December 9, 2013

'Tis the seasong to be giving

 Chocolate Macarons anyone?


With Christmas just around the corner, its just about that time of the year where in our kitchen is turned into a baking factory/ sweat shop lol. For this year's goodies, I helped my sister make some chocolate macarons.

Adapted from David Lebovitz's Chocolate Macarons, these little devils are the most temperamental things you could ever imagine baking. But with a little but of tlc, tears, and a Hail Mary; They could be the best thing you ever bake and give out as Christmas treats for they never fail to spark a tinkle in peoples eyes.

CHOCOLATE MACARONS

INGREDIENTS:

Macaron:
 
1 cup powdered sugar

1/2 cup almond flour

3 tbsp good quality cocoa powder

2 large egg whites, at room temperature

5 tablespoons sugar

 Ganache:

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/3 cup good quality semisweet chocolate chips

METHOD:

For Macaron:

-Line a baking sheet with parchment or silicon mat. Also have a piping bag ready.

  -In a food processor, combine powdered sugar with almond flour and cocoa and then grind until fine. 

-In an electric stand mixer, whip eggwhites until they begin to hold their shape

-While whipping, add in sugar and continue beating until lightly stiff like a merinque

-Carefully fold in dry mixture into egg white mixture until well incorporated

-Place batter into a pastry bag and pipe onto prepared baking sheet making about 1 inch cookies

-Rap the baking sheet on the couter top and then let sit in a cool place for about 30 minutes

-Preheat oven to 350F

-Bake cookies for about 15 to 18 minutes

-Let cool on the baking sheet completely before removing

For Ganache:
-Heat cream in a small saucepan until scalding

-Remove cream from heat and then add in chocolate chips.

-Whisk until you get your desired, spreadable consistency


 
-Simple build the sandwich cookies and enjoy


or in this case, wrap them up and start giving them out!

Miks