Gingerbread Macarons Recipe
These Gingerbread Macarons combine the delicate texture of traditional French macarons with festive gingerbread spices and a creamy molasses buttercream filling, perfect for holiday celebrations. The macarons are decorated with melted white chocolate and gingerbread men sprinkles, creating a beautiful and delicious seasonal treat.
- Author: Rico
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 15 hours (including resting and refrigeration time)
- Yield: About 20-24 macarons (10-12 sandwich cookies) 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Vegetarian
Macaron Shells
- 137 grams super fine almond flour (about 1 ½ cups)
- 117 grams confectioners’ sugar (about 1 cup)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 100 grams egg whites (about 3 large egg whites), at room temperature
- 110 grams super fine white sugar (about 1 cup + 2 teaspoons)
- 1–2 teaspoons brown gel food coloring (Chefmaster Buckeye Brown recommended)
- 2 tablespoons gingerbread men sprinkles
- 57 grams (2 ounces) white chocolate, melted
Buttercream Filling
- ½ cup (114 grams) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ¾ cup (210 grams) confectioners’ sugar
- 1 tablespoon (20 grams) fancy molasses
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Make the macaron shells: Prepare a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat (or two if available). Sift almond flour and confectioners’ sugar separately through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl on a scale, discarding any large pieces until you have 137g almond flour and 117g confectioners’ sugar. Whisk together almond flour, confectioners’ sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves until well combined. Set aside.
- Whip the egg whites: Add egg whites to the bowl of a stand mixer with a whip attachment. Beat on low until soft peaks form (~2 minutes). Slowly add the sugar while increasing speed to medium. Once medium peaks form, increase speed to high and beat until stiff peaks form (~2 minutes). Add brown gel food coloring and mix until just combined.
- Combine dry ingredients with meringue: Sift the dry spice and flour mixture into the meringue through a sieve. Fold gently with a rubber spatula using a figure 8 motion until the batter forms a smooth ribbon that flows continuously off the spatula without breaking or forming clumps.
- Pipe the batter: Transfer batter to a piping bag with a medium-large round tip (approx. ½-inch). Pipe 1 to 1½-inch circles onto the prepared baking sheet, holding the bag perpendicular to the surface.
- Remove air bubbles: Gently tap the baking sheet multiple times on the counter to release air bubbles. Use a toothpick to pop any remaining bubbles.
- Rest to form skin: Let the piped shells rest at room temperature while preheating the oven to 300°F (150°C). Allow 8 minutes to 1 hour for a skin to form; the batter should no longer stick to your finger when lightly touched.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes. Check at 15 minutes and monitor every minute after until the shells are firm and do not move when nudged. Cool completely before removing from the silicone mat.
- Melt the white chocolate: Using a double boiler or microwave, melt the white chocolate until smooth. For double boiler, place chocolate in a heatproof bowl over simmering water, stirring constantly. For microwave, heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each.
- Decorate macaron tops: Drizzle melted white chocolate on half of the macaron shells and sprinkle with gingerbread men sprinkles. Let set at room temperature or refrigerate to speed hardening.
- Prepare buttercream: In a mixing bowl, beat softened butter, confectioners’ sugar, molasses, and vanilla extract with an electric hand mixer until creamy, pale, and smooth.
- Pipe buttercream: Transfer the buttercream to a piping bag fitted with a large ½-inch round tip.
- Assemble macarons: Pipe the buttercream onto the undecorated bottom shells. Sandwich with the decorated tops.
- Mature macarons: Refrigerate assembled macarons overnight to allow the flavors to meld and the texture to mature for the best taste and consistency.
Notes
- Allow sufficient time for the macaron shells to form a skin before baking to achieve characteristic smooth tops and feet.
- Folding the meringue and dry ingredients correctly is crucial for macarons’ texture; avoid overmixing or undermixing.
- Use room temperature egg whites for better meringue volume.
- The macarons improve in taste and texture after resting overnight in the fridge.
- Use a silicone baking mat for easy removal and even baking.
- If you don’t have gel food coloring, adjust the quantity of liquid coloring cautiously to maintain consistency.
Keywords: Gingerbread Macarons, Holiday Macarons, French Macarons, Gingerbread Recipe, Molasses Buttercream, Festive Cookies