Raspberry Macarons
The Macaron cookie was born in Italy, introduced by the chef of Catherine de Medicis in 1533 at the time of her marriage to the Duc d'Orleans who became king of France in 1547 as Henry II. The term "macaron" has the same origin as that the word "macaroni" -- both mean "fine dough".
The first Macarons were simple cookies, made of almond powder, sugar and egg whites. Many towns throughout France have their own prized tale surrounding this delicacy. In Nancy, the granddaughter of Catherine de Medici was supposedly saved from starvation by eating Macarons.Since then, French Macaron cookies have been nationally acclaimed in France and remain the best-selling cookie in pastry retail stores.
Raspberry Macarons
Ingredients
1 cup (100 grams) ground blanched almonds or almond meal/flour
1 1/2 cups (180 grams) confectioners sugar (powdered or icing) sugar
3 extra-large egg whites (100 grams)
2 1/2 tablespoons (35 grams) superfine white sugar*
a few drops of pink gel paste food coloring
Raspberry Filling:
1/3 cup (75 grams) full fat cream cheese, at room temperature
1/3 cup (75 grams) mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
3-4 tablespoons raspberry jam (preferably homemade)
* Make superfine sugar by processing regular granulated white sugar in your food processor for about 30 seconds or until sugar is finely ground.
Method
1-Have ready three baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
2-To make all the Macarons the same size, make a template. Take a piece of parchment paper and draw 20 - 1 1/2 inch (4 cm) circles, spacing the circles about 2 inches (5 cm) apart. Place the template under your parchment paper so you can use it as a guide when forming the cookies.
3-Place the ground almonds and confectioners sugar in your food processor and process until finely ground (about 1 to 2 minutes). Sift the mixture to remove any lumps.
4-In the bowl of your electric mixer, fitted with the whisk attachment (can use a hand mixer), beat the egg whites and cream of tartar, on medium low speed, until soft peaks form.
5-Gradually add the superfine sugar, and continue to beat, on high speed, until the meringue just holds glossy and stiff peaks (when you slowly raise the whisk the meringue is straight up, no drooping, called a 'beak').
6-Whisk in a few drops of the pink gel paste food coloring. Then, in three additions, sift the ground almond/sugar mixture over the meringue.
7-Fold the almond/sugar mixture, using a large spatula, into the meringue by cutting through the meringue and then fold up and over, making sure to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl.
8-Once the almond mixture is completely folded (called macaronage) into the meringue (the batter will fall back into the bowl in a thick ribbon) it is time to pipe the Macarons.
9-Fill a pastry bag, fitted with 1/2 inch (1 cm) plain tip, with the batter.
10- Pipe rounds of batter onto the parchment paper, using the template as a guide.
11-Then, gently remove the template and gently tap the baking sheet on the counter to break any air bubbles (can also break air bubbles with the end of a toothpick).
12-Let the Macarons sit at room temperature for about 30-60 minutes (depending on the temperature and humidity of your kitchen) or until the tops of the Macarons are no longer tacky.
13-Meanwhile preheat your oven to 300 degree F (150 degree C) with the oven racks in the top and bottom third of the oven. Bake the cookies (two sheets at a time) for about 16-20 minutes, rotating the pans top to bottom, front to back, about halfway through baking.
13-The Macarons are done when you can just barely separate the cookies from the parchment paper. (If you find that the bottoms of the cookies brown too much, double sheet your baking pans).
14-Remove from oven and place the baking sheet on a wire rack.
15-Let the Macarons cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet. Then, run the blade of an offset spatula or knife, under the macarons to separate them from the parchment paper.
16-Place the Macarons on a wire rack to cool completely.
Raspberry Filling:
1-In a bowl beat, or whisk, the cream cheese with the mascarpone cheese until nice and smooth with no lumps.
2-Stir in 3-4 tablespoons of raspberry jam (or to taste) until well combined. Place in a small piping bag (or small freezer bag), fitted with a small plain tip.
3-To Assemble Macarons: Start with two cookies of about the same size. Pipe a round of raspberry filling onto the flat bottom side of one cookie.
4-Take the second cookie and place it (top side up) on top of the filling to sandwich the two cookies together.
5-The Macarons can be stored in the refrigerator for two to three days, or they can be frozen for about a month. Best served at room temperature.
Makes about 25-30 Raspberry Macarons.