Description
Santa Claus Macarons are a fun and festive Christmas treat that combines the elegance of macarons with the charm of the holiday season. With vibrant red shells and a delicious buttercream filling, these macarons are perfect for any holiday celebration.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Macaron Shells:
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 cup almond flour
- 3 large egg whites, room temperature
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
- Red food coloring (gel or liquid)
For the Filling:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- Pinch of salt
For the Santa Macaron Design:
- Mini chocolate chips or black icing (for the eyes)
- Small pieces of marshmallow (for the beard)
- Red and white icing (for Santa’s hat and fur details)
Instructions
- Prepare Your Baking Sheets: Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats. Draw circles on the parchment paper (about 1.5 inches in diameter) as a guide for your macaron shells.
- Make the Macaron Shells: Sift together the powdered sugar and almond flour to remove any clumps. In a clean bowl, whip the egg whites with an electric mixer until foamy. Add the cream of tartar, then gradually add granulated sugar, continuing to whip until stiff peaks form. Gently fold in the sifted dry ingredients in three parts, followed by red food coloring until uniform.
- Pipe the Macaron Shells: Fill a piping bag with the macaron batter and pipe it onto the prepared baking sheets, following the circles as guides. Tap the baking sheets on the counter to release air bubbles. Let the piped shells sit for 30-60 minutes until they form a skin.
- Bake the Macaron Shells: Preheat the oven to 285°F (140°C). Bake for 15–18 minutes, rotating the sheets halfway through. Let them cool completely.
- Make the Filling: In a large bowl, beat the softened butter until smooth, then gradually add powdered sugar. Mix in vanilla extract, heavy cream, and a pinch of salt, and beat until light and fluffy.
- Assemble the Santa Claus Macarons: Pipe the buttercream onto the flat side of half the macaron shells. Place the other half on top. Decorate with mini chocolate chips for the eyes, marshmallow pieces for the beard, and red and white icing for the hat and fur details.
- Let Them Set: Allow the macarons to set for at least an hour before serving to let the filling firm up.
Notes
- Make sure to let the macarons rest for the proper time before baking to ensure the smooth tops.
- Use a gentle hand when folding the ingredients to avoid deflating the meringue.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Holiday Treat
- Method: No-bake, Baked
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 macaron
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 20mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: Santa macarons, Christmas desserts, holiday macarons, festive macarons