Macaron Recipe with French Buttercream Filling Recipe

I absolutely love making this Macaron Recipe with French Buttercream Filling Recipe because it feels like a little celebration in your kitchen each time you whip up a batch. There’s something so rewarding about the delicate, crisp shells paired with the rich and silky French buttercream that just melts in your mouth. Whether you’re impressing guests or treating yourself on a cozy afternoon, these macarons are always a hit!

When I first tried this recipe, I was amazed at how the simple ingredients transformed into such an elegant dessert. You’ll find that mastering these macarons with French buttercream not only sharpens your baking skills but also opens the door to endless flavor variations and creativity. Plus, the buttercream filling brings just the right amount of sweetness and texture, making this macaron recipe truly special.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

Each ingredient in this Macaron Recipe with French Buttercream Filling Recipe plays an important role — from the almond flour for that perfect chewiness to the egg whites that whip into that luscious meringue. Grab the best quality you can for top results!

• Egg whites: Room temperature whites whip better and help create those stiff peaks essential for the perfect shell.
• Almond flour: Use finely ground, fresh almond flour for a smooth texture and to avoid gritty shells.
• Granulated sugar: Helps stabilize the meringue and gives structure to your macarons.
• Powdered sugar: Combined with almond flour, it keeps your shells delicate and sweet.
• Vanilla: Adds a gentle background flavor; feel free to swap with almond or citrus extracts for a twist.
• Cream of tartar: This little acid stabilizes the egg whites for firm, lasting peaks.
• Unsalted butter: Softened butter builds the creamy French buttercream filling that’s absolutely dreamy.
• Egg yolks: Give body and richness to the French buttercream.
• Water: For the sugar syrup that cooks up the perfect consistency in the buttercream.
• Salt: Just a pinch to balance sweetness in the filling.

Variations

I like to switch up the flavor and colors depending on seasons or celebrations—it’s so fun to make this Macaron Recipe with French Buttercream Filling Recipe your own. Feel free to get creative with extracts, food coloring, or different nut flours to impress your friends and family.

• Chocolate Macarons: Add cocoa powder to the almond flour mixture and use chocolate chips in the buttercream for a decadent twist that my family can’t get enough of.
• Fruit-Infused Buttercream: Fold in puréed fresh raspberries or lemon zest into the buttercream for a bright, fresh flavor that’s perfect in spring and summer.
• Nut-Free Version: Substitute almond flour with sunflower seed flour to accommodate allergies—just sift really well to keep the texture smooth.
• Vegan Option: While this recipe uses egg whites and yolks, you can experiment with aquafaba for the meringue and vegan butter to create a plant-based version.

How to Make Macaron Recipe with French Buttercream Filling Recipe

Step 1: Prepare and Sift Your Dry Ingredients

Start by sifting the powdered sugar and almond flour together. This step is essential—trust me, I learned this the hard way when my macarons came out rough from larger almond bits. For best results, sift multiple times and even pulse in a food processor to ensure everything is superfine. Discard any oversized particles to keep that smooth surface we’re aiming for.

Step 2: Whip Your Egg Whites to Stiff Peaks

Using an electric mixer, whisk your room temperature egg whites until they start foaming. Add the cream of tartar, then slowly incorporate the granulated sugar while continuing to whisk. It takes a bit more whisking than you might expect, but you want a marshmallowy, thick meringue that holds stiff peaks and clings to the whisk. This meringue stage is critical for the perfect shell texture.

Step 3: Fold in Dry Ingredients Gently

Gently fold in a third of your sifted almond mixture into the meringue, then fold in the rest carefully but thoroughly. You want the batter to flow like “lava” – thick enough to hold its shape but still fluid enough to slowly fall in ribbons off your spatula. This balancing act takes practice, but once you’ve nailed it, piping becomes so smooth.

Step 4: Pipe and Rest Your Macarons

Transfer your batter to a piping bag fitted with a medium round tip. Pipe one-inch circles onto parchment-lined baking sheets, making sure to hold the bag perpendicular to create perfectly round shells. Tap the trays on the counter a few times to release any trapped air bubbles and let them sit at room temperature for about 40 minutes — this drying step helps form the signature macaron “feet”.

Step 5: Bake and Cool

Bake your macarons at 300°F (150°C) for 12-15 minutes, rotating the tray halfway through to ensure even baking. Let the shells cool completely on the baking sheet before carefully removing them—this will prevent cracking. If the shells are too crisp, I sometimes brush the bottoms lightly with milk before filling to soften them for the perfect bite.

Step 6: Make the French Buttercream Filling

In a saucepan, combine sugar and water and heat, stirring until sugar dissolves and the mixture boils to 240°F (soft ball stage). Meanwhile, beat the egg yolks in a stand mixer until thick and foamy. With the mixer running, slowly drizzle the hot sugar syrup into the yolks. Continue beating until the mixture cools to room temperature—this step is key to silky smooth buttercream.

Next, add softened butter one cube at a time, mixing well after each addition until the buttercream is creamy and stable. Stir in vanilla and a pinch of salt to balance the sweetness. If you want, add a drop of food coloring here for a beautiful finishing touch.

Step 7: Assemble Your Macaron Sandwiches

Pipe the French buttercream onto the back of half of your macaron shells, then sandwich with the remaining shells. Be gentle—you want those edges to align perfectly. For best flavor and texture, let your macarons age in the fridge for 1-3 days. This allows the buttercream to soften the shells from inside, giving you that classic chewy center we all love.

How to Serve Macaron Recipe with French Buttercream Filling Recipe

Garnishes

I love dusting my macarons with a light sprinkle of edible glitter or a few tiny sugar pearls to give them a little sparkle, especially for special occasions. Fresh edible flowers also make a stunning and natural garnish. If you’ve made colored buttercream, pairing the visual with matching garnishes amplifies the wow factor.

Side Dishes

These macarons are delightful on their own but pair wonderfully with a cup of rich espresso or a delicate floral tea like jasmine or chamomile. For an elegant dessert spread, I like serving them alongside mini fruit tarts or a bowl of fresh berries to complement their sweetness.

Creative Ways to Present

For parties, I arrange my macarons in a rainbow color wheel on a tiered serving stand—it’s a total showstopper. You can also place them in clear boxes tied with ribbons for gifting. Another fun idea is to serve them inside decorative cupcake liners, which adds a pop of color and makes serving easy and elegant.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

I store leftover macarons in an airtight container in the fridge, where they keep beautifully for up to a week. Just make sure the container seals well to prevent them from absorbing fridge odors or drying out. Before serving, I let them come to room temperature so the buttercream softens nicely.

Freezing

Freezing macarons in a single layer, separated by parchment paper, works well and preserves freshness for up to a month. I wrap my boxes tightly with plastic wrap as an extra shield. When ready to enjoy, thaw them overnight in the fridge for the best texture retention.

Reheating

Since macarons are best served cool to keep their signature texture, I avoid reheating. However, if you want to enjoy softer shells, bringing them to room temperature is usually sufficient. If your shells are a bit too crisp, a very quick light brush with a tiny bit of milk and resting a few minutes can soften them nicely.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

This Macaron Recipe with French Buttercream Filling Recipe has become one of my cherished go-tos when I want to impress without fussing endlessly. I’ve watched friends’ faces light up biting into these delicate treasures, and I know you’ll love that same joy. Don’t be intimidated by the process—take it step by step, remember my tips, and soon you’ll be sharing your own macarons with pride. So, grab your mixer and give it a go; I can’t wait to hear about your delicious success!

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