VALENTINE'S MACARONS (RED VELVET, WHITE CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY, & CHAMPAGNE)

IF YOU HAVE NOT MADE MACARONS BEFORE, YOU MUST WATCH MY HOW TO MAKE MACARONS VIDEO LINKED BELOW. Please do not send me messages or comments about how your macarons did not turn out because you didn't take the time to learn how to do them properly. They are very finicky cookies and need to be done very precisely!

Here are some delicious Valentine's macarons for your friends and family. Try one or all three flavors; Red velvet, white chocolate strawberry, and champagne! Macarons are some of the most decadent cookies, and are very expensive. Save yourself the money, and learn to make them on your own. Plus, whoever receives them will be so impressed!

FOR A DETAILED, STEP-BY-STEP TUTORIAL ON HOW TO MAKE MACARONS, PLEASE CLICK HERE:
https://youtu.be/LU1hG4ayqbQ

RECIPE BELOW:

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CHAMPAGNE MACARON RECIPE:
Yields: About 25 cookies
Macaron shell
3 egg whites, room temperature
1/4 cup (50g) of white sugar
1/4 tsp (.8g) of cream of tartar
1/8 tsp (pinch) of salt
2 cups (200g) of powdered sugar
1 cup (150g) of almond flour

FILLING:
2 tbsp (28g) of butter
1 1/2 cups (187g) of powdered sugar
2 tbsp of champagne

RED VELVET MACARON RECIPE:
Yields: About 25 cookies
Macaron shell
3 egg whites, room temperature
1/4 cup (50g) of white sugar
1/4 tsp (.8g) of cream of tartar
1/8 tsp (pinch) of salt
2 cups (200g) of powdered sugar
1 cup (150g) of almond flour
2 Tbsp of cocoa powder
2-3 drops of red food coloring

FILLING:
1/3 cup (75g) of cream cheese
1/4 cup (50g) of sugar
1 Tbsp (16g) of sour cream
1/2 tsp (5mL) of vanilla extract

WHITE CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY RECIPE:
Yields: About 25 cookies
Macaron shell
3 egg whites, room temperature
1/4 cup (50g) of white sugar
1/4 tsp (.8g) of cream of tartar
1/8 tsp (pinch) of salt
2 cups (200g) of powdered sugar
1 cup (150g) of almond flour
2 Tbsp of freeze fried strawberry powder (about 1/2 cup of freeze dried strawberries, ground up)
2-3 drops of pink food coloring

FILLING:
1 1/2 cups of strawberries, chopped
1/2 cup of sugar
2 Tbsp of lemon juice

TOPPING:
1/3 cup of chocolate chips, melted
16-18 heart shaped sprinkles

MACARONS
TIP 1: Make sure your egg whites are at room temperature. You can always put your eggs in some warm water to bring them up in temperature if they are cold.
Beat your egg whites for 8-10 minutes, on medium speed, until they become thick and have peaks. 4 minutes into beating your egg whites, slowly add in your sugar, cream of tartar, and salt.
TIP 2: Make sure to sift your powdered sugar and almond flour/meal
While you wait for your egg whites to beat, sift your powdered sugar and almond flour (and cocoa powder or freeze dried strawberry powder if you're making red velvet or strawberry) into a separate bowl. Make sure to toss any thick pieces!!
Once your egg whites have finished beating, add in your food coloring and give it another quick mix.
TIP 3: If you're using food coloring, use paste, not liquid, because macarons are very sensitive to moisture.
Add the powdered sugar mixture, in 3 batches. Slowly fold in your dry ingredients into your egg whites.
TIP 4: Count how many times you fold in your dry ingredients. You will want to do it about 50-55 times. Your batter should be thick, but still have movement, and slide off your spatula.
Place your batter into a piping bag, fitted with a medium round tip.
Pipe your batter onto parchment paper. (I suggest parchment paper over anything else, including a rubber mat.)
TIP 5: Bang your macarons on the table, after you have piped them to release any air bubbles that may have formed.
TIP 6: Let them sit for AT LEAST 30 minutes, before baking them. I highly suggest an hour if you have the time
-You know they have sat long enough, if you can touch them, and nothing sticks to your finger.
Cook at 300F for 20 minutes. Then, let them cool completely before pulling them off the parchment paper.