Description
These Christmas Tree Cake Macarons are a festive treat that combines a delicate almond meringue shell with a rich, creamy filling reminiscent of a classic holiday cake. Each bite offers a delightful crunch followed by a smooth, buttery texture, and a burst of sweet vanilla flavor that will transport you to a winter wonderland.
Ingredients
Scale
- Macaron Shells:
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
- 3 large egg whites, aged for 24 hours
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Green gel food coloring
- Buttercream Filling:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Decoration:
- Edible glitter
- Mini candy canes
- Sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, sift together almond flour and powdered sugar to remove lumps.
- In a separate bowl, whip the aged egg whites until foamy, then gradually add granulated sugar and continue whipping until stiff peaks form.
- Gently fold the dry ingredients into the meringue, adding vanilla extract and green food coloring until fully combined.
- Transfer the batter to a piping bag and pipe small circles onto the prepared baking sheets.
- Let the piped macarons sit at room temperature for 30-60 minutes until a skin forms on the surface.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the shells are firm and can be lifted off the parchment without sticking.
- Allow the shells to cool completely before filling with buttercream.
- To make the buttercream, beat the softened butter until creamy, then gradually add powdered sugar, heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth.
- Pipe the buttercream onto half of the macaron shells and sandwich with the remaining shells. Decorate with edible glitter, mini candy canes, and sprinkles.
Notes
- Make-ahead: Macaron shells can be made a day in advance and stored in an airtight container.
- Storage: Keep filled macarons in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Substitutions: For a dairy-free option, use vegan butter in the buttercream.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: desserts
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 macaron
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 10 grams
- Sodium: 50 milligrams
- Fat: 6 grams
- Saturated Fat: 3 grams
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 grams
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 14 grams
- Fiber: 0 grams
- Protein: 2 grams
- Cholesterol: 20 milligrams
Keywords: Christmas Tree Cake Macarons, holiday desserts, festive treats, macarons recipe, Christmas baking, almond meringue, buttercream filling, edible decorations, sweet treats, French pastries, seasonal desserts, homemade macarons