Get the free template to make these cute Gingerbread Men Macarons, with a gingerbread spiced macaron shell, and also a Gingerbread Buttercream filling. Both recipes can be found on the Gingerbread Macaron recipe, here we will focus on how to pipe the shape of the gingerbread people.
1-2tbspmilk only if necessary to thin out the frosting
Royal Icing
2 1/2cupspowdered sugar312 grams
2tbspmeringue powder
5 to 6tbspwater
Gel food coloring
Instructions
Piping the shapes
Make the batter for the Gingerbread Macarons as instructed in the post and video.
Place the free template under the baking mat.
Pipe the head by placing the bag 90 degrees over the center of the circle, then pipe the arms and legs by dragging the piping tip from the edges to the center
Tap the trays against the counter or against the palm of your hands to release any air bubbles, remove the template from under the mat, and also use a toothpick to pop any air bubbles on the surface of the shells.
The best tip I can give you when making shapes is to make sure the batter is at the right consistency, under mixed batter, even if just slightly, will make the macarons bumpy on the surface, specially where the different sections of the shapes meet.
Gingerbread Buttercream
Cream butter at medium speed in the bowl of an electric mixer for about 1 minute. With the mixer off, add all of the powdered sugar in.
On low speed, mix the sugar and butter together. Once they are incorporated, turn speed to medium and cream for 1-2 minutes until very fluffy.
Add vanilla extract, molasses, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
If the buttercream seems dry and stiff, add the milk. Mix for another 30-45 seconds. If the buttercream seems too runny, add more sifted powdered sugar until you obtain a firm, but smooth and creamy consistency.
Royal Icing
Beat all ingredients together, except for the food coloring, for about 5 minutes on high speed.
Divide into different bowls to make different colors. I made pink, red, and left one bowl white. Remember to always keep the royal icing covered, or it will start to dry out pretty soon.
You might need to add more water to adjust the consistency, or maybe even more sifted powdered sugar, if your icing is too thin. The consistency should be flowing but not too liquidy.
Place the icing in a piping bag and tie the end with a bag tie.
I used tips number 1, 0, and 00 to pipe the decoration on the gingerbread men.
Decorating
To decorate the gingerbread men, I piped some white wave patterns on the hands and legs of the macarons, and then I drew eyes and a smiley mouth on the face, and lastly, made the cheeks out of pink icing, and the red buttons out of red icing.
After the decorations have dried, you can pipe the filling on the bottom shells of the macarons and top with a decorated gingerbread men.