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These indulgent Chocolate Macarons are filled with dark chocolate ganache and I promise they are easier to make than you would think! Don't be intimidated by this classic French dessert. Follow my tips for the best chocolate macarons that not only taste as good (if not better) than the ones from a high-end bakery, but also don't cost an arm and a leg!
If you love macarons, make sure you check out my other easy macaron recipes like my Lemon Macarons, Cookies and Cream Macarons, Pistachio Macarons, and Raspberry Macarons.
Chocolate Macarons
Macarons are one of those treats that many people choose to buy rather than make themselves because they fear that they’re difficult to make. And I feel like so many recipes and I post I read online just perpetuate that myth!
The truth is, making macarons from scratch isn’t as hard as it might seem! I think it’s actually one of the easier recipes to try at home, and frankly, even a "failed" batch of macaron shells taste pretty darn incredible and you can still eat and enjoy them! Try this practically foolproof, easy chocolate macaron recipe for yourself and you’ll see. 😉
How to Make Chocolate Macarons
Sifting. My first key to macaron success to is sift the almond flour, powdered sugar, and cocoa powder together TWICE through a fine mesh sieve. Not only does this help lighten the mixture and evenly combine the ingredients, but it also gets rid of larger bits of almond meal.
For me, this is the most tedious part of making macarons. It can take a while to sift everything, but it's one of my best tips for perfect macarons on your first try.
Beat the egg whites. In a large, clean bowl, beat aged egg whites on medium speed until they are frothy, about 1 minute. I always use my KitchenAid with a whisk attachment for this part of things, but you could do it with a hand mixer instead.
I've had the best, most consistent success with macarons when I use aged egg whites, although I don't think they are totally necessary. To age egg whites, separate the whites and yolks, then put the whites in the fridge overnight. The next day, let them sit out on the counter for 1-2 hours before making the macarons.
Honestly, I don't always have time for this and will sometimes skip the overnight period in the fridge, but I always let the egg whites sit out for 1-2 hours so they really are room temperature at the very least.
Gradually add in the granulated sugar, about 1 tablespoon at a time, whisking for 20 seconds or so after each addition, until all of the sugar has been added. Continue to whisk on medium to medium-high speed until stiff peaks form.
Don't overbeat the egg whites (which is why I don't recommend upping your speed any higher than medium-high) but definitely whisk until when you stop the mixer, the egg whites have a lot of volume and will hold their shape when you lift the beaters out.
Fold in the almond flour mixture. Some people recommend adding the sifted ingredients ⅓ at a time, but I always just dump it all in and start folding with a sturdy spatula. By "folding" the almond mixture into the stiff egg whites, I mean using the spatula to scrape the stuff at the bottom of the bowl and lift it up on top, repeating until you get a good "lava" consistency. It's sort of a "j-shape" motion and this part is technically referred to as "macronage".
You will know you have mixed it enough when a thick ribbon of batter flows off your spatula when you hold it up over the bowl. The batter should melt in on itself after about 10 seconds. If it falls off in blobs, you haven't mixed long enough. If it falls off in a stream and immediately melts in on itself like honey or shampoo, there's a chance you went too far and overmixed it.
Honestly, this step is where most people experience the most trepidation when making macarons for the first time, but don't let that stop you! I taught a group of 9 teenagers how to make macarons with this technique and every one of them had perfect macaron shells with feet (the ruffly looking edges at the bottom of each macaron shell that are the hallmark of excellent macarons) on their very first try.
Pipe the macaron shells. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Some people like to trace 1 ½" circles on the backside of the parchment paper as a guide for piping, and you can even buy special macaron silpat mats for this purpose, but I always just freeform it because that's how I roll. But either way it's important not to pipe these directly onto your baking sheets or they will stick.
Transfer the macaron batter to a piping bag fitted with a large round tip. Or just put it in a large heavy-duty ziploc bag and cut off one corner. Pipe 1 ½" circles a couple inches apart on the paper or mat. Then rap the baking sheet on the counter a few times to help remove any air bubbles in the shells. You can poke air bubbles that form on top with a toothpick if you need to.
Let the macarons dry for 30-60 minutes at room temperature. This part is key to getting those "feet" I mentioned earlier. Leaving the macarons out lets the top dry out a bit. I find I often need to open the windows in my house a bit so that a helpful cross-draft can move this part along. You should be able to touch the tops of the macarons without any of it coming off on your finger before they go into the oven. They will feel tacky, but not sticky. If they are still sticky, they haven't dried enough and you need to wait a little bit longer and maybe place them somewhere where air can circulate around them a bit.
Preheat oven and bake. Let the oven preheat for a good 20 minutes at 300 degrees F, then bake one tray of macaron shells at a time for 16-18 minutes. Let the macaron shells cool completely on the baking sheet before attempting to remove them from the baking mats or parchment paper.
Make chocolate ganache filling. While the macaron shells are baking, combine chocolate chips and heavy cream in a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 30 seconds. Stir well, then heat for another 30 seconds, repeating just until the chocolate chips are completely melted. Stick this in the fridge or freezer until it has cooled completely.
Spoon the ganache filling into a piping bag, then pipe a small amount on the bottom side of one shell. Sandwich another shell on top to complete the chocolate macaron. Ideally, macarons are best the day after they are made, but I can never wait that long.
Why should I sift the dry mix twice?
Sifting once is fine and does a great job at breaking up all of the big clumps of almond flour, cocoa powder, and powdered sugar, but sifting twice helps to make sure that no clump gets missed while giving you a velvety smooth texture of well incorporated dry ingredients to work with. I highly recommend sifting the second time just because it’s so worth it!
Incidentally, I have used both the superfine almond flour from Bob's Red Mill and the Kirkland brand almond flour from Costco with great results.
Can I use dark chocolate chips?
Absolutely! The chocolate ganache in this recipe will work with milk, dark, or semi-sweet chocolate without any other necessary changes. Semi-sweet is just right for me though!
How long are macarons good for?
Macarons can be sensitive to moisture in the air (this is one of the reasons people say not to try making the when the weather is bad). But, you can keep your chocolate macarons in an airtight container on the counter for up to 3 days or in the fridge for up to a week. For a longer term storage solution you can freeze these macarons too, just make sure to let them come to room temperature before eating.
Chocolate macaron filling ideas
There are so many options for filling chocolate macaron shells beyond just this chocolate ganache recipe that I'm sharing here. Any of the following options would also be delicious!
- Salted caramel (be still my caramel lovin' heart!)
- Nutella
- Buttercream frosting (I have a bunch of frosting recipes that would work!)
- Marshmallow fluff
- Jam (I'm imagining these chocolate shells with a ring of ganache on the outside and raspberry jam in the middle - YUM)
More dessert recipes like this one
- Hazlenut Lingonberry Linzer Cookies
- Simple Chocolate Tart
- Sugar Cream Pie
- Nutella Swirled Brownies
- No Bake Oreo Truffles
- French Fruit Tart
- Red Velvet Whoopie Pies
- Chocolate Walnut Fudge
- Easy Chocolate Fudge
- Chocolate Andes Mint Cookies
- Rocky Road Cookies
- Carmelitas (Chocolate, Caramel, and Coconut)
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Chocolate Macarons
Ingredients
Macaron Shells
- 1 cup almond flour (100g)
- ¾ cup powdered sugar (100g)
- 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder (10g)
- 3 large egg whites room temperature (100g)
- ½ cup granulated sugar (100g)
Ganache Filling
- ⅔ cup semisweet chocolate chips
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
Instructions
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. You may want to trace 1-½" circles spaced a couple inches apart on the back of each side of parchment paper as a guide for piping macaron shells later.
- Sift the almond flour, powdered sugar, and cocoa powder through a fine mesh sieve, discarding any pieces of almond meal that are too large to go through. Sift a second time to make sure the ingredients are thoroughly mixed and light, then set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat the egg whites on medium speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Gradually add the granulated sugar, about 1 tablespoon at a time, while continuing to whisk the egg whites and waiting 20 seconds or so between each addition.
- Once all the sugar is added, continue to beat the egg whites on medium to medium-high speed until stiff peaks form. The egg whites should create a thick, fluffy meringue that holds it's shape when you stop the mixer and lift the beaters out. If the peaks don't hold their shape well, continue to beat a bit longer, but be careful not to mix at too high of a speed or for too long, which can cause the meringue to break.
- Add the sifted almond/cocoa powder mixture to the stiff egg whites and begin to fold them in by mixing with a spatula from the bottom of the bowl and lifting it up to drop onto the top of the mixture. Continue to pull the spatula through the mixture by hand, lifting and dropping in a j-shaped folding motion until the mixture begins to loosen and reaches a consistency similar to flowing lava. If you lift a spatula fill of batter from the bowl, it should drizzle off in a thick ribbon and melt in on itself within about 10 seconds. If it falls off in blobs, rather than a ribbon, keep mixing the batter. You should be able to make 1 or 2 figure-eight patterns with the ribbon of batter. If the mixture immediately melts in on itself like honey or shampoo, then you have probably mixed a bit too far.
- Transfer the macaron batter to a pastry bag fitted with a large round piping tip. Or use a large heavy-duty ziploc bag with one corner cut off. Pipe the macarons into 1 ½" circles on the prepared parchment or silicone-lined baking sheets, spacing them a couple inches apart. When the trays are filled, rap them a few times on the counter to help remove air bubbles from the shells, then let them sit out for 30-60 minutes until the tops are dry to the touch and don't stick to your finger.
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Bake one tray of shells at a time for 16-18 minutes. Let them cool completely before removing the shells from the parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Meanwhile, make the ganache by combining the chocolate chips and cream in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 30 seconds, then stir well. Heat again in another 30 second burst, then stir, repeating until the mixture is smooth if necessary.
- Transfer the ganache to the fridge and let it cool completely. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a medium round tip, then pip onto the bottom-side of half the macaron shells. Match up with top shells to finish the macarons. You can eat them right away, although macarons are best the next day.
Notes
- Aging egg whites: I've had the best, most consistent success with macarons when I use aged egg whites. To do this, separate the whites and yolks, then put the whites in the fridge overnight. The next day, let them sit out on the counter for 1-2 hours before making the macarons. I don't always have time for this and will sometimes skip the overnight period in the fridge, but I always let the egg whites sit out for 1-2 hours so they really are room temperature at the very least.
- Freezing and storage: Store in an airtight container on the counter for 3 days or in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. When filled with ganache, these can even be frozen for up to 3 months, but some other fillings like jams that have a higher moisture content don't freeze as well.
Alana says
Hi! My shells cracked after following this recipe. I was wondering why they did this and how to fix it? Thanks a lot!
Amy says
There are a number of reasons that the shells could crack, but my first guess is that there were air bubbles in them that didn't get banged out. After piping the shells, rap the pan on the counter hard a few times to knock out air bubbles. Also, just let them sit and air dry long enough that they are tacky on the outside, but don't go much longer than that before baking.
Sydney Stanfill says
These taste wonderful! I didn't age the egg whites, but otherwise followed instructions. This isn't the first time I've made macarons, but this recipe is definitely tasty and works great! I made these to put on a cake for my husband's birthday and he loved them. Thanks!
Arianna Flowers says
My Macarons came out amazing!! Such a good recipe! Would highly recommend to everyone who likes Macarons.
Tavi says
Is it ok if I use heavy whipping cream instead of heavy cream for the ganache?? Thank You
Amy says
Yes!
Darla says
I made the chocolate macarons and ganache recipe today and they came out great. I added 1/8 tsp cream of tartar to stabilize the egg whites, and 1 tsp vanilla ‘cuz I love vanilla and think it accentuates the chocolate. I baked them in my convection oven at 250 for 12 minutes, rotating the pan halfway though. Thanks for the recipe!
Nisreen Takulla-Khalil says
Hi, your recipe for chocolate macarons is perfect! I’ve tried other recipes and my macarons would not turn out well. This is my go to recipe for chocolate macarons!
Thank you
Evey Monge says
Can you use all purpose flour instead of almond flour?
Amy says
No, you cannot substitute all-purpose flour for almond flour in macarons. You can sometimes get away with other types of nuts that are finely ground though.
rachel says
I made these macarons exactly as the recipe stated and they came out perfect! The only thing I changed was the cook time. I think my oven is a little on the stronger side so I cooked them for approx 13-15 minutes. This is my go-to macaron recipe from now on, thank you for sharing!!
Kaitlyn Hancock says
I had trouble with getting a defined shape for mine. Do you have any tips on how to fix that problem?
Bryan J Yee says
What if I mix the combined mixture too far? Will the recipe still work out?
Amy says
They might not come out with the feet that you were hoping for, but even imperfect macarons taste pretty darn delicious.
Dgjvsfjb says
This came out way to dry what should I do?
Amy says
That sounds like an issue with possibly overmeasuring ingredients or overbaking.
Sophia says
love this! i made it when i’ve tried other recipes and failed, but this recipe was better and it turned out perfect! thank you so much!
Katy says
I did this recipe but I didn't get a film or feet on my macarons. Thoughts?
Amy says
If you didn't get a film, then you almost certainly won't get feet on your macarons. Try setting them in a breezy area or not making them on a day with high humidity.
Berenice Velazquez says
My batter came out grainy and I don't have time to make another batch. It's for my French project and it's due tomorrow. I'm scared they won't turn out right
Lynn Nguyen says
I can't count how many macaron recipes I've been through. This one gave me the most perfect feet on my shells! I was so happy!
A Kid Chef says
OK, these are awesome!!! The first time I tried macarons with a different, they failed, but this recipe, the second time I tried, they were perfect!!! These will be for my friend for christmas.
Amy says
I'm so glad to hear that!
Cynthia Faith Lockhart says
Can I use almond meal flour in this recipe ??
Amy says
Yes.
Ronan Hall says
Quick question, another recipe used half the amount almond flour and 115g of powdered sugar. Any ideas on how your recipe and the other one could have the same end result. Thanks.
Jen says
Can I not add the cocoa powder to create a vanilla macaron instead? These turned out great when I added the cocoa powder but wanted a different flavor for my next ones.
gina says
how many egg whites
Amy says
Three.
Meagan says
They worked!! I'm so excited! Ha I've tried making macarons with another recipe and they failed. But your instructions were so helpful and I'm excited to try some of your other flavors!
Amy says
Yay! I'm so glad!
Margaret says
I made these recently and they turned out great! I put a coffee buttercream and the chocolate ganache you used and they were amazing. Also the ganache is ridiculously easy, which is super nice. I do have a question, do you think I could switch out the cocoa powder with strawberry powder to make strawberry macarons?
Amy says
Hi Margaret! I'm glad you had success with these! Yes, you could use strawberry powder, but I would recommend following my raspberry macarons tutorial for that since those would be even more similar.
Eileen says
What kind of cocoa powder do you use; Dutch process or natural? Thanks
Amy says
You can use either, although I prefer dutch process.
Erin Cameron says
I have made these several times now, all with great success! Most recently I made these as part of the February Chocolate Challenge, for my daughter to include in a Valentine’s gift box for her friends. I sprinkled some pink sugar on them after piping and it gave them a fun, festive feel. I have also swapped out a small amount of the chocolate chips in the ganache and replaced with espresso flavored chocolate chips. Big hit. They are ready to bake in a very short amount of time for me, in the winter months, but in the summer, even with the air on, the humidity makes them take a very long time (I’m in Minnesota).
I recommend the Lemon Macarons as well 🙂
Amy says
I'm so glad these have been turning out so well for you, Erin!
Blessing says
Can you substitute almond flour for AP flour?
Amy says
Unfortunately no, not in this recipe.
Angelyn Chleborad says
One of my favorite desserts to make! They are a bit finicky but once you mail them they’re so delicious! I’ve made them a few times now and made them this month for the chocolate challenge! Highly recommend!
Amy says
I'm so glad you enjoy making these, Angelyn!
Terry says
The macarons came out really hard. Like break your teeth hard. Is there a way to soften them?
Amy says
That's a very unusual result! I don't know about a way to soften them because they shouldn't turn out hard at all. It sounds like something must have happened in the mixing or baking process that affected them, so I would just say to try again. Macarons can sometimes take a couple of attempts to master.
Faye says
I have made them twice with very good results, I read all the instructions and found them very helpful. My granddaughter even requested them for her birthday. Definitely will be making them again.
Ola says
I did all steps but the macaroons didn’t dry so i don’t know what is the problem? I left it more than 60 mins and still didn’t dry.
Ola says
Macaron*
Amy says
It sounds like there was too much humidity. Sometimes on humid days you might need to either open a window to increase air circulation in the house or bring out a fan.
Isabel says
Hi! Do the finished macarons need to be refrigerated because of the heavy cream in the ganache?
Amy says
Yes, I would recommend refrigerating them. Just be sure to let them sit on the counter for 1-2 hours to come to room temperature before serving for better flavor.
cupcake says
I have a fan oven- how long and at what temperature should i cook these for?
Amy says
I'm not familiar with baking in fan ovens, so I can't really give a good recommendation on this. Sorry!
Brea says
OMG! I made these today and they were PERFECT! I will definitely be using your macaron recipe again!
Amy says
I'm so glad they turned out so well for you!
Bryan J Yee says
For those who are diabetic, what is an acceptable substitute for the powdered sugar?
Amy says
I haven't tried diabetic powdered sugar substitutes, but I found some searching google that might work using monkfruit or a mix of splenda and cornstarch. I can't say how they will affect the texture though.
Michaela Collins says
Everything about the recipe was great except for the baking time. It was ridiculously long and my first tray came out completely burnt and crunchy, not at all what macarons should be. I took the second tray out right away when i realized how bad the first ones were and they are salvageable, but please for the love of god do not bake these for the full time they will not be edible when they come out! Great recipe otherwise.
Nishita says
Hey! I was wondering if I can substitute the cocoa powder with instant coffee powder to make coffee Macarons? Or would I have to look up a different recipe specifically for coffee Macarons?
Amy says
Maybe? I don't drink coffee so I'm not sure how that would impact things but it sounds like good reasoning!
Andrea Miller says
These came out perfect for me! Here’s a tip: instead of spending lots of time sifting, put those ingredients in a food processor and blend them all up for a few seconds. It gets all the lumps out and makes the mixture super fine. Thank you for this awesome recipe.
Amy says
GENIUS!
Jenna says
I made them and made some mistakes along the way and instead of macaroons got some delicious gluten free brownie cookies. The centers became gooey like a brownie and the tops wrinkled. Not how it was supposed to go but delicious.
Deana says
Hi. This recipe is fantastic, It works for me every time. I want to make a double batch. Does this recipe double well? Or should I make it twice? Thank you!
Amy says
Yes, I have doubled it before with good results.
Brandy Rose says
Love your chocolate recipe do you have any other flavors
Amy says
I have a bunch! You can use the search bar on the side of the blog to find them all!
Jaeda says
First time ever attempting macarons….I’ve done them twice and no luck yet. First time too wet and didn’t get a film and stuck to my silicone mat. Second time they fell flat and still no feet. I’m in Ohio so maybe it’s the humidity getting the best of me. Gonna keep trying tho I will do this! However my kids are loving all the failed attempts. Thanks for the recipe!
Danielle says
I'm also in Ohio. Whether or not I have success depends no the day. It is really humid here. i would experiment with different pans and a silicone mat vs parchment paper. I had two trays baked at the same time on different pans, and one was perfect, while the other was a complete flop. (One time, the weather must have been really funky because mine did the same thing on the silicone mat, while the ones on parchment paper turned out beautiful. Most of the time, the mat is way better. The weather definitely plays a role. When still experimenting, I would split them between two different types of pans/mats.)
Katie R says
This is the first recipe I think I've ever commented on in my life, but I just HAD to thank you for this recipe. I've tried about 10 different chocolate macaron recipes over the years and they've all had different issues - this is the first one that gives me perfect macarons 99% of the time.
I've made them 5 times now and
the feet are always perfect, the texture is always perfect, they've never been hollow. It's the most consistent macaron recipe I've ever made! The one hiccup is that I had a bit of a sticky shell bottom due to my oven temperature being off from yours (now I do 20 minutes - 10 on the bottom rack, 10 on the top rack. God these cookies can be fiddly haha). Thank you for this recipe, it's a lifesaver!
Amy says
Hi Katie!! I'm so glad you had such great success with this recipe! That makes me so happy!
Lois Alexander says
The almond flour and pwd sugar are both 100g, yet in volume, one is one cup & the other is 3/4 cup. Also wondering why the sugar is also not listed in grams.
Amy says
I fixed the grams for the granulated sugar! Sorry about that. The volume is different between the almond flour and powdered sugar because they have different weights.
Sophie says
macarons are work