Creamsicle Macarons

 
This past week I decided to give macarons another go. But with a new summer flavour involved! Creamsicle! Everyone's favorite treat in the summer! On the plus side, I also have had good experiences with macarons (even though this is my second time making them)!
And, this time they weren't hollow! Yay! So, get your sleeves rolled up and put on an apron because it's macaron making time!

Creamsicle Macarons

Makes two dozen

Shells

100g                ground almonds
100g                egg whites (aged)
200g                icing sugar
4 tbsp              granulated sugar
6 drops            orange food colouring

Grind the almonds in a food processor, sift the almonds and dispose of any large lumps. Measure them out again, add more if needed and sift again with icing sugar. In a large bowl whip the egg whites with the sugar. Whip until glossy and stiff, now is the time to add food colouring if desired. You should be able to hold the bowl upside down without anything falling out! Approximately 10 minutes. Dump the dry ingredients into the egg mixture and fold, scraping the sides and mixing until fully incorporated. When ready it should drip from the spatula to form ribbons. Don't over mix! Fill a piping bag fitted with a large round pastry tip with your macaron mixture. Pipe onto a tray lined with parchment paper. Don't pipe too big, 1" is enough. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Let your cookies sit at room temperature for about an hour to let them form a dry skin, this will help form feet. Bake for 8-10 minutes. You can test by touching the sides, if they wobble they are not done. Let the shells cool completely before removing from sheet.

Filling

2 tbsp              butter
1 cup               icing sugar
1/2 tsp             vanilla
1 + 1/2 tsp       orange zest
1 tsp                orange juice

Beat all ingredients together and transfer into a piping bag fitted with a small circular tip. Pipe a small amount of filling onto one shell and place another on top. Repeat until all have been filled. Store in an airtight container in the fridge! Enjoy!

These macarons taste just like a creamsicle (to me anyway)! They are sweet but not too sweet, just incredible! And I know people are like "Macarons! Oh no! I will fail, I'll never make them ever!" But people, they are so easy and so rewarding! Take it from me, a 14 year old. ;)

A big thank you to The Main Course for letting me borrow their stock!
*You can find this set of square bowls at The Main Course*


 Elanne Boake