Candy Cane Macarons

I know for some making macarons can be quite the daunting task, but once you get the hang of it you can make them in a snap and for any occasion. For the holiday season, I took these delicate little almond cookies and sandwiched them with a delicious chocolate french buttercream. Because chocolate and mint are a match made in heaven I rolled them in crushed candycanes for a little extra festive touch. 

Since I've made them in the past, here is the recipe for the cookies & the buttercream, and a little how-to. These are a quick little cookie to serve at your holiday get-together

Mocha Macarons

Yes, I'm still alive. No, I haven't forgotten about my blog and now that I finally have my beautiful new kitchen, I am baking more and definitely updating more. I also started a new baking class at school "Advanced Patisserie Techniques" aka fancy plated desserts and candy making. Exciting, but also intimidating.

For my one of my final desserts in my last class (last week), we had to once again make the dreaded french macaron. One misstep or extra fold and these stubborn little cookies will crack, break, and just not achieve their coveted "feet". These are the most finicky cookies you will ever come across and you will cry as you make them over and over and not understand why they didn't turn out "just right". Until now that is, because I finally found a recipe that I absolutely love love love. I thought my recipe from school was good, but when the success rate only turns out to be 70%, it becomes frustrating.

My favorite macarons are Francois Payard's and I was beyond ecstatic when I found his recipe on food & wine's website. This recipe has the same ingredients as a typical macaron, just made with a different technique which I believe guarantees success. I filled these little cuties with the most delicious chocolate-coffee french buttercream. Pure decadence.

Vanilla Bean Macaroons

It's Passover again and the seder was hosted and prepared by yours truly. In between the brisket, matzo ball soup and side dishes, I really wanted to bake a few Passover sweet treats. So, instead of eating those dreadful canned coconut macaroons I thought why not make my own? It can't be that hard right?

Actually, its pretty simple. It is a three-step process and in no time you can enjoy delicious Passover cookies. They came out so much better than I could have imagined and I would definitely bake these even if it wasn't Passover.

Macarons, yum!

 I've been so busy with culinary school lately I haven't had time to bake anything, but I thought I would post about these lovely french macarons my boyfriend Josh bought for me. These delicate little cookies have become one of my favorites. In the past, the closest I could get to the real ones from Paris were the frozen ones at Trader Joe's. I stumbled upon Payard Patisserie which makes authentic french macarons, and Josh was so sweet and ordered me a box. I have attempted to make macarons once before, and they were so fragile many of them broke before I could even sandwich them together. I think I might attempt a second batch sometime in the near future however.

The flavors included: vanilla, strawberry, coffee, chocolate, and coca-cola.

My favorite had to be the vanilla, strawberry and coffee. The coca-cola was very interesting and actually had a slight carbonation to it.

The strawberry ones were so good I ate them before I could even get pictures

rainbow!

these little hamburger cookies are so cute

YUM!