Description
Santa Belt Christmas Macarons are festive treats perfect for holiday celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup almond flour
- 3 large egg whites (room temperature)
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- Red gel food coloring (to achieve desired color)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream (or milk)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Black food coloring (for decorating)
- Yellow candy melts or yellow icing (for the belt buckle)
Instructions
- In a bowl, sift together the powdered sugar and almond flour to remove any lumps. Set aside.
- In a clean mixing bowl, whip the egg whites with cream of tartar until foamy. Gradually add the granulated sugar while continuing to whip until stiff peaks form.
- If using, add the red gel food coloring and vanilla extract to the whipped egg whites. Mix until the color is evenly distributed.
- Gently fold the sifted almond flour mixture into the egg whites using a spatula. Be careful not to deflate the mixture; it should be smooth and flow like lava.
- Transfer the macaron batter to a piping bag fitted with a round tip. Pipe small circles (about 1.5 inches in diameter) onto parchment-lined baking sheets, leaving space between each circle.
- Let the piped macarons sit at room temperature for 30-60 minutes, or until a skin forms on the surface (they should not stick to your finger when touched).
- Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C).
- Bake the macarons for 15 minutes, rotating the baking sheets halfway through for even baking. The macarons should have a smooth surface and feet.
- Remove from the oven and let the macarons cool completely on the baking sheets before transferring them to a wire rack.
- In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy.
- Gradually add the powdered sugar, alternating with heavy cream, until the mixture is smooth and fluffy. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- If desired, tint the buttercream with a bit of red food coloring to match the macaron shells.
- Pair up macaron shells of similar size. Pipe a dollop of buttercream onto the flat side of one shell and sandwich it with the matching shell.
- Use black food coloring to create a belt design on the macaron.
- Melt yellow candy melts or use yellow icing to create a belt buckle design in the center of the black belt.
- For the best flavor and texture, refrigerate the assembled macarons for at least 24 hours before serving.
- Enjoy these festive Santa Belt Christmas Macarons at your holiday parties or as a sweet gift!
Notes
- Make sure the egg whites are at room temperature for best results.
- Use a kitchen scale for precise measurements.
- Let the macarons rest to avoid cracks during baking.
- Experiment with different colors for the filling.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 macaron
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 30mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: Santa Belt Christmas Macarons, holiday cookies, festive desserts