Home

Caprese Macarons

17/11/2023

Caprese Macarons are a creative interpretation of the classic French macarons with an Italian flavor twist, inspired by the famous Caprese Cake. Here’s the recipe.

Ingredients for the macaron shells:

  • 150 g of almond flour
  • 150 g of powdered sugar
  • 55 g of egg white (about the egg white from 2 medium eggs)
  • 150 g of granulated sugar
  • 38 g of water
  • 55 g of egg white (about the egg white from 2 medium eggs)
  • A pinch of salt
  • Cocoa powder to taste

Ingredients for the chocolate filling:

  • 200 g of dark chocolate
  • 100 ml of fresh cream
  • 30 g of butter
  • 1 pinch of salt

Preparation

  1. Begin by sifting the almond flour with the powdered sugar and some cocoa powder (add the cocoa according to how chocolatey you want your macarons to be).

  2. Prepare the Italian meringue by whisking 55 g of egg white with a pinch of salt until frothy. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, bring the water and granulated sugar to a boil until it reaches 118 °C. Gradually pour the sugar syrup over the whipped egg whites, continuing to beat until you obtain a glossy and firm meringue that has cooled down.

  3. Fold the meringue into the sifted mixture of powders with a spatula, alternating with the other 55 g of egg white. This step is important: the mixture should be worked until it reaches the “ribbon stage,” meaning it should be smooth, shiny, and creamy without being too liquid.

  4. Fill a piping bag with a round tip and form the shells on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, trying to maintain a uniform size. Let the shells rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes until they form a crust on the surface.

  5. Bake the macarons in a pre-heated oven at 150 °C for about 12-15 minutes. Baking times may vary based on the oven.

  6. In the meantime, prepare the filling by melting the chocolate in a double boiler, then incorporate the cream and butter, mixing until you have a homogenous mixture. Let it cool down until it is thick enough to spread or use in a piping bag.

  7. Once the macaron shells are cool, join them in pairs with a spoonful of chocolate filling. Store the macarons in the refrigerator for at least 24 hours before serving; this maturation process will make them even tastier.

Curiosity

The Caprese cake is a classic from Campania’s pastry tradition, born by mistake when a chef forgot to add flour to a chocolate and almond dessert. The Caprese macarons are thus an elegant fusion of two sweet traditions, the French and the Italian. The result is a flavor explosion with the unique texture of macarons and the intense chocolate taste typical of the Caprese cake.