French Vanilla Macarons
More Macarons! French Vanilla Macarons this time!
If you follow my recipes for a while, you notice I enjoy making macarons and cupcakes the most probably. And vegan desserts, but anyway, this isn’t vegan because it takes eggs, and I have yet to work on a vegan macaron recipe, although a couple of people have messaged me about it. I will try soon! And hope to publish the results here!
Anyway, these French Vanilla Macarons are very simple. I decided to make them blue and white, maybe I was inspired after searching for some Easter recipes inspiration.
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I made an Easter macaron recipe last year, my Robin’s Eggs Macarons. They were served at my son’s birthday party hint: it was a Peter Rabbit themed party. Other Easter macarons we had at the party were: Matcha Macarons, and Lemon Macarons.
Anyway, here we are, almost a year later, Easter right around the corner, and I won’t be ashamed to say I’m already in the mood. I love the holiday, and specially now that is around my son’s birthday, and the beginning of spring, making it one of the most fun times of the year.
These are called French Vanilla Macarons because they are filled with a French Vanilla Buttercream, which is a yolk-base buttercream.
We start by making an egg/sugar syrup and bringing its temperature up over a double boiler, while whisking non-stop. Once the yolk syrup reaches 155F, we remove it and whip it at a high speed in the mixer.
That’s because at 155F, the yolks will be at a safe temperature to be consumed.
Anyway, once we whip the yolk/sugar mixture and achieve stiff peaks, we can start to add the butter until a thick, smooth cream forms.
These French Vanilla Macarons are perfect for freezing, since their filling is a simple buttercream. You don’t want to freeze macarons that take a wet filling such as jam. That’s because the jam will make the macaron shells too wet, and they simply won’t freeze too well.
Now these French Vanilla macarons are just perfect for that. Which is why I love macarons for birthday parties and events, because they can be made ahead and frozen, since they freeze beautifully.
I hope you liked today’s recipe. If you are looking to master macarons, I have a tone of macaron recipes on my website. Just click here to check out some more macaron recipes.
If you are new to making macarons, check out my Matcha Macarons post, where I go over some main tips and techniques. On my Raspberry Macarons post, I talk about Almond Flour, brands, sifting methods, etc. On my Espresso Macarons post, I answer common questions about making macarons. On my Lemon Macarons post, I talk about macaron shelf life and storage. Check them out! And also, there are tones of other resources online that can help you.
I have started writing a macaron e-book. I still don’t have a date to release it yet, but at least I’ve started it. I’ve written a few pages so far. There are many questions I want to answer, and I realize how hard making macarons can be, so I want to be able to help everyone that wants to learn, by providing valuable tips I’ve learned through the years of making macarons, failing at it, and also succeeding.
French Vanilla Macarons
Ingredients
Macaron Shells
- 100 grams egg whites
- 100 grams white granulated sugar
- 105 grams almond flour
- 105 grams powdered sugar
- Food coloring optional
French Vanilla Buttercream
- 3 yolks
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1.7 oz, 50 grams
- 1/2 tablespoon bourbon rum, or another liquid
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 9 tablespoons unsalted butter softened (4.5 oz, 127 grams)
Instructions
Macaron Shells
- Before you start, get all of your ingredients ready. Prepare a large piping bag, fitted with a large round tip.
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicon mat.
- Under my parchment, I put a layout with circles that measure about 1 1/2 inches each. That’s how big I like to pipe my macarons.
- Measure out all of your ingredients.
- Sift powdered sugar and almond flour together. Set aside.
- Now you can finally start.
- Place egg whites and granulated sugar in a heat proof bowl or in a double boiler. Over a pan of simmering water, whisk the whites and sugar until frothy and sugar completely melted. It will take a couple minutes. You can test by touching the mixture between your fingers, and if you feel any sugar granules just keep whisking mixture over the water bath.
- Make sure the bottom of the bowl isn’t touching the simmering water.
- Transfer mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer. (I use my kitchenAid bowl when doing this, because it makes it easier)
- With the whisk attachment, whisk mixture on high speed for a few minutes until stiff peaks are formed.
- Best way to check this is to keep your eye on the whites. Once they get glossy and you start seeing streaks formed by the whisk, it might be time to stop.
- You don’t want to overbeat the mixture at this point, because you don’t want to add too much air to it. Just whisk until stiff peaks have formed.
- Pour powdered sugar and almond flour into stiff whites.
- Start folding gently forming a letter J with a spatula. Add the food coloring at this point if you would like to use any.
- It’s time to stop folding when the batter is glossy and has a thick and flowing consistency. There are several ways to test this.
- First, I pick up some batter with my spatula and try to draw a figure 8 with the batter that is dripping off the spatula. If you can form several 8 figures without the batter breaking up, that’s one indication that it might be ready.
- Then, I grab a teaspoon of batter and spoon onto my parchment paper or silicone mat.
- If the batter stays stiff and doesn’t spread out a bit, I start folding a little bit more, about 3 folds.
- Test again.
- Once the batter spreads out a bit and starts to look glossy on the parchment paper, I transfer my mixture to the piping bag.
- You don’t want your batter to be too runny either. So be careful not to overmix. It’s always best to undermix and test several times until the proper consistency has been achieved.
- Once you’ve piped as many 1 1/2” circles as you could, bang the trays against the counter a few times each. This will release air bubbles that are in the batter and prevent your macaron shells from cracking.
- Let your trays sit for a while so the shells will dry out a little bit. I usually leave about 20-40 minutes, depending on how humid the day is. You’ll know they’re ready when you gently touch the surface of a macaron and it seems dry.
- Pre-heat the oven to 300°F.
- Bake one tray at a time.
- Bake for 4 minutes, rotate tray.
- Bake for 4 more minutes, check if it needs to be rotated again. You will know if it needs to be rotated again depending on how the macarons are baking. Take a look at them, if one side seems taller then the other, maybe you have to rotate the tray again.
- Bake for around 2-4 more minutes. Really keep an eye out, not to overbake.
- When baked, the macarons will have a deeper color and formed feet.
- Remove from the oven and bake the other tray.
- Let the macarons cool down before proceeding with the filling.
French Buttercream
- Start by bringing a small pot with about 1 inch of water to a boil.
- In the bowl of your mixer place yolks, sugar, vanilla, and bourbon (or liquid of choice). Whisk until combined over the pan of boiling water.
- Make sure the bottom of the bowl isn’t touching the water at all.
- Whisk mixture until yolks reach 155F.
- Transfer bowl to the mixer stand, and start whisking the yolk-sugar mixture at high speed until fluffy and stiff, for 7-8 minutes.
- Add butter to the mixer, one tablespoon at a time, scraping the bowl if necessary.
- Mixture should come together and form a creamy, smooth, yellowish, thick buttercream.
To assemble
- Pipe some of the buttercream on top of a macaron shell and top it with another shell.
Storage
- Store macarons in the fridge for up to 5 days, and in the freezer for up to 2 months, in an airtight container.
Muita inspiração pra fazer um doce assim, parabéns Ca!!!!!!
Hi!! I’d love to make this frosting but I don’t want to use rum. What other liquid do you recommend? Thanks
Hey there Juana! You can use vanilla extract, another liquor, or simply leave it out! It will turn out wonderful!
Thank you! Have a great day!
I recommend using milk or almond milk
It just tastes like butter.
I added powdered sugar and mine turned out much better.
Yeah, as is, the frosting has a really odd taste and consistency. As the other comment says, I added powdered sugar which greatly improved the flavor and texture. I just added it until it became like a regular frosting. Maybe a cup and a half.
Thanks for your feedback. That’s what french buttercream is supposed to taste like though. Maybe go for a regular American Buttercream instead 😊
I would love to have this recipe sent to my email.
I only have salted butter at the moment. Is it okay if I use salted butter for the buttercream?
Yes!
Also, when I piped the mixture onto the tray, some of them have these pretty big “macaron nipples” because of my weak piping skills. Will it somehow go away during baking? If not, what can I do? Can i just gently pat the bumps down before putting it into the oven?
Yes you could try to pat them, or smooth them with a toothpick as long as the batter hasn’t dried yet, but the nipples are there because the batter is undermixed. So next time just fold the batter a couple more times if you see these nipples forming.
I have a small electrical oven. Would it be fine to us it, or would I have to use an oven.
I don’t recommend using a small electric oven. You need an oven with thick walls that will be able to keep the internal temperature somewhat constant. these small electric ovens fluctuate the temperature a lot in order to try and keep it an average of what you set it too, and since the walls are thin, and usually the doors are flimsy, the temperature oscillates a lot, which is the opposite of optimal in order to bake perfect macarons.
Is there a better or easier way to pipe them than the way I’m using (which is starting from the middle and making a pinwheel round shape) because when I do this it doesn’t go away after baking
Place the piping bag at a 90 degree angle right on top of the center of the circle template. apply gentle pressure for about 3 seconds, then pull the bag up as you twist quickly. You can watch my youtube videos showing this:)
Thanks for so many macaron choices. Question – when heating the egg whites and sugar, can you use your mixer bowl to heat and then whip them in the same bowl or do you have to transfer the liquid. If you keep it in the same bowl it is hot and I don’t know if that affects the meringue.
yes you can use your mixer bowl. You shouldn’t heat the mixture so much that the bowl will be extremely hot anyway, it only takes 1 to 2 minutes to dissolve the sugar.
Your French Macaron always have such lovely colors. How do you make the 2 color macaron? Do you have 2 different batch for each color or do you divide the the mixed up batch to 2 then add the color?
This explains how I do it. https://www.piesandtacos.commms-macarons-plus-video-tutorial-on-how-to-make-different-color-shells-from-one-batch/
I usually make different colors from the same batch 🙂
I made this recipe just now and I was only able to pipe out 30 or so shells but the yield for the recipe is 26, which would mean 52 shells. I piped 1.5 inch diameter circles as you suggested, and I measured all of my ingredients by weight. Any idea where I went wrong? Was I supposed to pipe smaller than the drawn circle?
(Will report when they have baked so I can mention whatever else is wrong with them. I have a feeling I overmixed because I couldn’t tell if “several figure eights” included just 2 and a half-ish figure eights before breaking. They are definitely spreading now while they rest)
It’s hard for me to tell without looking at them, but the recipe should definitely make between 45 to 55 shells. It depends on the consistency of the meringue and of the batter. Sounds like your batter may have been under mixed.
I think they turned out a bit hollow, which also suggests undermixing. My macarons spread out into each other while resting, which probably just means I didn’t leave enough room between them. They also stuck to my silpat, which I read suggests I didn’t cook them long enough.
Oh well, the ones I have seem tasty and I’m going to give it another go tomorrow or this weekend.
Keep me posted, if you have pictures send to my email or to my instagram dm, so I can help you identify the issues, it’s easier to be able to look at them! Thank you!
I also got 32.
Hi,
How long would this buttercream last?
Thanks!
This buttercream will last quite a bit. Up to 10 days in the fridge, and up to 2 months in the freezer.
I am having troubles making the buttercream. After the egg mixture has very stiff peaks I begin to add the butter but the mixture immediately turns liquidy (very liquidy). I have made your other buttercreams, such as the salted caramel buttercream and it has turned out perfect! Do you know why this is happening? I’ve tried more than once and the same thing happens every time! Thanks!
Are you using butter that’s really soft? The butter should be softened but not too warm, or losing shape. It has to be still somewhat firm, but not cold.
Wow thanks for responding so quickly Camilla! It’s really embarassing but I was using the egg whites instead of the yoke, temporary brain lapse😅.
I absolutely love this recipe! I was wondering if the standard cup measurements were taken away. I always make this recipe with regular cups and teaspoons and it works great every time. Just wondering if I missed them this time or am looking at the wrong macaron recipe 🙂
Thank you!
Hello Tiana, I have removed the cup measurements, and I am removing from all the old recipes that still have it. That’s because one cup of scooped almond flour doesnt necessarily weigh as much as an actual cup of almond flour, and a lot of people may be using more or less than what they actually need by not using a scale to measure the ingredients with accuracy. And when it comes to macarons, it is all about precision, because so many variables come into place, that you don’t want to leave anything to chance.
And the weigh of the ingredients is one thing that can be controlled.
I am glad the cup measurement works for you, I’ve seen more people talk about it working for them, but they are probably more experienced bakers who know their way around the kitchen. For beginners, and for most bakers, it’s best to use a scale. I only measure my ingredients with a scale using the weigh measurements.
This is the second macaron recipe I have tried, I am so glad I found your blog! It has made the macaron making experience fun and adventurous, thank you for all the thorough directions and work you put into your recipes. I had issues the first time making it where I had cracking and lopsided. I put a tray at the top to have more consistent heat when you mentioned there were hot spots and the shells from this recipe came out great!
Hi! I love your recipes! Question – Every time I make macarons, half of my tray is perfect, and half cracks. Do you know why this might be happening? If half are ok, I don’t suspect it has to do with the batter?
Should I fold the batter more? I have noticed more air bubbles with fresher eggs. Would adjusting the oven shelf height help? Or the oven temp? Or more resting?
if half is cracking and half isnt it could be a oven issue. Are you rotating the trays halfway through baking?
Yes, I’m rotating them! They usually crack within the first half if they’re going to crack. On the last batch it was half/half for the first tray, and on the second tray, all cracked except for 1!
do you have an oven thermometer?
No, would you recommend getting one?
I wanted to mention I do have a convection option that only goes up to 300 degrees Fahrenheit, but I wasn’t sure what the cook time conversion is for 300 degrees.
Hello Camila,
I was wondering if I could use regular flour instead of almond flour, or if I absolutely have to use almond flour. I haven’t made this recipe yet, so I just wanted to ask ahead of time. I’m hoping to make it soon and I’m very excited.
Thank you so much!.
Yes you can, but decrease it a bit. Use around 95 grams of all purpose flour instead.
Will using different flour effect the batter?
Hi! Can I use this recipe for a french method?
I tried that last week, the feet were very small.
Holy crap!!! These are amazing, and they taste so good! My mother tried one after I finished filling them, and she said that it was the first macaroon she she has eaten that was delicious in a long time. Thank you so much.
That’s amazing to hear! thank you so much!!
Could you use amaretto in the buttercream?
For sure, you could add a little bit 🙂
Quick question: can you make the buttercream the night before?
yes you can. make sure to let it come to room temperature and give it a quick whisk before using.
Thank you very much
Hello. I made these, and the shells came out perfectly. However, it was way too sweet for my family. I’m thinking of decreasing the total amount of sugar in the recipe by 1/3 to see how they taste. Do you think it would be best to reduce both of the sugars by 1/3, or just reduce one of the sugars by 68 g? If I just reduce thur amount of one of the sugars, which do you recommend?
I dont recommend reducing the sugar at all. It’s not about taste, sugar is very important for the structure of the shell. I explain in detail the science behind it here: https://www.piesandtacos.comsugar-role-in-macarons/
Hi Camilla!
I was wondering if it would be ok to increase the sugar in the French buttercream just a tad bit more – I know it’s supposed to be less sweet than American buttercream but I feel like my macarons need a bit more sweetness to it! Do you know how much I can increase it?
I’d add a couple more tbsp.
Hello!! Can you add food coloring to this frosting on this recipe? I notice it’s made a bit differently. Maybe a silly question. Haha
thank you !
I’ve made two different macaron recipes of yours! The cookies and cream and the hot chocolate. Cookies and cream were undermixed, but otherwise turned out great! The hot chocolate, i mixed perfectly, but they had no feet and cracked, so I assumed I didn’t let them rest long enough, and also oven temp wasn’t hot enough? But either way, I’m determined to master these!! Hehe! Thank you for your blog! It’s so helpful!
So, yes you can def add food coloring to the frosting.
And about the macarons having no feet and cracking, it could be a number of things, yes not resting enough, it could be weak meringue (under whipped in this case), it could be the cocoa powder you’re using too. Make sure the cocoa powder you’re using has low fat content also, I use hersheys and it has one of the lowest amounts of cocoa in it.
Oh! I never thought about the cocoa powder part!! Thank you! Good to know! 😃
Your macaron recipes never fails! I’m so confident when making macarons now! Thank you for this amazing recipe! It’s a keeper.