Description
Delicate raspberry pistachio macarons blend French pastry elegance with nutty and fruity notes. Crisp almond shells sandwich silky cream, offering a luxurious balance of textures you’ll savor with pure delight.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large egg whites, room temperature
- ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar
- ¾ cup (75g) almond flour
- ¼ cup (25g) finely ground pistachios
- Green food coloring (optional, for a pistachio hue)
- ½ cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups (180g) powdered sugar
- 2 tbsps raspberry jam or fresh raspberry puree
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preparation: Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats, ensuring smooth surfaces for perfect macaron formation.
- Dry Mixture: Sift almond flour, ground pistachios, and powdered sugar together, creating a fine, uniform powder without lumps.
- Meringue Development: Whip egg whites until frothy, gradually adding granulated sugar while whisking to create glossy, stiff peaks that hold their shape.
- Flavor Enhancement: Gently fold vanilla extract and optional food coloring into the meringue, maintaining its delicate air-filled structure.
- Batter Creation: Carefully fold dry ingredients into meringue using a spatula, achieving a flowing, ribbon-like consistency through approximately 50 precise strokes.
- Piping and Resting: Transfer batter to a piping bag with a round tip, pipe uniform 1-inch circles onto prepared sheets, then tap trays to release air bubbles and allow macarons to rest at room temperature for 30-60 minutes until a delicate skin forms.
- Baking: Preheat oven to the specified temperature, bake macarons until they develop crisp shells with characteristic smooth tops and delicate feet.
Notes
- Master Meringue Technique: Whip egg whites carefully, ensuring no yolk traces and using a clean, grease-free bowl for maximum volume and stability.
- Perfect Batter Consistency: Fold dry ingredients into meringue with precise “macaronage” technique – stop mixing when batter flows like slow-moving lava without breaking.
- Prevent Cracking Strategy: Allow piped macarons to rest before baking, creating a protective skin that ensures smooth, glossy shells and prevents surface imperfections.
- Customize Flavor Profile: Experiment with alternative nut flours like ground almonds or hazelnuts, and swap vanilla extract for complementary flavor extracts like rosewater or almond essence.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 147
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 25 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg