Mint Chocolate Macarons

I believe, like many others, that macarons are my nemesis.  The only reason I’m posting is because after 2 failed batches, I needed something, and at least this batch tasted delicious!  I have no feet!  Where are the feet?????  The problem is probably under-mixing, but I don’t know, look for batch 4 soon.

The first time I made macarons they came out perfectly!  But that was almost 18 months ago.  I tried making macarons last summer and was almost in tears on the kitchen floor.  It has taken me a year to get back on the macaron-horse.  Since I’ve been making homemade ice cream, I had a lot of egg whites laying around, why not use them for macarons!

Last summer when I went to Montreal, I had beautiful, perfect macarons at high tea, and I want to make macarons like that!  Is it too much to ask for?  I want a beautiful, un-cracked top, spongy feet, and a light middle.  I’m a pretty competent baker, I just don’t know what is wrong with my macaronage!

Don’t rely to heavily on my directions here, visit Brave Tart or another macaron-goddess for directions.  I will say these taste delicious!  The texture isn’t perfect, however.  The mint chocolate buttercream is amazing!  I’m excited to think of what I can do with all the leftovers in the freezer!

Print the recipe.

Mint Chocolate Macarons
Adapted from Brave Tart
Yield – 24 sandwich cookies

115 g almond flour – I used Bob’s Red Mill
230 g powdered sugar
144 g egg whites
72 g sugar
1 vanilla bean, seeded
2 g kosher salt
small squirt of green gel food coloring – I used Americolor Electric Green

1. Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper and draw 1 1/2″ circles about 1” apart.  Flip the parchment paper over.  Set up a piping bag with a plain round tip.
2. Sift together the almond flour and the powdered sugar.  You’ll have to force it through the sieve.  As long as you have less than 2 tablespoons of chunks, you’re ok.  Just put the chunks in the sifted mixture.
3. Add the egg whites, sugar, vanilla bean, and salt to the bowl of a stand mixer with a whisk attachment.
4. Whisk at level 4 (KitchenAid Stand Mixer) for 3 minutes.
5. Whisk at level 7 for 3 more minutes.
6. Whisk at level 8 for 3 additional minutes.
7. Add in the food coloring and whisk at level 10 for 1 more minute.  The meringue should be very stiff and dry at this point.  Remove the bowl from the mixer.
8. Dump all of the dry ingredients into the meringue.  With a rubber spatula, fold for 25 strokes.
9. Look at the mixture, it should look chunky.
10. Fold for 15-20 more strokes.  STOP!  Walk away, do not over mix.  The mix should flow, but not be a liquid.
11. Add half the mixture to your piping bag and pipe circle within each circle you drew.  Repeat with the second half of the mixture.
12. Take each baking sheet and individually bang it hard on the counter 3-4 times.
13. Let the macarons sit on the counter for 20 minutes while you preheat the oven to 300 F.
14. Bake the macarons for 18-20 minutes or until a macaron can easily peel off the parchment paper.
15. Let cool before matching and filling.

Mint Chocolate Swiss Meringue Buttercream
Also adapted from Brave Tart

5 ounces egg whites
5 ounces sugar
1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
scrapings from 1 vanilla bean
1 pound butter (4 sticks), room temperature
6.5 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

1. Combine the egg whites, sugar, salt, and vanilla bean in the bowl of a stand mixer.  Place the mixing bowl in a double boiler.  The pot only needs to have a thin layer of simmering water.
2. Whisk the egg whites frequently while they heat.  Cook until the mixture is no longer gritty.
3. Melt the chocolate in the microwave in 20-second intervals and stirring in between.  Set aside.
4. Attach the bowl to the mixer and whisk on high speed for 6-10 minutes or until the bowl is cool to the touch.  The egg whites should have whipped into a stiff, shiny, meringue.
5. With the mixer still going on medium speed, add in the butter 1 tablespoon at a time.  The frosting may get a little loose, but just keep beating, it will all come together and get stiff.
6. Pour in the cooled, melted chocolate and the peppermint extract, beat until combined.
7. Add the frosting to a piping bag and pipe on half the macaron shells.
8. Sandwich the cookies and place in an airtight container overnight to mature in flavor.