Macarons : French cookies

Macarons ©Wikipedia

A macaron is a French confection, a speciality in several French cities. known as French biscuits. The name "Macaron" is derived from the Italian word macarone, the name of Italian meringue which are used as icing, topping or component in desserts. .

Meringues ©tsbfashion

They come in differents coulours and flavours, and are sold in several French pastries. Two cookies are filled with a layer of buttercream, jam, or ganache which holds them together. The are light and crunchy, they dissolve very quickly in the mouth to leave the taste of fillings. The basic ingredients are egg white, icing & granulated sugar, ground almond, and food colouring.

Although they are easy to make, these biscuits have become a form of art with France whereby the 20th of March each year has been chosen as Day of Macaron (Jour du Macaron) in Paris and other cities.

This annual celebration was started in 2005 by famous French Pâtissier Pierre Hermé of la Maison Pierre Hermé Paris to raise money for research to treat rare diseases. French pastry shops give free macaron to customers who are thn expected to make a donation on their way out the door for charity.

Today, several bakeries around the world celebrate The International Day of Macaron to raise money for local charities.

Jour du Macaron ©eleusis-megara.fr

Macarons have become so popular French desserts, they are the most sold cookie in French pastries today and the are very addictive. In France people that are crazy about Macarons are called accros aux macarons.

Macarons ©Wikipedia

The best Macarons in Paris can be found at :

Jean-Paul Hévin
231, rue Saint-Honoré, Ier.

Pierre Hermé
72, rue Bonaparte, VIe.

Sadaharu Aoki
35, rue de Vaugirard, VIe

Arnaud Larher
57, rue Damrémont, XVIIIe

Dalloyau
101, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, VIIIe

If you are in Paris, you can buy designer Macarons from any of these big shops lol. If not by from any boulangery in Paris or any where else in France you are spending your holidays.

I am thinking of baking cupcakes with Italian Meringue Buttercream. Been dying to bake some since found this picture on The Cupcakeblog.com

Chocolate Cupcake with Italian Meringue Buttercream ©thecupcakeblog.com

What do you think ? You like ??