Peppermint Macarons
Peppermint Macarons are the sweetest, most melt-in-your-mouth delicious Christmas cookie with a wonderful vanilla peppermint buttercream filling. They fancy up a Christmas cookie platter or Christmas cookie exchange with one of the best flavors of the holiday season!
Servings: 36 macarons
Ingredients
Macaron Shells
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 egg whites room temperature
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- Red gel food coloring
Peppermint Buttercream
- 1/2 cup salted butter softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 2-3 Tablespoons cream or milk
- 4-5 candy canes crushed (optional)
Instructions
Macaron Shells
- Combine the almond flour and powdered sugar in a large bowl. Using a sifter, sift mixture 3-4 times, until thoroughly combined.1 cup almond flour, 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- Separate egg whites from yolks and allow to sit at room temperature for 2 hours and up to 24 hours.3 egg whites
- In the bowl of a stand mixer using the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites on high speed until they begin to froth. Add the cream of tartar and continue to beat until the egg whites begin thicken and resemble shaving cream. Add the granulated sugar and continue to beat until stiff peaks form when you lift the whisk attachment from the bowl.1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar, 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- Add the sifted almond flour and powdered sugar to the egg whites in three additions, mixing by hand using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon after each addition until combined. The batter will be thick at first but as it comes together it will loosen up. I use a folding motion and mix until the batter falls off the spatula in a blob but isn't runny. It might take making macarons a time or two to get the feel for it, but you want to try not to undermix or overmix.
- Prepare a pastry bag or large ziploc bag with the tip snipped off with a round tip. Add a few stripes of red gel food coloring up the insides of the bag before filling with macaron batter if you want the red and white swirl effect on your finished macarons.Red gel food coloring
- Pipe into 1-inch circles on parchment lined baking sheets using a swirl motion. Rap each pan against the counter 2-3 times to remove bubbles, then let the macarons sit uncovered at room temperature for 30-45 minutes.
- Heat oven to 300°F, then bake macarons for 15-18 minutes. Cool completely before removing from the parchment paper.
Peppermint Buttercream
- Beat the butter in a mixer until pale, smooth and creamy, 2-3 minutes. Add powdered sugar 1/2 cup at a time, mixing well between additions.1/2 cup salted butter, 2 cups powdered sugar
- Add peppermint and vanilla, then add cream or milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until you reach a spreadable, but still thick, consistency.1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, 2-3 Tablespoons cream or milk
- Pipe frosting onto the bottom of one macaron shell, then top with a second shell. Roll edges of each filled macaron in crushed candy cane, if desired.4-5 candy canes
- Technically, you are supposed to wait to eat the macarons until the next day because they taste even better then, but they are super hard to resist!
Notes
Recipe adapted from Cook with Manali.
Nutrition
Calories: 101kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 27mg | Potassium: 9mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 91IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 1mg
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