What do macarons taste like?
Macarons are really lovely to look at. They come in different colors, whether bright rainbows or subtle pastels, and are loved by both children and adults.
As pretty as macarons look, most of the emphasis is placed on their taste. If you’ve never tried one, you’re missing out.
What do macarons taste like? Macarons come in many different flavors, which of course affects how they taste, but the macarons should have a basic sweetness that isn’t too overpowering, and a slight nuttiness from the almond flour. They should be slightly crisp on the outside and slightly soft and chewy on the inside.
The perfect macaron can be hard to come by. To help you better understand macarons, their texture, and their taste, we’ve listed just about everything there is to know!
What are macarons?
Macarons are originally from France, and are a sweet made from almond flour.
Very similar to meringues, macarons are made with a base of egg white and sugar, with the characteristic addition of almond flour.
The beauty of macarons lies in their chewy, soft texture, but also in the range of flavors they present. Macarons have a thin cream or jam filling between two sandwiched layers.
With a soft and chewy interior, delicious filling and crunchy exterior, macarons are popular all over the world and are considered a delicacy.
Since the macarons are made with almond flour, they are gluten-free, meaning people with various diets and restrictions can enjoy their delicious flavors.
Making macarons requires some finesse and effort. Finding the perfect balance of sweetness and soft, chewy texture is quite an art.
If you do, however, you’ll have the most delicious treat to enjoy, in just about any flavor you can dream of!
What does a macaron taste like?
The macarons have an amazing balance of sweetness. They’ll certainly satisfy your sweet tooth, but they’re not over the top. The flavor of a macaron is also enhanced by the subtle nutty flavor that comes from the use of almond flour.
The base flavor of a macaron is sweet and slightly nutty, but it’s the added flavors that really make macarons as interesting as they are. There are a wide variety of flavors you can choose from, from salted caramel or chocolate, to pistachios and fruit.
The flavor that is added to a macaron is the most important factor in the taste of the candy, but this flavor must be balanced with the sweetness of the macaron.
A similar-tasting treat would be a meringue, as both meringue and macaroon are made with egg whites and sugar, to which other ingredients are then added. The texture between the two is also very similar.
It’s important to note that although macarons are a sweet treat, there shouldn’t be a lingering sweetness left in the back of your throat when enjoying one.
A macaron that is too sweet is not well made, and sweetness should never overpower the other flavors in the macaron.
The beauty of macarons is that you can play with so many different flavors.
The texture of the macarons
Just as important as the taste of a macaron, the texture really is the test of a good macaron. Perfecting the texture requires some patience and a bit of experimentation.
In fact, even professional cooks can make macarons differently depending on the region, as the process can be affected by factors such as humidity and altitude.
The macarons should be light, with the center of the macaron chewy and soft, but not mushy or too wet. The outside of the macaron should have a slight crunch, but it should give easily to the soft, chewy center.
Between the two layers is a filling of jam, buttercream, or ganache, which helps add a bit of moisture and sweetness to the macaron.
Macarons shouldn’t be heavy or leave you feeling full after enjoying one or two. Its soft and chewy texture should be light and easy to eat, and the balance of sweetness and flavors should make it a delight.
The basics of a good macaron
Although there are different variations of macarons, there are still the basics that a good macaron should have, no matter the color or flavor.
Here are some things that make a good macaron:
- The ratio between the cookie and the filling of a macaron should be about 2:1, or a little less when it comes to the filling. There should be more than a thin, spread layer of filling, but not too much that it oozes out. This filling adds a lot of flavor to the macaron; there should be enough so that it doesn’t end up being dry!
- The macaron surface should be smooth. If there are bumps along the surface of the macaron, it means the almond flour hasn’t been ground enough, or sifted enough. The flavor won’t be affected too much, but it should have a smooth texture.
- The macaron filling should also be soft. It should not be too thick and should be light. The filling should not spill or squish out of the macaron sandwich, so while it should provide a delicious layer between the two cookies, it should be firm enough to stick to the cookies and not spill out.
- The macaron crust should be slightly crisp and shiny, but not thick. The crust should be thin and firm enough to hold the soft, chewy interior of the cookie. It shouldn’t break and ruin the inside of the macaron when you bite into it.
- The inside of the macaron should be soft and chewy, but it shouldn’t be mushy. It shouldn’t be wet or sticky, and while it may look slightly raw, it should be light and a bit soft.
- The sweet and sugary taste of a macaron should be bearable and barely noticeable. If the sweetness is excessive, it is a sign that something has gone wrong. The sweetness shouldn’t overpower the flavor of the macaron, and you should be able to taste each of the different dimensions the macaron has.
The most popular macaron flavors
Being able to experiment with many different flavors has allowed us to experiment with some amazing flavor combinations. There’s probably a macaron for every flavor you can think of, so it can be hard to find your favorite.
However, with all those available, there are some clear favorites. Here are some of the most popular and delicious macaron flavors you can try:
- Pistachio - Pistachio is an absolutely delicious macaron flavor! It is nutty, slightly salty, creamy and perfectly balanced with the sweetness of the macaron.
- Raspberry - Raspberry is a great flavor for many things, but it’s especially great as a macaron. What makes raspberry macarons so great is their jam filling, which adds the perfect tart-sweet juiciness to the macaron.
- Coffee - The rich coffee notes and coffee cream filling make the macaron perfectly decadent, which is especially great for tea time.
- Almond - Almond is the original flavor of the macaron, and the added almond notes only serve to bring out the almond flour, all rounded off with a subtle sweetness and creamy filling.
- Passion Fruit - There’s nothing quite as fresh and summery as passion fruit, and this flavor makes for a light and refreshing macaron that’s especially delicious in the summer.
- Strawberry - Strawberry macarons taste like your childhood in one bite. The sweet and juicy flavor of the strawberry is further enhanced by a delicious cream filling. The perfect mix of strawberries and cream.
- Lemon - Tangy and sweet, lemon macarons are ideal if you don’t want something too sweet or heavy. The acidity of the lemon is balanced by the creamy filling.
- Salted Caramel – If you want something a little more decadent, but not too sweet, Salted Caramel is the macaron flavor for you. The caramel is enhanced with flaked sea salt and a rich filling.
- Chocolate - You can’t go wrong with chocolate, and a soft and chewy chocolate macaron with a chocolate ganache filling is just amazing.
- Hazelnut - Hazelnut macarons have a subtle flavor, and are best suited for when you want something nutty and not too sweet.
- Lavender - Lavender is a popular scent, but it also makes a delicious macaron flavor. The lavender macarons are floral and light and centered around a lovely cream filling.
- Vanilla - Vanilla is a classic flavor for sweets of all kinds, and for many, vanilla is their favorite macaron flavor. The simple aroma and flavor of vanilla is a lovely complement to just about anything, and with a vanilla buttercream, these macarons are perfect for any moment of indulgence.
- Pink - Pink-flavored macarons may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but they are floral and unique, with a subtle buttercream filling.
- Apricot - If you’re a fan of apricots, there’s no doubt you’ll be a fan of apricot macarons! Fruity, fresh and ideal for a summer day.
macaron filling
An important factor in the taste of a macaron is the filling. Often the filling is tailored to the flavor of the macaron, but there are some popular filling options that go well with different flavors.
The various types of macaron fillings include buttercream, jam, curd, chocolate, and even jelly. As long as the filling is thick enough that it won’t spill out of the macaron when you put it together, it’s fine to use.
You want to stay away from wet fillings, as they can make the macaron shells soggy, which only ruins the texture. Also, these wet fillings will ooze out of the macaron when you put it together.
Here are some other very popular macaron fillings:
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- Chocolate Ganache
- Candy
- Nutella
- pistachio cream
- raspberry cream
- orange cream
- Vanilla cream
- lemon curd
- white chocolate ganache
- strawberry jelly
The difference between macarons and macaroons
Macarons vs. macaroni - it’s easy to understand why people might confuse them.
Although the names are quite similar, the two treats are quite different, although both come from a biscuit made with egg whites, almonds and flour. “Maccherone” is the Italian word for thin dough, from which the names come.
Macarons are meringue-based cookies, which are bound together and filled with a buttercream or ganache. Macarons are made with almond flour, egg whites, food coloring, and confectioners’ sugar.
Macaroons, on the other hand, are drop cookies that are made with shredded coconut, sugar, egg whites, and added flavorings, such as vanilla. They can also include ground almonds or condensed milk, depending on the recipe you use.
Macarons and macaroons sound alike and have similar ingredients, but each has a unique flavor and texture and definitely deserves to be appreciated as individual treats.
how to make macarons
Making macarons requires some skill and patience, but these little meringue-based cookies are well worth it.
When making macarons, you will come across two different methods. The first is the French method, which consists of beating the egg whites until stiff, and the second is the Italian method, in which the egg whites are beaten with syrup to make the meringue.
Once the whites are assembled, the dry ingredients are incorporated and the mixture is placed in a pastry bag, and then placed on a baking tray. It is allowed to cool until a skin forms on top, which takes about an hour, and then the macarons are baked.
Once baked and cooled, the filling is placed between two shells and they are sandwiched.
It is very important to follow the recipe and measurements exactly when making the macarons, or else they will not turn out well. With a little patience and determination, you’ll soon have perfectly baked and formed macarons.
If you decide to make some for yourself, you might want to check out our article on how to save macarons for later so you can make the most of your delicious batch of colorful treats.
For a full tutorial with some great tips and tricks for making perfect macarons every time, we’ve found a great video from the Preppy Kitchen YouTube channel.
Related questions
Are the macarons chewy or crunchy?
Macarons are supposed to be both chewy and a little crunchy. The outer shell of a macaron should be crisp but thin, and the inside of a macaron should be soft and chewy. Together, they make the perfect bite.
Are macarons supposed to taste like almond?
Macarons are made with almond flour, and some may think that this gives them a very strong almond flavor.
Although the macarons have a slight almond flavor, it is not overpowering or overpowering, and often brings out more of the flavor of the macaron.
However, the almond flour gives a nice nutty flavor to the macaron, however subtle.
Why are macarons so expensive?
Macarons are somewhat more expensive than other treats because they use more expensive ingredients, and a lot of time and effort goes into making them. Different flavors and added ingredients can add up.
Why aren’t my macarons chewy?
If you’ve made macarons at home and they haven’t turned out gummy, you may have over-baked them and left them in the oven for too long.
However, sometimes this can make them too rubbery, so you have to be very careful to follow the correct recipe and timing as well as possible. The slightest mistake could ruin them!