If you’re looking to impress your friends and family this holiday season, the Christmas Tree Cake Macarons Recipe is a delightful treat that perfectly blends festive charm with delicate French pastry mastery. These macarons have a beautiful green hue that captures the essence of holiday cheer, while their crisp shells and smooth, buttery filling offer a melt-in-your-mouth experience. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a curious beginner, this recipe invites you to create a stunning dessert that tastes as wonderful as it looks and brings the magic of Christmas right to your table.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of the Christmas Tree Cake Macarons Recipe lies in its simple yet essential ingredients. Each component plays a vital role, from the nutty almond flour providing structure, to the silky buttercream that adds richness and flavor. Together, they create a balanced macaron that’s both luscious and festive.
- 1 cup almond flour: Finely ground to ensure a smooth, delicate shell texture without lumps.
- 1 ¾ cups powdered sugar: Adds sweetness and helps achieve the signature macaron smoothness.
- 3 large aged egg whites: Aged for better volume and stability when whipped, essential for perfect meringue.
- ¼ cup granulated sugar: Stabilizes the egg whites while whipping to firm peaks.
- Green food coloring (as needed): Choose a vibrant shade to give your macarons that festive Christmas tree look.
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened): Creates a creamy, rich buttercream filling that complements the delicate shells.
- 1 tsp vanilla extract: Adds a warm, aromatic depth to the buttercream filling, balancing the sweetness perfectly.
How to Make Christmas Tree Cake Macarons Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace and Ingredients
Start by preheating your oven to 300°F (150°C) and lining two baking sheets with parchment paper. This setup ensures your macarons bake evenly and don’t stick, a crucial first step to perfect results. Having everything prepped sets you up for smooth and timely baking.
Step 2: Sift the Dry Ingredients
Sift together the almond flour and powdered sugar into a large bowl. This process removes any lumps and aerates the mixture, which helps create those signature smooth shells that macarons are known for. Taking the time to sift will make your batter silky and more manageable.
Step 3: Whip the Egg Whites
In a separate clean bowl, whip your aged egg whites until they become foamy. Gradually add in the granulated sugar while continuing to whip until stiff, glossy peaks form. This stage forms the sturdy, airy base of your macarons. Now is the moment to fold in your green food coloring until you reach your desired festive color.
Step 4: Fold Dry Ingredients Into Egg Whites
Gently fold the sifted dry ingredients into the whipped egg whites. Use a spatula to do this carefully until the batter flows like thick lava—smooth but not runny. This step takes patience but is key to getting smooth, even macarons with the right texture.
Step 5: Pipe and Rest the Macarons
Transfer your batter to a piping bag fitted with a round tip. Pipe small circles onto the prepared baking sheets. Let these circles rest for 30 to 60 minutes until a delicate skin forms on the surface. This resting period helps create that perfect feet—the ruffled base that is the hallmark of great macarons.
Step 6: Bake and Cool
Bake your macarons one baking tray at a time for 15 to 20 minutes. You’ll know they’re done when they have risen and formed feet. Remove them carefully and allow them to cool completely on the parchment paper before filling with your luscious buttercream.
How to Serve Christmas Tree Cake Macarons Recipe
Garnishes
Adding a final touch to your Christmas Tree Cake Macarons Recipe can turn them from dessert to true holiday showstoppers. Try dusting them lightly with edible gold glitter or silver sugar pearls for a sparkling effect that catches the eye and adds extra festivity.
Side Dishes
These macarons pair beautifully with warm, spiced beverages like mulled wine or cinnamon tea, enhancing the cozy holiday vibe. You can also serve them alongside a creamy hot chocolate for a decadent dessert experience that everyone will love.
Creative Ways to Present
Why not arrange your macarons on a tiered cake stand shaped like a Christmas tree? Or stack them into a colorful, edible pyramid decorated with tiny edible stars or snowflakes. Presentation matters, and with a bit of creativity, your Christmas Tree Cake Macarons will be the centerpiece of your festive table.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftover Christmas Tree Cake Macarons Recipe in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. Avoid refrigeration if possible, as it can cause the shells to become chewy. Keeping them airtight keeps the delightful crisp texture intact.
Freezing
You can freeze these macarons to enjoy later. Place them in an airtight container, separated by parchment paper so they don’t stick, and freeze for up to a month. Thaw them in the refrigerator overnight before bringing them to room temperature to maintain their delicate texture.
Reheating
Macarons are best enjoyed at room temperature, so if they feel a little cold or firm from storage, let them sit out for about 20 minutes. Avoid microwaving, as the heat may ruin the texture and sweetness of both shells and filling.
FAQs
Can I use other food coloring for the Christmas Tree Cake Macarons Recipe?
Absolutely! Gel or powdered food coloring works best as it won’t affect the batter’s consistency. Avoid liquid colorings that can make the batter too runny and disrupt the macaron texture.
Why is aging egg whites important in this recipe?
Aging egg whites reduces their moisture content, making them easier to whip into stable peaks. This results in a better meringue that adds volume and strengthens your macaron shells.
How do I know when my macarons have formed a skin?
Gently touch the surface with your finger; it should feel dry and not sticky. This skin is essential for that perfect foot formation during baking.
Can I flavor the macarons differently?
Definitely! While this recipe focuses on vanilla buttercream and green coloring for the Christmas theme, you can experiment with extracts, zests, or cocoa powder to create unique flavors while keeping the classic texture.
What should I do if my macarons crack or don’t develop feet?
This usually means the batter was too runny or the shell didn’t rest long enough before baking. Make sure you achieve the right batter consistency and allow sufficient resting time for the skin to develop.
Final Thoughts
There’s something truly special about the Christmas Tree Cake Macarons Recipe—it’s not only a feast for the eyes but a joy to make and share. Whether you’re gifting them or serving at your holiday gathering, these macarons are sure to spread happiness and that warm, festive feeling. So grab your apron, gather your ingredients, and dive into making these charming treats; I promise, once you do, they’ll become an essential part of your Christmas celebrations.
Print
Christmas Tree Cake Macarons Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delight in festive fun with these Christmas Tree Cake Macarons, featuring delicate almond-flavored shells tinted in green and filled with a smooth vanilla buttercream. Perfect for holiday gatherings, they combine the classic elegance of French macarons with a playful seasonal twist.
Ingredients
Macaron Shells
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1 ¾ cups powdered sugar
- 3 large aged egg whites
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- Green food coloring (as needed)
Buttercream Filling
- ½ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare baking sheets: Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Combine dry ingredients: Sift the almond flour and powdered sugar together into a bowl, making sure to remove any lumps for a smooth batter.
- Whip egg whites: In a separate bowl, whip the aged egg whites until foamy. Gradually add the granulated sugar while continuing to whip until stiff, glossy peaks form. Add green food coloring a little at a time until you achieve your desired shade.
- Fold batter: Carefully fold the sifted dry ingredients into the whipped egg whites using a spatula. Mix gently but thoroughly until the batter flows smoothly in a thick ribbon when lifted.
- Pipe and rest: Using a piping bag, pipe small, uniform circles onto the lined baking sheets. Allow the piped macarons to rest at room temperature for 30 to 60 minutes until a skin forms on the surface. This will help develop the signature smooth tops and feet.
- Bake shells: Bake the macarons one tray at a time for 15 to 20 minutes, or until they rise and develop the characteristic feet. Cool them completely on the baking sheets before removing.
- Prepare buttercream filling: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter with the vanilla extract until light and creamy.
- Assemble macarons: Carefully pair up macaron shells of similar size and pipe or spread the buttercream onto one shell, then sandwich with the other to create festive Christmas tree macarons.
Notes
- Aged egg whites (left at room temperature for 1-2 days) whip better resulting in a more stable meringue.
- Allowing the macaron shells to rest and form a skin before baking is crucial to achieving the classic macarons’ texture and feet.
- Use almond flour and powdered sugar sifted together well to ensure smooth batter and no lumps.
- Pipe shells evenly for consistent sizing, which helps with even baking and assembly.
- If green food coloring is unavailable, you can use natural colorings like spinach powder or matcha for a unique flavor and color.
- Buttercream filling can be flavored further with extracts like almond or peppermint for a festive flavor boost.
