Description
Chocolate macaron cookies, filled with fluffy chocolate buttercream, then dunked in more chocolate! These cookies are what actual dreams are made of.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Macaron Shells
- 212 g Almond Meal
- 212 g Powdered Sugar
- 30 g Dark Cocoa Powder
- 175 g Egg Whites (separated into 85 g & 90 g)
- 235 g granulated sugar (plus a pinch)
- 158 g water
For the Chocolate Buttercream
- 3/4 C (1/5 sticks) Unsalted Butter
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 3 C Powdered Sugar
- 2 TBSP Dark Cocoa Powder
- 4–6 TBSP Heavy Cream
1.5 C Melted Chocolate for Dunking
Chocolate Sprinkles, optional
Instructions
For the Macaron Shells
- In a large bowl, combine the almond flour, cocoa powder, and powdered sugar. Whisk to combine.
- Make a well in the center of the mixture, and add 85 g egg whites. Fold together until combined. Mixture will be thick and paste-like. Set aside.
- In a medium sauce pan over medium heat, combine granulated sugar and water. Stir to combine. Monitor the temperature with a candy thermometer.
- Meanwhile, in the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, add 90 g of egg whites and a pinch of sugar.
- When the sugar syrup reaches 200 degrees, start whipping the egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form.
- When sugar syrup reaches 248 degrees, remove from heat.
- With mixer on medium, slowly pour the sugar syrup down the side of the bowl into the egg whites.
- Once incorporated, turn the mixer up to high and whip until stiff peaks form.
- Add the egg whites to the almond flour mixture, 1/3 at a time. Fold to combine between each addition.
- When all the egg whites are incorporated into the almond flour, continue to fold until the batter reaches a ribbon like texture. It should fall off the spatula in a continuous ribbon, with little to no breaking.
- Prepare two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
- Pipe the batter into circles. Then rap the baking sheet on the counter to remove air bubbles.
- Let the batter rest on the counter for at least 30 minutes before baking.
- Preheat the oven to 320 degrees.
- Bake the macarons for 15-17 minutes, or until the cookies are mostly firm, but with a little give when you press on the shell.
- Let cool completely, then fill with chocolate buttercream.
For the Chocolate Buttercream
- In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment beat the butter on medium high for 7-10 minutes.
- While the butter is working, whisk together the powdered sugar and cocoa powder.
- When the butter is smooth, add salt and vanilla. Mix to combine.
- Add the powdered sugar mixture 1/2 at a time, mixing for 3 minutes after each addition.
- Add the heavy cream 1 TBSP at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
- Pipe filling into the macaron shells and then sandwich together. Dunk in melted chocolate and top with sprinkles.