every day at tea time on the cruise. One NEVER tires of a good macaron.

Martha

Yes, I was unaware of the spelling difference.
Sorry.
Comes in many flavors/colors/fillings. Never met one that was unworthy...from the Paris patisseries.

You can buy the Almond meal for just under $5 at Trader Joes. It works well. I've had good luck with them. Key is beating of egg whites. Just use basic egg rules for that. Also trace a circle with a pencil on the opposite side of parchment paper. I used food containers/ medicine bottles to match the size circle needed. Double bag the filling in two - gallon baggies if you don't want to use cookie presses. Mine was pierced by my nail. I tossed the gallon bags at clean up time. That was easier than looking for appropriate tube tips for cookie/icing bags and then washing them. Good luck.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Leafly,

However we spell it, they sure are tasty!! I was able to find the Almond Flour in our grocery store, I bought 2 2lb. bags to cover the mistakes I'm sure to make!! I plan to learn to make these perfectly, and when I do I'm going to post the recipe so everyone that loves to eat these and has the desire to make them, can!! It may take me a while but I'm going to do it!

quote:

Originally posted by Linderhof:
On our cruise, they had macaroons every day at tea time! Sigh! Almost 18 days of them every afternoon!

Martha

The French ones??? I would gladly gain 5 lbs to eat them everyday... you lucky girl!!

I did an internet search for macarons and found some recipes but I ended up making lemon ones from a magazine that I bought at Fresh Market a year ago. The editors advise that you eat them within two days of making them if I remember correctly. The almond flour is at sky high prices at my Kroge_ and my Publi_ but it was reasonable at Trader Jo__. Good Luck.