Heart Macarons with Lemon Buttercream
Posted November 7, 2023 by: Admin
You can easily create these delightful Heart Shaped Macarons – it’s simpler than you may believe, especially with the print-friendly heart template I’ve designed just for you.
These charming heart-shaped macarons are perfect for various occasions, such as baby showers, bridal showers, birthdays, princess parties, and, of course, as a sweet Valentine’s Day treat! Plus, macarons are naturally GLUTEN FREE!
They not only look like they came straight from a French bakery, but they also taste incredibly delicious with the tangy-sweet lemon buttercream sandwiched between the sweet almond cookies. Your family and friends will be thoroughly impressed.
Watch How to Make Heart Macarons:
How to Make Heart Macarons:
- In the bowl of a food processor, combine 70 grams of almond flour and 120 grams of powdered sugar. Pulse twice, then process for 1 1/2 minutes. Sift the mixture and discard any solids (there should be less than 1 tablespoon of solids in the sieve).
- Place 2 egg whites in a large clean and dry mixing bowl and beat until foamy. Gradually add 1/4 cup of granulated sugar and beat on high speed for about 2 1/2 minutes or until stiff, glossy peaks form. Add a 1-inch strip of red gel food coloring and fold it in with a spatula until incorporated.
- Add the sifted almond flour and sugar mixture and fold it in using this method: scrape the batter around the bowl, then press the flat side of the spatula firmly through the center. Repeat until the batter flows like lava and a thick ribbon forms as it flows off the spatula (35-40 complete strokes).
- Print 4 copies of the heart template and place them on 2 baking sheets under silicone liners or parchment paper (AVOID WAX PAPER) – you’ll be able to see the hearts through your liner to guide you as you pipe the heart shapes. Transfer the batter to a large piping bag fitted with a 3/8″ round tip. For each heart, pipe at the top left and pull down towards the bottom center, then pipe at the top right and pull down towards the bottom center and flick the end up if it gets too long.
- Add sprinkles as desired. Firmly tap the baking sheets on the counter 15-20 times to release air bubbles. Poke any remaining obvious bubbles with a toothpick. Let the cookies sit at room temperature for 30 minutes or until they are no longer sticky to the touch – they should form a thin film on top. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 300°F.
- Bake one sheet at a time for 12-15 minutes at 300°F. I usually do 15 minutes for the first batch and 12 minutes for the second batch – somehow my oven gets hotter with the second batch. Let the cookies cool to room temperature before removing them from the baking sheet. Once cool, they should slide off easily. Meanwhile, prepare the buttercream (see instructions below).
- To assemble, flip over half of your cookies and pipe generous amounts of frosting onto the flat sides, piping in a heart shape. Find a well-matched unfrosted second half and sandwich the cookies together.
How to Make Lemon Buttercream:
- In a medium mixing bowl, cream 6 tablespoons of softened butter on high speed for 2 minutes.
- Add 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar (1/2 cup at a time, beating to incorporate between additions), along with 1/8 teaspoon of salt. Once the sugar is fully incorporated, increase the speed to high and beat for 2 minutes.
- Add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and beat for another 1 minute or until the mixture is whipped and fluffy. Transfer the mixture to the same clean piping bag fitted with the round 3/8″ tip.
Q: Do you have any exciting plans for Valentine’s Day?
Whether you’re celebrating with your best friend or your special someone, I’d love to hear how you plan to enjoy the day. I’m pretty sure we’ll be having a cozy dinner with either filet mignon or lobster!! 😊
