• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Cloudy Kitchen
  • recipes
  • about
  • contact
  • products
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • recipes
  • about
  • contact
  • products
  • calculators
  • subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Macarons » How to make French Macarons at home

    How to make French Macarons at home

    ★★★★★ from 24 reviews
    42 Comments
    By Erin Clarkson on Jul 20, 2021 (updated May 1, 2022) This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    This post will show you how to make foolproof French macarons. This detailed guide is full of tips and tricks, a list of tools, and reader FAQs, to help you to be as successful as possible at making homemade macarons! This easy macaron recipe makes a great base, so you can mix and match with whatever macaron fillings you like to make your own perfect French Macaron.

    Original post from March 2018. Updated July 2021.

    stacked photo of french macarons

    Table of contents

    • Sprinkle French Macarons / Hundreds and Thousands Macarons
    • Macarons vs Macaroons
    • How to make flavoured Macarons
    • Ingredients in French Macarons
    • Steps for making French Macarons
    • French Macarons with American Buttercream
    • How to get Feet on Macarons
    • Silicone mat vs parchment for baking Macarons
    • Why did my Macarons Crack?
    • Correct Batter Consistency for French Macarons
    • How to tell when Macarons are baked
    • Can Macarons be made without Almond flour?
    • How to pipe Macarons
    • How to Troubleshoot French Macarons
    • Why are my French Macarons Hollow?
    • What Sprinkles to add to French Macarons
    • Can Macarons be Frozen?
    • How to store Macarons
    • FAQ for French Macarons
    • Recipe for French Macarons

    Sprinkle French Macarons / Hundreds and Thousands Macarons

    Hi hi! Just popping in to share this French Macarons recipe with you. I have loads of macaron recipes on my website, but this was the first one that I posted. I have turned this post into the ultimate guide to French Macarons. It is full of tips and tricks to help you to be as successful as possible at macarons!

    I worked really, really hard to get to this place with my macarons - it certainly isn't easy. They are sensitive and finicky. There are many things that can go wrong. It took endless videos and eventually watching a friend make them to finally get it right.

    Macarons are intimidating. I am not going to pretend they aren't. But once you nail down the base your options really are endless. So I hope this post can serve as a guide for you - the ultimate post on how to make french macarons! As always please let me know if you have any questions - I am so happy to help!

    Macarons vs Macaroons

    I often see people referring to macarons such as these French Macarons as 'macaroons', and while the words are similar, they are very different things.

    Macarons are an almond flour and meringue based cookie, sandwiched together with a filling. They taste nutty and have a chewy texture, with the filling being the super flavourful part.

    Macaroons are something different and are a coconut and condensed milk based cookie. Both are super delicious, but they are definitely not the same thing!

    Prep shot of french macarons
    french macarons and sprinkles

    How to make flavoured Macarons

    The great thing about making homemade macarons is that it is super easy to mix and match the fillings to give different flavours of macarons. The shell recipe stays the same every time, and you just vary the colour and the filling flavour. You can add a little cocoa to the shells to make chocolate macarons, and fill them with whatever you like.

    Sometimes I keep it simple with a plain buttercream, such as in these strawberry macarons, or you can add a sharp citrus filling surrounded by something creamy to make lemon macarons, or a jam filling for Raspberry macarons. The options really are endless here. Macarons are a great way to use up leftover buttercream that you have frozen.

    Ingredients in French Macarons

    French macarons differ slightly to Italian Macarons, which use a sugar syrup. I have tried both options and find French a little easier to make as there is no need to worry about making a sugar syrup to add to the meringue. With French macarons you add the sugar directly to the egg whites, and make a French meringue. Macarons have quite a small ingredient list, it is the technique that is important:

    • Egg whites. Some recipes will ask you to age your egg whites. I have found no difference in aged vs unaged, just make sure that they are at room temperature.
    • Sugar. I use granulated sugar. It is important to make sure that the sugar dissolves in the meringue when you are making it.
    • Almond Meal. Also called almond flour, almond meal is made from ground almonds.
    • Powdered Sugar. The almond meal and powdered sugar act as the 'dry' ingredients in the macarons, and are mixed in once the meringue has reached stiff peaks.
    • Food Colouring. If you want to colour macarons, it is important to use a gel food colouring so that you do not introduce too much moisture into the mixture.

    Steps for making French Macarons

    Macarons take practice. Don't get discouraged by them - it took me a long, long time to get to the point I am at now, and even now I still have fails. Read the recipe right through, make sure you have enough time set aside to really focus in, and don't worry if they don't work. They will still end up delicious and you will have amazing homemade macarons. Here's the basic Macaron step by step process:

    1. Prep your ingredients. Usually I don't do this for recipes, but it really helps to have everything ready to go. Dry ingredients sifted twice, your template made, egg whites at room temperature etc.
    2. Make the meringue. These are French Macarons so are based off of a French meringue. Whip until stiff peaks form. Add colour if using.
    3. Incorporate the dry ingredients. Do this in two goes. Mix the first half in, then mix the second to incorporate.
    4. Mix the macaron batter. This part is important and takes technique. You want to deflate the meringue against the side of the bowl. Pick the batter up and spread it against the side, then scrape off and repeat. Watching a video on this technique is helpful.
    5. Pipe out the batter. Using the template you made, pipe the batter out.
    6. Bang the shells. Rap the pan hard on the counter in order to get rid of any big air bubbles in the batter. This will spread the shells out a little too and help to smooth the tops.
    7. Add sprinkles. If you are adding sprinkles, now is the time.
    8. Dry the shells. This step is also important as it is what helps to avoid cracked shells. Dry the shells until they are no longer tacky.
    9. Bake the macaron shells. Bake until the shells peel cleanly off the parchment paper.
    10. Pair and fill. Once the shells are baked and cooled, pair them up and fill with your choice of buttercream.
    11. Leave to rest. Ideally macarons will be left to rest overnight in order to let their flavours meld. I won't tell anyone if you skip this step.
    French macarons with sprinkles

    French Macarons with American Buttercream

    I wanted the first macaron recipe that I posted to be a wee nod to my childhood. These sprinkle French macarons are inspired by a biscuit (cookie) I ate growing up - hundreds and thousands biscuits. They are a vanilla biscuit, covered in a pink icing, and loaded up with hundreds and thousands (nonpareils). They don't really have a distinctive flavour aside from just being sweet, which I think is probably half the appeal. I replicated the biscuit with a pink shell, and added some sprinkles just after I piped them out. I then filled them with an American buttercream, also "pink" flavour.

    Usually I wouldn't use an American buttercream in almost any situation. However, the slight crust that it gets is perfect for replicating the texture of the biscuits. So here we have it - a hundreds and thousands macaron! Or, a vanilla macaron, coloured pink, with sprinkles. You decide what to call it.

    How to get Feet on Macarons

    I have found that there are a few factors that come into play here. The main one that helps is making sure that the tops of your macarons are dry before you put them in the oven. This means when the macarons bake, the steam escapes out the sides of the cookies and not the tops, causing them to puff up and get the feet. Preheating the baking sheet can really help to give the macaron shells a lift too.

    Silicone mat vs parchment for baking Macarons

    I know that some people prefer silicone baking mats, but I much prefer parchment paper when making macarons. I find that shells on silicone mats tend to get over baked, don't have as pronounced of a foot, and can have issues with sticking. Pre-cut parchment is super helpful here as you can just slide the template onto the pan and then place the parchment over the top, pipe the macarons, and move onto the next tray.

    Why did my Macarons Crack?

    The most common cause of cracking macarons is the dryness of the shell. If you do not dry out your shells enough when you pipe them, then when you bake the shells, the steam escapes out the top of the shell rather than the sides. This will cause your macarons to crack. Make sure that before they go into the oven the surface of the shell is only just tacky, or is not sticky at all on your finger.

    French macarons with american buttercream and sprinkles

    Correct Batter Consistency for French Macarons

    This can be a tricky one to check. If you over mix your macarons, they spread everywhere and bake up flat. However if you under mix them, they can have bubbles and not have a nice smooth top, and can have points on them.

    The best way to get this right is practice. The consistency I like to look for is when you lift your spatula up, the batter flows like lava. You want to be able to draw a figure 8 with the batter flowing off of the spatula without it breaking.

    You are best to err on the side of under mixing your macaron batter than over mixing. Remember it will continue to get mixed as you add it to the piping bag and pipe it out onto the trays. If your batter is super runny and flowing everywhere, you know you have over mixed.

    How to deal with macarons sticking to the parchment: I also had some issues with the macs sticking a little to the parchment paper (I have had much better luck with paper than silpat), even though they were baked through. My friend who is a pastry chef suggested that if this happens, then you can freeze them, still attached to the paper, for 5-10 minutes, and they usually peel right off!

    How to tell when Macarons are baked

    It can be a little tricky to check if French Macarons are properly baked or to know how long to bake macarons for. There is a fine line between having the shells set, and the feet set and stable, and overbaking and giving them colour, which you don't want. I like to very gently press on the top of one of the shells, and if the foot stays stable, then I know that it is well on the way to being done. If it is not quite there, I give it extra time, checking every minute.

    Can Macarons be made without Almond flour?

    Almond flour is the main base of a macaron - it is the reason that macarons are gluten free. I have not tried making macarons without almond flour before so I cannot speak to a good substitute.

    All-purpose flour is not a substitute for almond meal.

    How to pipe Macarons

    Piping macarons takes a little practice, but once you get the hang of it, you can pipe a lot of trays in one go. The key is to use gentle pressure and make sure that your piping bag is straight up and down. Using a macaron template helps a lot too. To pipe macarons, hold the piping bag directly over the circle on the template, and pipe a blob of macaron batter onto the parchment. End with a little 'flick' of your wrist.

    Remember that when you bang the pan of macarons the batter will spread out too, so do not make them too big. Only fill the circles on your template.

    corner shot of french macarons
    bowl of sprinkles for macarons

    How to Troubleshoot French Macarons

    All kinds of things can go wrong with macs. I have experienced almost all of them, so if they happen to you don't sweat it, you're not alone. I used this site to troubleshoot, but the main solution was just to keep at it and keep trying. This video from my friend Erin is also amazing to learn all things macaron!

    Why are my French Macarons Hollow?

    I have had some issues with my macarons being hollow in the past. Eventually, I discovered that it was from over whipping the meringue (Which I didn't realise that I was doing!). You want it to be nice and stiff, but not too dry. If it starts to dry out and clump up in the whisk then you have gone too far. If your macarons do come out hollow don't worry - just fill them as usual and then leave them overnight in the fridge. The filling will soften the shell down and then the hollows won't be as noticeable. They will still taste great!

    What Sprinkles to add to French Macarons

    Adding sprinkles to macarons is a super easy way to fancy them up a little. Sprinkle macarons are my absolute favourite to make - I love grabbing whatever is on hand and using it to reflect the flavour of the filling. You do have to be a little selective about your sprinkles. Non-pareils, or what we call "hundreds and thousands" work best. Jimmies (the longer rod sprinkles) tend to melt in the oven, so avoid them. The confetti style round sprinkles work great for sprinkle macarons too as they don't melt in the oven. Avoid anything with sugar balls in it as these will melt in the oven, causing holes in your macaron shells.

    Can Macarons be Frozen?

    Macarons freeze super well. I usually will freeze the empty shells layered in an airtight container with parchment, but depending on the filling, you can freeze buttercream based ones too. However I prefer to freeze components separately and then assemble.

    How to store Macarons

    I like to store filled homemade macarons in the fridge in an airtight container. Macarons need an overnight rest to allow the flavours to meld and to let the shell soften slightly. If your macarons have a filling that is temperature sensitive, then you will need to refrigerate them. Bring them to room temperature before you serve. Filled macarons will last 3-4 days in the fridge if stored correctly. If you make the shells ahead, they can be stored until you are ready to fill.

    • Store unfilled shells at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
    • Store unfilled shells in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months.
    • Once filled, store filled macarons in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
    French Macarons on Plate

    FAQ for French Macarons

    Can I make different flavoured macarons?

    This is essentially just a vanilla macaron recipe! You can colour it any way you like, leave off the sprinkles, or fill it with whatever flavour you like!

    Why are macarons so hard to make?

    Macarons are tricky. They take practice. Don't feel disheartened if they don't work the first time (or even the second time!), they still taste super yum. Take lots of notes. Work out what works for you. Play around with baking time and oven temperature. Its all about finding the good balance. This is the recipe that works for me - hopefully it works for you too! There's so many different recipes floating round on the internet.

    Why are my macarons browning / why are macarons not baking properly?

    Invest in an oven thermometer if you haven't already. I calibrated my oven a while back and it's made a huge difference to the consistency of my oven.

    How do I know when my macaron batter is ready?

    Watch lots of videos. This is one of my favourites - the recipe is different but the technique is the same. It can be tricky to judge how far to take the meringue and then again how far to take the batter, so a visual guide is best, for me at least.

    Why aren't my macarons round?

    I had a few batches that weren't turning out perfectly circular like I wanted them to, and realised it was from the banging of the pans to help them settle. Too much banging was unevenly distributing the batter, so when it baked they would come out a little oval. I found that giving the batter just a few extra turns meant that less banging was required, and therefore less chance of oval macarons! A draft in the room can also affect this so just be careful.

    Why do you use two sheet pans?

    It really helps with the distribution of heat, and helps the macarons to bake nice and evenly!

    Can these be baked two trays at a time?

    If you are confident with your oven, then by all means go ahead!

    What template do you use?

    I usually draw my own. If you need a template, print two of these and stick them together to use as a guide.

    Why do you sift the ingredients twice?

    It makes sure there really are no lumps and helps to disperse everything evenly.

    Are Macarons Gluten Free?

    Yes - because they are almond meal based, macarons are gluten free.

    Can Macarons be made vegan?

    I have not made vegan macarons before so I am not sure how to adapt the recipe, but I know it is possible to make them vegan!

    close up of french macarons
    corner shot of french macarons lined up

    Like these Sprinkle French Macarons? Here's more Macaron recipes:

    • S'mores Macarons
    • Spiced Pumpkin and Walnut Praline Macarons
    • Rainbow Macarons
    • Vanilla Bean French Macarons with Strawberry Buttercream
    • Christmas Macarons
    • Find all other Macaron recipes here!

    Made this recipe and love it?

    If you made this recipe then I would LOVE for you to leave me a review below to let me know how you liked it! Also, please make sure to tag me on Instagram if you make it!

    A note on salt and oven temperature

    It is important to note the type of salt that is called for in a recipe. I use Diamond Crystal salt throughout my recipes - if you use a different sort of kosher salt or regular table salt you will need to adjust accordingly as some salt is 'saltier' than others. Morton's salt is twice as salty, so you will need half the quantity. Same goes for a regular table salt. I am working to get gram measurements throughout my recipes for salt but still getting there.

    All oven temperatures are conventional unless otherwise stated. If you are baking on fan / convection, you will need to adjust the temperature. An oven thermometer is a great investment to ensure that your oven is the correct temperature.

    Using the double / triple function in the recipe card

    You will notice that there is a '1X' '2X' '3X' button in my recipe card. This can be used for doubling or tripling a recipe. However, please note that this only doubles the ingredient quantities in the ingredients list and NOT in the method. If there are quantities or pan sizes in the method of the recipe (for example weigh out 150g brown butter), you will need to scale this number manually. It will also not change the baking time in the recipe so you will need to adjust this yourself too. It is always a good idea to read through a recipe fully before doubling it just to check this. If you would like to scale this recipe or convert for another pan size, use my calculator!

    Tools and equipment

    For a list of my go-to tools and equipment, I have a post you can refer to here.

    Why is this recipe in grams?

    I post my recipes in grams as it is the most accurate way to bake. Cups are not only inaccurate but they vary in volume worldwide. There is no way for me to provide one cup measure that works for everyone. However, posting in weight fixes this issue. If you would like the recipe in cups you are welcome to convert it yourself via google, but please do not ask me to do it for you as I am not comfortable providing a recipe using a method that I have not tested. Baking with a scale is easy, accurate, and also makes cleanup super simple. Here is the scale that I use if you would like a recommendation! Here's to accurate baking!

    Recipe for French Macarons

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    Close up image of french macarons with sprinkles

    Homemade French Macarons

    ★★★★★ 5 from 24 reviews
    • Author: Erin Clarkson
    • Prep Time: 45 minutes
    • Cook Time: 1 hour
    • Total Time: 3 hours
    • Yield: 24 macarons 1x
    • Category: Macarons
    • Method: Baking
    • Cuisine: French
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    Review this guide to French macarons, tips, and troubleshooting, FAQs, and read the recipe right through. Also make sure you have enough time set aside to really focus in! This recipe for vanilla French macaron shells pairs perfectly with American buttercream filling. You can colour this recipe any way that you like, leave off the sprinkles, or fill it with whatever flavour of filling you prefer.


    Ingredients

    Scale

    Macaron Shells

    • 170g ground almonds
    • 300g powdered sugar
    • 180g egg whites, at room temperature
    • 160g sugar
    • A few drops of pink gel food colouring
    • 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
    • Hundreds and Thousands Sprinkles, (Nonpareils) to finish

    American Buttercream Filling

    • 225g (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
    • 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
    • pinch of salt
    • 500g (4 cups) powdered sugar, sifted
    • 2-3 Tbsp whole milk, as needed
    • Pink gel food colouring

    Instructions

    MACARON SHELLS

    1. Preheat oven to 300˚f / 150˚c, and position the oven rack in the centre of the oven. Using a round cookie cutter or the base of a large piping tip (something about 1.5 inches in diameter), draw a "template" for your macarons on a piece of parchment paper, leaving about ¾" between each circle.
    2. Combine the almond meal and powdered sugar together in a large bowl. Sift the mixture twice, to ensure there are no large lumps and that the mixture is properly aerated. Set aside.
    3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the egg whites on medium speed until foamy. Gradually add the sugar, increase the mixer speed, and whip on high until the meringue starts to firm up. Add pink gel food colour a few drops at a time, until the desired colour is reached. Add vanilla and mix until incorporated. Continue to whip until the meringue forms stiff peaks (there is a good example here).
    4. Remove the bowl from the mixer. Add half of the ground almond and powdered sugar mixture, and fold into the meringue. You want to deflate the meringue just a little at this stage, to combine the meringue and ground almond mixture.
    5. Add the remaining ground almond mixture, and stir lightly to combine. Now comes the important part - mixing the batter to the correct consistency. Again, this video does a good job of explaining it. Fold the mixture in a series of 'turns', deflating the batter by spreading it against the side of the bowl. Turn the bowl slightly and repeat the movement - scooping the batter from the bottom of the bowl, and spreading it against the side. Continuously check the consistency of the batter - you want it to flow like lava when you lift the spatula from the bowl, and you should be able to 'draw' a figure 8 with it, without the batter breaking (again, watch lots of videos to get an idea! They help so much).
    6. This step can take some practice until you know what it should feel and look like. If in doubt you are better to under mix them than over mix them - the process of putting the batter into the bag and piping out will help mix a little too.
    7. Fit a large pastry bag with a medium sized round tip, such as an ateco #805. Place the macaron template on a sheet pan, and place a second piece of parchment over it. Holding the piping bag at a 90˚ angle to the surface, pipe out the batter into blobs the size of the circles drawn on the template. Finish off each piped circle with a little "flick" of your wrist to minimise the batter forming a point (it will still form a small one, but we can get rid of this with banging). Remove the template from under the macarons.
    8. Hold the baking sheet in two hands, and carefully but firmly, evenly bang it against the bench. Repeat this a few more times - this will get rid of any air bubbles, remove points on the top, and help them to spread out slightly.
    9. Repeat the piping and banging process until you have used up all of the batter - I usually make three sheet pans worth. Sprinkle the tops of the macarons with the hundreds and thousands sprinkles.
    10. Allow the macarons to dry at room temperature for approximately 30 minutes, or until they form a skin that you can touch without your finger sticking to them. This time will drastically vary depending on the humidity.
    11. About fifteen minutes before you are going to bake the macarons, place a spare sheet pan in the oven to preheat - this is going to be used to place under the pan with the macarons on it, to double up, which should help with even baking. Bake the macarons one sheet at a time - place the sheet with the macarons on the preheated sheet, and place in the oven.
    12. Bake for approximately 18 minutes, rotating the pan once during the cooking process, and checking for doneness after 15 minutes. The macarons should develop a foot (the ruffled part on the bottom of the macaron), and bake without browning. To see if they are done - press down lightly on a shell. If the foot gives way, it needs a little longer, if it is stable, then it is close to being done.
    13. Test a macaron shell - if you can peel it away cleanly from the paper, they are done. If they are stable but cannot yet peel away cleanly, give them another minute or so. Again, this part takes a little trial and error depending on your oven. If they seem done but do not peel away cleanly, do not worry - there is a little trick for that! Remove from the oven, and allow to cool on the sheet pan for 10 minutes before
    14. peeling off the parchment paper and allowing to cool completely on a wire rack. Repeat the baking with the remaining trays, using the same spare sheet pan to double up.
    15. If your macs do not peel away cleanly, place them, on the parchment paper, into the freezer for 5-10 minutes, then peel away from the paper.
    16. Store cooled macarons in an airtight container until ready to use.

    AMERICAN BUTTERCREAM FILLING

    1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip the butter, vanilla bean paste and salt until pale and creamy. Sift in the powdered sugar, and mix on medium speed until well combined. If needed, add milk a tablespoon at a time, until the frosting is light and fluffy, and a pipeable consistency. Add gel food colouring until the desired colour is reached. Transfer to a bag fitted with a large french star tip (I used an ateco #866).

    ASSEMBLY

    1. Pair each macaron shell with another of a similar size. Pipe a circle of buttercream on one half, and then sandwich with the second shell. Macarons taste best if you 'mature' them in the fridge overnight to let the flavours meld, but they are perfect eaten immediately too! Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.

    Notes

    Macarons can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    Macaron Shell Recipe from I love Macarons, with adaptations from Fox and Crane

    Keywords: macarons, gluten free, hundreds and thousands, sprinkles, american buttercrea

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @cloudykitchen on Instagram and use the hashtag #cloudykitchen

    Key Ingredients

    • Almond
    • American Buttercream
    • Egg White
    • Sprinkles
    • Vanilla
    « Egg Yolk Chocolate Chip Cookies
    Mini Funfetti Cake »
    5.9K shares

    Reader Interactions

      Leave a comment & rating, or ask a question Cancel reply

      If you made this recipe then I would love for you to leave me a review below to let me know how you liked it! If you have recipe questions please feel free to leave them below too!

      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

      Comments

    1. Lauren

      October 13, 2020 at 12:11 pm

      Erin goes above and beyond to ensure her readers have the information they need to learn how to make macarons. I've made this recipe maybe 5 times and still haven't nailed it perfectly due to my error, but they're always delicious! My very first attempt with this recipe yielded a pretty good first try (they were hollow in the center). I feel confident that I'll get it right with this recipe, but macarons generally require lots of practice and patience.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • josephine

        November 27, 2021 at 11:15 am

        hi! amazing recipe, but i wanted to ask how you store your macarons and for how many days?

        ★★★★★

        Reply
        • Erin Clarkson

          November 29, 2021 at 4:31 pm

          Hi! I store them in an airtight container in the fridge!

          Reply
    2. Kara

      November 24, 2020 at 8:07 pm

      I had tried 4 other macaron recipes before this one and the 5th time was the charm. Now you are the only person I trust when finding a macaron recipe! And your Instagram stories are great

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Erin

        November 24, 2020 at 8:30 pm

        Hi! Eeee thank you so much! I am so glad you love them!

        Reply
        • April

          December 16, 2020 at 6:38 pm

          Every recipe of yours I've tried out has worked out so perfectly & these are no exception. They come out beautiful every time love it so much!!!!

          ★★★★★

          Reply
          • Erin

            December 16, 2020 at 6:39 pm

            Aw yayyyy thank you so much! xx

            Reply
    3. Sarah

      January 20, 2021 at 10:34 pm

      This is my go-to macaron recipe. So, so easy!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Brenda Fisher

      January 31, 2021 at 11:20 pm

      I made this today and I was blown away that they turned out on the first try!!! Thank you for posting all the tips and tricks! I made a huge mess in the kitchen (mainly sifting), but realized that KitchenAid has a sifter scale attachment that feeds the dry ingredient right into the bowl!!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Erin

        February 01, 2021 at 3:32 pm

        Ah yayyy so glad you loved them! Thanks so much for the lovely review!

        Reply
    5. Krista

      March 21, 2021 at 9:22 am

      Easy to follow recipe. Macrons tasted great. First time making them and they turned out with feet and all!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Erin

        March 22, 2021 at 7:34 am

        Yay so so happy you loved!

        Reply
    6. Natalie

      March 31, 2021 at 11:38 pm

      If I use a silicone mat should I still double up on pans?

      Reply
      • Erin

        April 01, 2021 at 8:49 am

        I haven't used a silicone mat before but it can't hurt to have it there?

        Reply
    7. Beth

      April 03, 2021 at 1:48 am

      I just finished making these and they are amazing! I made some adjustments to the colours just for personal preference, but everything about the base recipe was perfect. I’ll definitely be trying again to nail down the finer details (some were a little brown or a little cracked), and I’m sure my friends won’t complain about the practice.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Erin

        April 03, 2021 at 6:56 pm

        Yay so happy you loved them! Thank you so much for the lovely review 🙂

        Reply
    8. Mekaela

      April 25, 2021 at 3:46 am

      I make these as a tradition now for school camps for my students. They absolutely love them. Followed the recipe carefully from the first try and have not yet had one bad batch!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    9. Katie

      May 10, 2021 at 6:00 am

      Thank you for another fabulous recipe! Everything worked out so beautifully.. I love how detailed you are in your posts.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    10. Kat Doescher

      May 11, 2021 at 7:57 pm

      Success! Every few months I make macarons and fail. Since the pandemic started my freezer is full of egg whites from recipes that use yolks. This morning I thought, “Might as well defrost some and give this recipe a try.” It had been a while since I used the non-sugar syrup method and I must say these dried so much quicker. There were some hollow shells but many more successes. So glad I got your recipe email today! Thank you

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    11. Lucy P

      May 17, 2021 at 8:27 am

      Loved these!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    12. Mayanka -

      September 06, 2021 at 9:42 pm

      Hi Erin,

      DO you recommend store bought icing sugar or homemade powdered sugar for the recipe.
      Please let me know my first time ever want to try and get it right .

      Thanks,
      Mayanka xoxo

      Reply
      • Erin

        September 06, 2021 at 11:08 pm

        Hi! I would use store bought 🙂

        Reply
    13. Josey

      November 17, 2021 at 8:18 pm

      I was wondering how to adjust this recipe to chocolate macs?

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Erin Clarkson

        November 19, 2021 at 2:24 am

        Hi! I have a chocolate mac recipe on my site 🙂

        Reply
    14. Georgina Hawkins

      November 23, 2021 at 1:58 am

      I have tried so many different macaron recipes searching for the optimum ratio of ground almonds: icing sugar: egg whites. First time with your recipe today Erin and they were perfect! Thanks so much 🙂

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Erin Clarkson

        November 29, 2021 at 4:34 pm

        Yay so so happy you loved them!

        Reply
    15. Gina

      November 29, 2021 at 6:10 pm

      This recipe was so super easy to follow and made delicious and perfect macarons on my first go. I've made a few of Erin's recipes now and they always work. Her videos on instagram are super helpful too

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    16. Don

      December 07, 2021 at 7:13 pm

      I wish I could post a pic. I have bought a lot of macs and decided to give it a whirl. These came out prefect. Everyone raved, I took them to school and was able to give a lot of my students their first taste of macaroons. Some of the kids said they felt “fancy”. I would not say making them is quick and simple but so worth the work. Thank you thank you thank you.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Erin Clarkson

        December 09, 2021 at 11:01 pm

        Ahhh yay! You are so welcome!

        Reply
    17. Steve

      January 11, 2022 at 3:00 pm

      I struggled with Macarons for so long and loved how in-depth and helpful this was. I finally got my first batch to have proper feet!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    18. Lori

      February 12, 2022 at 3:23 pm

      Tried these for the first time ever making macarons. The instructions were really good. I didn’t have the proper pastry tip and I think I could have macronaged a few more times but I was really afraid of ruining the batch. Mine were pretty tall and scalloped from the tip, so clearly the batter was too thick that they didn’t flatten out. I was pretty satisfied for a first timer though. I do find the sugar content to be super high in this recipe as compared to others and they are exceptionally sweet. I even used a chocolate Swiss meringue buttercream to try to temper the overall sweetness. I’m curious as to why your recipe has far more sugar than most?

      ★★★★

      Reply
      • Erin Clarkson

        February 13, 2022 at 2:48 am

        Hi! These are the ratios that I found work for me for a stable macaron! Macarons are generally super sweet 🙂

        Reply
    19. Claudia

      March 04, 2022 at 4:59 pm

      The only recipe that works for me. Thank you 🙏🏼

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    20. Lisa

      March 22, 2022 at 7:47 pm

      Perfect recipe. My colour didn't turn out to the colour I wanted though. Erin how do I keep the colour in the macaron while baking?

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Erin Clarkson

        March 24, 2022 at 5:46 pm

        Hi! Did you use gel food colouring? Did it not work as in they browned, or the colour disappeared?

        Reply
    21. Shawna

      April 07, 2022 at 12:47 am

      My macs are resting now. This recipe made 36 macs for me & I felt like I piped them on the bigger side of the silicone mat with the template on it. Any idea what I did wrong?

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Erin Clarkson

        April 09, 2022 at 3:30 pm

        Hi! You may have just had a runnier batter than me due to mixing? Did it make 36 sandwiches (so 72 shells?)

        Reply
    22. Ariana

      April 15, 2022 at 12:38 pm

      I LOVE Erin’s recipes. She’s thorough and doesn’t skip any detail. I’ve made several batches of macarons, and the French technique is just a no fail in my book. For a first time attempt or if your just looking for a solid recipe to keep in your back pocket,this is the one.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    23. Rachel

      April 25, 2022 at 7:49 pm

      My go to macs! Works every time, such good flavor!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    24. Amy

      June 14, 2022 at 4:07 am

      This recipe turned out great for me! The level of detailed explanation is so helpful that I learned a lot from my first try and I'm so pleased with my second go. Still a bit to refine with practice but it's a great feeling to get behind the mystery of turning out a good batch of macarons

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    25. Emma Ross

      July 24, 2022 at 1:58 am

      A delicious way to reinvent the 100's & 1000's biscuit of my childhood. I was intimidated by macarons before making this recipe and they were perfect! Must make again

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Erin Clarkson Cloudy Kitchen

    HI, I'M ERIN

    My recipes range from quick & easy all the way to complex & impressive. I love the science and process of recipe development almost as much as baking itself. I specialize in rigorously tested recipes that are fun, reliable, and accurate.

    More about me →

    • https://www.instagram.com/cloudykitchen/
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok

    Popular

    • Funfetti Cookies
    • No Knead Focaccia
    • My Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie
    • S'mores Bars

    Footer

    Links

    • About
    • Contact
    • Web Stories

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Resources

    • FAQ
    • Policies
    • All recipes at once

    Copyright © 2022 Cloudy Kitchen

    Support by Foodie Digital

    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Twitter