The problem with macarons is that they are TOO SMALL. One or two bites and you are done with them. These tiny treats should really have been at least the size of a doughnut. Especially if you take into account the effort that goes into making them. Making macarons is not easy. My plan was to publish my favourite recipe here, but then I had second thoughts. A recipe alone is not enough. The best way to learn how to make macarons is by watching someone else do it. So I had a look on Youtube and I found an excellent video posted by Beth Le Manach. This video has the added advantage, contrary to several others, that the word “macaron” is pronounced correctly. En plus, there is no confusion between “macarons” and “macaroons,” two entirely different but equally tiny treats.
This is what macarons look like:
And these are macaroons:
Here is the list of ingredients used in the video:
- 3 egg whites (at room temperature)
- ¼ cup white sugar (50 g)
- 2 cups confectioners sugar (200 g)
- 1 cup almond flour (120 g)
- pinch of salt
- ¼ tsp cream of tartar (2 ml)
- raspberry icing
- ¼ cup salted butter (60g)
- ¾ cup powdered sugar (75 g)
- 1 cup (150 g) fresh raspberries, pressed through a sieve to extract 3 tbsp of juice
Instructions:
The reason I still make these myself from time to time, especially for our mindfulness meditation workshop participants, instead of buying them in my favourite patisserie Du Sucre dans l’Air in Aire-sur-Adour, is because I can make them BIGGER at home. So there.
Weekly Photo Challenge: tiny
Equine Guided Growth 
I too find a certain meditative quality to cooking and baking. And eating. Definitely in eating. (I’m being silly, but I did just write my own article on Mindful Eating. I think you have to eat something like this mindfully and cherish it.)
I have just read your article – it is excellent.
I’m not a big sweets eater so to me the size of a macaroon is quite perfect, but I know so many people (like my sister in law) who totally agree with you, and I understand why! Definitely pinning this for later!
‘Might have to’ not ‘my Ghanaian’! 🙂
They look delish, thank you. My Ghanaian have to try them this weekend 😀👌x
Thanks so much for the recipe, they look amazing !
Looks yummy
I vote that they be the size of a doughnut, as well! 🙂
I love all Beth’s recipes! Good choice 😀
Thank you for stopping by, Bernadine!
Your welcome!😊
Ooh yummy! I must admit that when I first saw ‘macarons’ written, I did think people were just misspelling ‘macaroons’, but eventually I saw macarons written alongside pictures & realised they actually were something different! Never tried making macarons or macaroons!
Macaroons are easier to make and just as delicious!
Macarons and Macaroons – they both look equally delicious. I thought they were different spellings of the same item – so thank you for pointing out that they are different! 😊
Oh yes, and both equally addictive!
Haha! Here’s to bigger Margaretha. My daughter is learning and the other day she made them for the first time. They were heaven on earth. She tried to make them a second time and she flopped so I guess we need to work on that. I’ll send your recipe to her.
That sounds about right, Mary. I seem to get them right about every second time. Hope you have had a good weekend. getting a bit cooler here now…
I’ve always wanted to try making some, but never got around to it. Maybe I’ll watch that video😋
I prefer to make tarte tatin, so much easier! I’ll put my recipe for that up soon.
Yes, please! I love tarte tatin
Must be the easiest dessert ever invented.
If something is too small, I tend to eat more of them. Bigger is better. 😊
Yes, but then I start feeling guilty sooner.
I just don’t seem to have any control over bite sized bits. At least, when they are bigger, I limit myself to two. 😊
I know exactly what you mean. Here you can buy some pretty decent (though small) ones in packets of ten. Different flavours, so one has to have more than one. One actually has to have five, as there are two of each flavour. You can imagine how fast those disappear. When they are a bit bigger, I can limit myself to a chocolate one and a coffee one. One has to think of one’s horse.