I live in Geneva, Switzerland, where I moved with my…
Ditch the roses and give your loved one a batch of these gorgeous homemade pink macarons instead.
Move over basic, because these Very Berry Pink Macarons are here to steal the show. These delicate and flavorful treats are sure to make a statement on any dessert spread. With a mix of mixed berries and just the right amount of sweetness, these macarons are the perfect balance of flavor and sophistication. But it’s not just their taste that sets them apart – their pink shells make them stand out in a sea of boring, plain macarons.
And don’t worry, we’ve got you covered whether you prefer regular or vegan shells. So why not add some flair to your next dessert spread with these beautiful and delicious Very Berry Pink Macarons? Your taste buds (and Instagram followers) will thank you.
PrintVery Berry Pink Macarons
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- Author: Rachael Hooper
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 30 macarons 1x
Description
Ditch the roses and give your loved one a batch of these gorgeous homemade pink macarons instead.
Ingredients
The shells
- 140 g ground almonds
- 140 g powdered (confectioner’s sugar)
- 100 g egg white (from approx. 3 eggs, room temperature, divided 50/50)
- alternative for vegan shells 100g aquafaba (room temperature, divided 50/50)
- 100 g granulated (white sugar)
- 40 g water
- pink gel food colouring (optional)
The filling
- 300 g 10oz mixed berries, thawed if frozen
- juice of 1/2 lemon
- 300 g 10oz gelling sugar
- OR 300g (10oz granulated sugar + 8g (2 tsp) powdered pectin)
Instructions
The shells
- Prepare 2 parchment lined baking sheets. They need to be big enough to hold 30 x 4cm / 1 1/2” diameter shells each.
- Mix the ground almonds and powdered sugar (and cocoa powder, if using) together in a bowl, then grind in a food processor until you have an extra fine texture. You may need to do this in batches, depending on the size of your food processor.
- Sift into a large bowl (I use a mesh strainer and push the mixture through with a spatula), putting any bigger pieces of almond back into the food processor to re-grind.
- Add 50g egg whites and mix thoroughly into the almond mixture. Add food colouring, if using. Set aside.
- In another bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a balloon whisk attachment, scrupulously clean and free of any oil or egg yolk, beat the other 50g egg whites to stiff peaks.
- Meanwhile, put the granulated sugar and water into a small heavy-based saucepan and heat on medium-low to 118°C / 244°F, without stirring.
- While whisking constantly on low speed (to avoid splashing hot syrup), slowly add the cooked sugar mixture to the beaten egg whites, pouring it down the inside edge of the bowl. You’ll get a bit of it hardening on the side of the bowl, but that’s okay – just leave it there.
- Whisk at high speed until the mixture is cool, about 3 minutes. The mixture should increase in volume and become firm and shiny, and you should get a beak when you lift the whisk.
- Scrape the meringue onto the almond mixture and incorporate with a rubber or silicone spatula until you have a homogeneous batter that runs from the spatula in a thick ribbon.
- Transfer the mixture into a piping bag fitted with a 7 – 9mm / #10 – #12 plain round tip (this is best done in two batches, so you don’t overfill the bag). Pipe 60 equally sized rounds, about 4cm / 1 1/2”, in staggered rows onto the prepared sheets. Hold the piping bag upright with the tip just above the sheet and pipe without pulling upwards or swirling in circles, so the batter comes out in a round blob around the tip, and give a little sideways flick at the end to break the stream.
- Tap the baking sheet firmly on the bench several times to release air bubbles and obtain a smooth surface. If you have any tips sticking up, press them gently down with a damp fingertip. Leave the tray to rest at room temperature for at least 20 minutes until a slight skin forms. If you touch it, it should be only just tacky.
- Meanwhile, preheat oven to 150°C / 300°F / Gas Mark 2.
- Bake the macarons in the centre of the oven for 18 minutes, one sheet at a time, turning the sheet half-way.
- Remove from oven and remove the parchment from the tray with the shells still on it and place on a cooling rack for at least 30 minutes, until completely cool, then remove macaron shells carefully from the parchment.
- If not filling straight away, store in an air-tight container at room temperature.
The filling
- Process the berries until smooth and press through a fine mesh sieve into a medium, heavy-based saucepan.
- Add lemon juice and sugar (and powdered pectin, if using) and bring to a boil. Cook on a rapid boil according to gelling sugar or pectin packet directions (I boiled mine for 4 minutes), remove from heat and allow to cool completely, stirring occasionally. Stir well before use.
- Pipe or spoon a generous blob of filling onto the flat side of half the shells, top with the remaining shells and press gently until the filling reaches the edges.
Note: The filling is basically jam, so pop any leftover into a jar and refrigerate. Use within a week.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for the filling to set and the shells to mature for at least 24 hours before eating.
- Prep Time: 2 hours
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
I live in Geneva, Switzerland, where I moved with my family from Australia in 2001. I have a husband whom I adore, two adult sons and a delightful daughter-in-law, I’m an EFL teacher, I love to travel and I spend as much time as possible in the kitchen. Cooking, for me, is all about sharing delicious, healthy and sometimes wickedly indulgent food - either literally, at the table, or metaphorically, via the internet. I have a burning passion for Italian food, I also dabble in Middle Eastern, French and Asian cooking, as well as trying my hand at cakes, desserts and breads. In fact, baking has become a bit of an obsession! I'm always ready for a challenge and I have developed a "never-say-die" attitude in the kitchen.