Happy Halloween! Errrrr, in a few days!
I made you spooky, creepy black macarons. And then I ate them all up before it was Halloween and had to make more. Repeat times 3.
I used my basic French macaron recipe for the shells. I made the recipe years ago, and I keep coming back to it. I also made a chocolate macaron version, because life is not complete without a chocolate version. I even altered the recipe to make salted caramel macarons, and put it in my cookbook. It’s just a solid recipe.
I originally thought it would be hard to scale down such a finnicky French recipe, but as it turns out, the recipe is usually based on weight, which is much, much easier to scale down. See also: easy to scale up.
I don’t pray to the macaron gods before making these tiny, chewy little cookies, though I do take a bit of help. I use a mixture of egg whites and powdered meringue. You can find the powdered meringue at the craft or hobby store (don’t forget your coupon!). I love it because it basically makes the recipe fail-proof, and plus, it has a hint of vanilla that flavors the macarons so nicely. Plus, it just smells so good. Sometimes, I open the powdered meringue jar in my pantry and take a sniff. This is my life.
In the many iterations of these cookies that I made, I once played around with anise extract and made them licorice flavored. I completely loved it, though licorice makes most people run for the hills. I even shared homemade black licorice on this site before, and the Facebook response was um, not nice. Can we still be friends over red licorice?
So, make these vanilla-flavored, make them licorice-flavored, whatever you fancy.
Oh, one final note: I used whipped cream as the filling instead of the usual buttercream. I love the airy, lightness of macarons, and have always felt that buttercream weighs them down.
Happy Halloween, friends! Be safe! Definitely don’t dress your 6-month old daughter up like a cat and take a million photos, ok? Cuz that’d be copying me. *I used food coloring gel, not the liquid. It's much more intense than liquid food colors, and that's a good thing when it comes to macarons--you don't want to add too many extraneous things to the batter for fear it might break.
Spooky Black Macarons
Ingredients
For the filling:
Instructions
Notes
As always, check out my recipe index to use the leftover egg yolks from making this recipe.
1. I need cat picture. like STAT.
2. I also need spooky macarons double STAT. I have a confession: I’ve NEVER had a macaron.
I know, i live under a rock. BUT, I must start with these! Love the Halloween vibes girl!
I love the idea of whipped cream vs buttercream! Such a good idea! These look like such a good grown up Halloween treat!
These look so cool! I have yet to make (or try) a macaron – and I definitely need to! These macarons sound like a perfect Halloween dessert :)
Dani | http://www.styledvariety.com
These look awesome!! I hope you share lots of those baby cat pictures :D
1. I agree with Taylor – we need photos of that kitten!
2. I just got both of your cookbooks during our recent USA holiday and I think I’ve flagged every single recipe!
3. I love these black macarons and the fact that the recipe makes just enough for me to jam in my mouth :) I’m not sharing.
4. I LOVE BLACK LICORICE! I am going to give your recipe a try – STAT! My family is Danish and red ‘licorice’ is not licorice at all! It’s coloured candy. Real licorice is aniseed filled and preferably salty!
how cool!! I love the inky black color of these macarons!
Super creepy! These look absolutely tasty. Yum!
I volunteer!
That’s sooo cute that you’re dressing up your daughter as a cat! Hope you take a ton of photos! I’ll have to try that meringue powder trick! I have yet to make a successful batch of macarons!
These look great, and not intimidating! When you say older egg white, what does that mean?? Thank you!
Macarons are literally my favorite cookie on the planet, and the two places I love most in KC that make them, WENT OUT OF BUSINESS. Saying I’m upset is a severe understatement. I’ve been meaning to try and make them at home, and you make them sound so easy…..It needs to happen!
My black gel is turning blue navy how to fix this
Add a touch more….that has more to do with your gel than the recipe.
Hahaha. What is ? cup ?
And yes… you need to share the Halloween photos