How to Guides

Macarons can be served on a variety of dishes, or even built into a macaron tower if you’re up for the challenge.

Macarons make for a delicious treat in the afternoon or evening served with sweet bubbly beverages.

What temperature to serve macarons at

Macarons are typically stored in the fridge prior to serving, therefore they need to be warmed to room temperature before you’re ready to serve them.

Macarons that have been in the fridge can be placed on a clean plate for 20 minutes to warm them up to room temperature.

Macarons are beautiful cookies that should be served on a clean white plate if possible.

Their colors will pop out from the plate, making them look indulgent.

Arrangements for Macarons

Macaron Tower

Macarons can be arranged according to color on a tiered platter. They look beautiful as each color the macarons come out a bit further creating a macaron tower.

Another option is to build your own macaron tower by first getting a foam tree.

The foam tree needs toothpicks stuck into it, and then you can gently push your macarons onto the toothpick.

You can create a variety of looks from a flat macaron tower, to a mix of flat and vertical macarons.

Check out these beautiful macaron towers.

Macarons on a wooden board

You can use a wooden cutting board, or specialty wooden board to arrange your macarons on.

It’s best to serve your macarons with similar colors or flavors grouped together on a wooden board.

You can put handwritten labels beside each flavor of macaron for your guests to have a good idea about what kind of macaron they are selecting.

Macarons on a plate

Macarons look eye catching on a white plate because they stand out with their color, shape, and texture.

What drinks to serve with macarons

Macarons can be served with a wide variety of beverages, depending on the occasion.

Tea

Macarons go well with a piping hot cup of tea. You can even serve macarons with high tea (afternoon tea).

Hot Chocolate

Hot chocolate is a creamy, chocolatey beverage that goes well with macarons. Macarons that will be served as dessert can be enjoyed with a hot cup of cocoa.

You’ll want to pick complimenting flavors for your macarons to go with your hot chocolate.

Macaron flavors to serve with hot chocolate:

• other chocolate flavored macarons
• caramel macarons
• London fog macarons
• vanilla macarons
• s’more macarons
• cookies and cream macarons
• cookie dough macarons

Coffee

An afternoon latte served with macarons is a lovely treat to have on a cold afternoon.

If you love iced coffee, macarons go impeccably well with delicious iced coffee. They’re chewy texture melts in your mouth after a cold glass of a specialty iced coffee.

Champagne

There’s nothing quite like champagne and macarons. Having a little chilled bubbly, next to a flavor packed macaron is one of the best combinations.

You can serve champagne with macarons during a:

• bridal shower
• wedding shower
• engagement party
• NYE party
• anniversary celebration
• birthday party

Valentine’s day is a day to celebrate the people we love in our life.

Valentine’s day macarons are the perfect gift for your mom, sister, brother, or your significant other.

Valentine macarons flavors are filled with cinnamon, chocolate, and fruit flavors.

Valentine macarons can be made into pink, white, or red colors for a pop of color for your macaron cookies.

You can even make your valentine macarons into heart shapes for an added touch to your beautiful macarons. Find our printable heart shaped template.

You can decorate your valentine’s day macarons in variety of ways using food coloring, royal icing or chocolate and caramel drizzle.

Cinnamon Roll Macarons

Cinnamon roll macarons are made with cinnamon and nutmeg in their outer shells.

The center filling is made with a cream cheese buttercream icing. To add a little bit more sweetness, there is a caramel sauce filling to the center filling as well.

Dark Chocolate Ganache Macarons

Dark chocolate ganache macarons are rich and full of chocolate creamy flavors.

Dark chocolate ganache is made by adding hot heavy cream to dark chocolate melting wafers. Once the chocolate is fully mixed into the heavy cream, a little bit of butter is added to the ganache. The butter adds a smooth, velvety flavor to the ganache.

The ganache needs to cool prior to using. If you make it before baking your macaron shells, this will give it some time in the fridge to harden up and be ready to pipe into your macaron shells.

Champagne Macarons

Champagne macarons are made by adding a hint of champagne into a buttercream base frosting.

Champagne macarons can be decorated with a bit of gold dust to make them shine bright. 

Red Velvet Macarons

Red velvet macarons are made by adding cocoa powder, and vanilla extract to the macaron shell batter. Red velvet is a flavor that has both chocolate and vanilla flavors, making it truly memorable.

The filling of the red velvet macaron is a vanilla cream cheese icing. The cream cheese icing with the chocolate flavored macaron shells makes this flavor of macaron creamy and rich.

Raspberry Macarons

Raspberry macarons are made by adding a bit of food coloring to the macaron batter to make them either pink or red.

Raspberry macaron filling is made by adding raspberry jam to a buttercream base filling.

Raspberry jam is much more concentrated in flavor, therefore it flavors buttercream much better than using crushed raspberries.

Cherry Macarons

Cherry macarons are made by adding red or pink food coloring to the macaron batter.

Finely chopped cherries are added to a buttercream base frosting for the cherry macaron filling.

Hot Chocolate Macarons

Hot chocolate macarons are made by adding cocoa powder to macaron batter to create a chocolate macaron shell.

Hot chocolate macarons are filled with a marshmallow chocolate buttercream icing. Hot cocoa is added to a buttercream base to create the chocolate flavor. Marshmallow fluff is added to the buttercream icing for the marshmallow flavor. Marshmallow fluff is a spreadable cream that tastes just like marshmallows.

Hot chocolate macarons are topped with melted chocolate and a few mini marshmallows.

White Chocolate Ganache Macarons

White chocolate ganache macarons are full of sweet, creamy chocolate flavor.

You can make white chocolate ganache macarons by heating heavy cream, and pouring it over white chocolate melting wafers.

Make your chocolate ganache the day before, and let it sit in the fridge overnight, prior to filling your macarons.

White Chocolate Rose Macarons

White chocolate rose macarons are made by adding vanilla bean paste to the macaron shell batter.

For a bit of added decoration, you can add dried rose petals to the top of the macaron shells, right after piping them. They will make your macarons looked eye catching with it’s textured look.

The filling is made by adding rose water, and melted white chocolate to a buttercream base frosting.

To decorate the macarons, you can add a little more melted white chocolate and streak it on the top of the macaron shells. You can add a few more dried rose petals or sprinkles that will stick onto the melted white chocolate.

Boozy macarons are a fun, edgy party food you can devour at your next get together!

Boozy macarons are made by adding your favorite alcohol flavors to a buttercream filling or chocolate ganache.

Try making your own boozy macaron flavors at home using these mesmerizing filling ideas.

Dark Chocolate Irish Cream Macarons

Dark chocolate Irish cream macarons are made by making the macaron shells plain, with color if desired.

Dark chocolate Irish cream filling is made by adding 2-3 tbsp of Irish cream to dark chocolate ganache.

As soon as the dark chocolate ganache is smooth and mixed together, add the Irish cream.

It will thin out the ganache, but just place it in the fridge for it to firm up prior to piping on your macarons.

Coffee and Bailey’s Macarons

Coffee and Bailey’s macarons are made by adding espresso powder to the macaron batter to flavor the shells with a hint of coffee.

The filling of the macaron is made by adding bailey’s to a dark chocolate ganache.

Champagne Macarons

Champagne macarons are made by adding a hint of champagne into a buttercream base frosting.

Champagne macarons can be decorated with a bit of gold dust to make them shine bright.

Mojito Macarons

Mojito macarons are made using your favorite macaron recipe, and then adding a hint of green food coloring to the macaron batter.

Mojito macarons are filled with 2 different fillings.

The first is a mojito ganache, made by adding rum bakery emulsion flavoring, lime oil, fresh lime juice, chopped up fresh mint leaves to a white chocolate ganache base.

The second filling is a lime center made of sweetened condensed milk, fresh lime juice, and lime zest.

The ganache is piped in a ring around the edge of the macaron shell, while the sweet lime center is piped in the middle of the macaron shell.

Piña Colada Macarons

Piña colada macarons are made by adding a little coconut flour to the macaron batter.

After the macarons have been piped, a sprinkle of shredded coconut is added to the tops of the macaron shells.

The filling of the piña colada macarons is made by adding rum extract, pineapple juice, and coconut cream to a buttercream frosting.

Raspberry Vodka Dark Chocolate Ganache Macaron

Raspberry vodka macarons are made by adding red food coloring to macaron batter.

There are 2 fillings for these raspberry vodka macarons.

One of the fillings is raspberry vodka jelly.

It is made by cooking frozen raspberries with agar agar powder, and then adding a small amount of raspberry vodka.

The mixture is put through a sieve to remove all of the seeds. The jelly sets as it cools.

The next filling is a raspberry vodka dark chocolate ganache.

Raspberry vodka is heated with the heavy cream, and then poured over dark chocolate. One the mixture has come together and is a smooth consistency, it is placed in the fridge until it sets.

Raspberry vodka macarons are assembled by piping a ring of chocolate ganache, and then placing the raspberry vodka jelly in the center.

You can add a little more ganache on top of the jelly, and then sandwich them together to create your boozy macaron.

Vanilla Rum Macarons

Vanilla rum macarons are made by making plain macaron batter.

Vanilla rum macarons are filled with creamy vanilla rum ganache.

Vanilla rum ganache is made by heating up the heavy cream with a cut vanilla bean and then pouring it over white chocolate to create the base of the ganache.

Add vanilla extract and rum (1-2 tbsp) or rum flavoring (couple of drops).

Rosé Macarons

Rosé macarons have a light, crisp, hint of wine flavor to them.

Rosé macarons are made by making a plain macaron batter. You can add a bit of pink gel food coloring to the macaron batter if desired.

Rosé Macarons are filled with rosé buttercream filling.

Rosé buttercream filling can be made by mixing together:

• 1/2 cup butter room temperature
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1-2 tbsp rosé

White and gold macarons glitter and glisten for wedding cookies, or a NYE party.

White and gold macarons are captivating and eye-catching that use a gold food coloring that actually shimmers in the light. See video here.

Recipe for White and Gold Macarons

White macarons are simply made using a professional macaron recipe.

White macarons do not need any color added to them.

The gold part of the macarons will be painted on using food coloring.

How to Color White and Gold Macarons

Dust a small bit of gold powdered food coloring onto a plate. A little food coloring goes a long way. Only add a dusting of food coloring.

Gold powdered food coloring is especially difficult to find, and sometimes the coloring isn’t quite right.

In the video below, you can see how this particular gold food coloring actually shimmers when you paint it onto the macarons.

Add a couple of drops of almond extract on top of the gold powdered food coloring.

Use a food safe paint brush to mix them together to create your paint.

If your gold paint starts to dry out, add a couple more drops of almond extract.

You can use a thin tipped food safe paint brush to make delicate designs on your macarons.

You can paint flowers, snowflakes, and even personalized messages.

If you’re wanting to paint 1 of the shells completely gold, use a wide brush so it takes less time to paint the gold on.

Occasions to use White and Gold Macarons

• wedding
• bridal shower
• baby shower
• NYE party
• Christmas party
• birthday party

Fillings for White and Gold Macarons

White and gold macarons can be filled with decadent chocolate ganache or vanilla bean buttercream frosting.

If you’re looking for a bit more of a fancy flavor, you can try making champagne macaron filling.

Champagne Macarons

Champagne macarons are made by adding a hint of champagne into a buttercream base frosting.

White Chocolate Ganache Macarons

White chocolate ganache macarons are full of sweet, creamy chocolate flavor.

You can make white chocolate ganache macarons by heating heavy cream, and pouring it over white chocolate melting wafers.

Make your chocolate ganache the day before, and let it sit in the fridge overnight, prior to filling your macarons.

Vanilla Bean Macarons

Vanilla bean macaron shells can be flavored with the contents of a vanilla pod into the macaron batter.

The filling is made by adding vanilla bean paste to cream cheese frosting. You can add in vanilla extract if you’re wanting a stronger vanilla flavor.

Christmas macarons make for a beautiful and unique gift for family and friends.

You can make Christmas tree macarons, snowflake macarons, snowman macarons, or Santa macarons using simple designs.

If you need some ideas on what to fill your Christmas macarons with, check out these Christmas macaron flavor ideas.

See full video.

Templates for Christmas Macarons

You can make Christmas macarons using a template that you create yourself, or free hand the design.

If you’re wanting to make your own Christmas macaron template, you can use one of your cookie cutters, or free hand your own template.

To free hand your own template, use parchment paper and draw your design out using a pencil.

You might need to make a “forward” and “reverse” design if you’re making a Santa hat.

Most designs will only need 1 template.

To make your own template using a cookie cutter, place the cookie cutter on top of parchment paper.

Trace the outside or inside of the cookie cutter using a pencil, depending on what’s easiest.

You could make multiple tracings of the cookie cutter to make it easier to pipe out the macaron batter.

Place the template parchment paper tracer underneath your Silpat mat or Clean parchment paper that you’re going to pipe your macarons onto.

If you’re planning on free-handing the piping, pick a tip that’s appropriate for your design.

If you’re making a snowman macaron, pick a 1/2″ tip.

If you’re making a Christmas tree macaron, you’ll want a narrower tip like a 1/4″ tip to create the points of the Christmas tree.

You can use your favorite macaron recipe and bake for the exact time in your recipe to make these tree shaped macarons.

Snowman Macarons

Snowman macarons use “plain” macaron batter that isn’t colored.

1. Place plain macaron batter into a piping bag fitted with a 1/2″ tip.
2. Place Silpat mat or parchment paper onto an aluminum baking pan.
3. Pipe head first, it should be small ~ 3/4″ – 1″. Pipe a small circle and quickly swipe the piping bag to remove it from the circle.
4. Pipe the body next in the same way, making it a little bigger than the head.
5. Pipe the bottom in the same way, and make it slightly larger than the body.
6. Pipe all of the snowman in this way.
7. Let dry for 30 minutes.
8. Bake your macarons for the same amount of time in your recipe.
9. Let the shells cool to room temperature – about 20 min.
10. Fill macarons with filling, and sandwich them together to create the snowman macarons.
11. You’ll only need to draw on one side of the snowman macarons. Draw 2 eyes on the face, and a smile off to the side. Draw 3 buttons down the body to the bottom in the center of the snowman.
12. Dust a small bit of orange powdered food coloring onto a plate. Add a couple of drops of almond extract on top of the powdered food coloring. Use a food safe paint brush to mix them together to create your paint.
13. Using a thin tipped food safe paint brush, add the carrot shaped nose to the face of the snowman.
14. Let the snowman macarons dry for 30 minutes prior to storing in the fridge or freezer.

Christmas Tree Macarons

Color your macaron batter using green powdered food coloring or green gel food coloring.

1. Place green macaron batter into a piping bag fitted with a 1/4″ tip. You’ll want a narrow tip to create the pointed edges of the tree.
2. Place Silpat mat or parchment paper onto an aluminum baking pan.
3. Place tracer underneath Silpat or parchment paper.
4. Pipe beginning at the top of the tree first, then outline the tree.
5. Fill in the center of the tree.
6. Pipe all of the Christmas tree macarons in this way.
7. Remove tracer from the baking pan.
8. Let dry for 30 minutes.
9. Bake your macarons for the same amount of time in your recipe.
10. Let the shells cool to room temperature – about 20 min.
11. Fill Christmas tree macarons with filling, and sandwich them together.
12. Melt a small amount of chocolate – you could use white chocolate, milk chocolate or dark chocolate.
13. Using a spoon, dip it in the chocolate, get rid of the excess, and add it to the Christmas tree. You’ll want to start a little bit down from the tip, and make the chocolate zig zag on the Christmas tree macaron. There should be 3 lines of chocolate on the Christmas tree macaron.
14. Add sprinkles to the chocolate.
15. Let the Christmas tree macarons dry for 30 minutes prior to storing in the fridge or freezer.

Santa Hat Macarons

You’ll need to make 2 different colored macaron batters – one for the face, and one for the hat using red powdered food coloring or red gel food coloring.

In the example below, one macaron batter is “plain” – no color, and one is red.

1. Place Silpat mat or parchment paper onto an aluminum baking pan.
2. Place tracer underneath Silpat or parchment paper.
3. Pipe macarons using the face color as normal – 1/2″ tip, in a circle. Leave a little more room above and below the macaron for the hat. Keep a reserve of the plain macaron batter for the end of the hat.
4. Place red macaron batter into a piping bag fitted with a 1/4″ tip.
5. Starting at the edge of the face, pipe along the edge of the macaron on the top of the face. Pipe a small triangle going off to one side. This will create the hat. You’ll need to pipe the hat going to the other side as well to create a sandwich macaron.
6. At the edge of the triangle, pipe a small circle using the plain colored macaron batter for the pom pom of the hat.
7. Pipe all of your macarons this way.
8. Remove tracer from the baking pan.
9. Let dry for 30 minutes.
10. Bake your macarons for the same amount of time in your recipe.
11. Let the shells cool to room temperature – about 20 min.
12. Fill Santa hat macarons with filling, and sandwich them together.
13. Draw on the eyes and eye brows using an edible marker.
14. Melt a small amount of white chocolate.
15. Use a toothpick to add the nose and mustache, and little on the eyebrows.
16. Let the Santa hat macarons dry for 30 minutes prior to storing in the fridge or freezer.

Santa Body Macarons

Color your macaron batter using red powdered food coloring or red gel food coloring.

Red macarons need a little more color than you think, it’s best to use at least 1/2 tsp of powdered food coloring, or more red gel food coloring than you normally would.

Red can turn into pink if you don’t have enough coloring, therefore it’s best to use more than you think you need to.

1. Place Silpat mat or parchment paper onto an aluminum baking pan.
2. Pipe macarons as normal using a 1/2″ tip, in a circle.
3. Let dry for 30 minutes.
4. Bake your macarons for the same amount of time in your recipe.
5. Let the shells cool to room temperature – about 20 min.
6. Fill Santa body macarons with filling, and sandwich them together.
7. Using an edible marker, draw a thick line to create the belt on the macaron in the lower half of the circle.
8. Melt a small amount of white chocolate.
9. Use a toothpick to add 2 dots of chocolate to create the buttons on the Santa body macaron. You could draw on the buttons as well if you prefer.
10. Dust a small bit of gold powdered food coloring onto a plate. Add a couple of drops of almond extract on top of the powdered food coloring. Use a food safe paint brush to mix them together to create your paint.
11. Using a thin tipped food safe paint brush, paint a square in the middle of the black belt you drew on the macaron earlier. Add a straight line on the side of the square to create the “belt hook”. See photos below.
12. Let the Santa body macarons dry for 30 minutes prior to storing in the fridge or freezer.

Snowflake Macarons

Snowflake macarons can be made with plain macaron batter, blue macaron batter, or your favorite colored macaron.

1. Place Silpat mat or parchment paper onto an aluminum baking pan.
2. Pipe macarons as normal using a 1/2″ tip, in a circle.
3. Let macarons dry for 30 minutes.
4. Bake your macarons for the same amount of time in your recipe.
5. Let the shells cool to room temperature – about 20 min.
6. Fill snowflake macarons with filling, and sandwich them together.
7. Dust a small bit of gold powdered food coloring onto a plate. Add a couple of drops of almond extract on top of the powdered food coloring. Use a food safe paint brush to mix them together to create your paint.
8. Using a pointed tipped food safe paint brush, draw a line across the macaron. Then draw a line perpendicular to the line you just drew so it should look like a cross. Add a small “v” at the edge of one of the lines. Continue making V shapes along all of the lines until you’ll filled your macaron to the edges with your glittering gold snowflake.
9. Let the snowflake macarons dry for 30 minutes prior to storing in the fridge or freezer