Celebrating World Macaron Day

Every time I enter a patisserie, my eyes are dazzled with the beautiful, rows-upon-rows of rainbow-coloured macarons. In soft pinks and violets and shades of pastel green, these double-deckered sweet treats have always been my favourites. The way they crumble in your mouth with every bite . . . pure bliss!

Macarons, typically made from almond flour, sugar and egg whites, are said to have originated in Italy. There is much lore surrounding its origin, but the thing we know for certain is that originally, macarons were simple cookies and it is only recently that they evolved to their current avatar – dainty cookie sandwiches with a gooey filling inside. It is said that these pastries gained popularity during the French Revolution when two sisters baked and sold these treats to support themselves. From that time to this day, the French are known all over the world for their undying love of macarons.

For the uninitiated, macarons (mah-kah-rohn) and macaroons (mah-kah-roon) are two very different things, even though they are distant cousins. While one can be best described as dainty and artisanal, the other brings to mind homemade, coconutty goodness. An essential ingredient of macaroons is coconut and they are golden on the outside and chewy on the inside. While macarons are more popular in Europe, macaroons find more fanatics in America.

Macarons are so popular worldwide that every year, the world celebrates World Macaron Day on March 20^th. While foodies and dessertarians need no excuse to make a quick macaron-run any day of the year, this particular day is a wonderful way to celebrate one of the most exquisite gifts from the dessert gods. TimesCity curates for you some of the best places to pick up delicious macarons in your city. Wrap them in pretty boxes and dainty ribbons and voila, you have the perfect gift. Or simply grab a box and give yourself a treat this World Macaron Day.

Or, if you are so inclined, you could also go for this relatively easy macaron recipe and try them at home.

Ingredients:

1 cup powdered sugar
¾ cup almond flour
3 egg whites
A pinch of cream of tartar (room temperature)
¼ cup superfine sugar
¾ cup seedless raspberry jam for the filling
3-4 drops red food colouring

Method:

1. Mix the powdered sugar and almond flour in a processor and then sift the mixture twice. In a separate bowl, whip the egg whites with the tartar till stiff peaks form. Once this is ready, add to it the fine sugar. Add the food colouring.

2. Fold half of the egg white mixture into the flour and then fold in the rest. This mixture now should not be too fluffy. Put this mixture into a piping bag and press out on a parchment lined baking pan, nickel-sized mounds of the mixture.

3. Leave the baking pan at room temperature for 30 minutes and then put it in the oven, pre-heated to 375 degrees. Once you put the tray into the oven, turn the temperature down to 325 degrees. Bake for 8-10 minutes.

4. Let the macarons cool. Take two and add raspberry jam between them. Your macarons are ready.

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