Chocolate Macarons
- 1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
- 1 1/3 cups almond flour (see Note)
- 2 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
- 5 large egg whites, at room temperature
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon light corn syrup
- 1 1/2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
- Preheat the oven to 400 and position racks in the upper and lower thirds.
- Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large, wide bowl, using a large rubber spatula or a handheld electric mixer, mix the confectioners' sugar with the almond flour and cocoa powder.
- Add 2 of the egg whites and mix until evenly moistened.
- In a small saucepan, combine the granulated sugar with the water and bring to a boil; using a moistened pastry brush, wash down any crystals from the side of the pan.
- Boil over high heat until the syrup reaches 240 on a candy thermometer.
- In another large bowl, using clean beaters, beat the remaining 3 egg whites until soft peaks form.
- With the mixer at high speed, carefully drizzle the hot sugar syrup over the egg whites and beat until the meringue is firm and glossy.
- Stir one-fourth of the meringue into the almond-cocoa mixture.
- Using a rubber spatula, fold in the remaining meringue.
- Transfer the meringue to a pastry bag fitted with a plain 1/2-inch tip; pipe onto the prepared baking sheets in 1 1/2-inch mounds, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
- Tap the sheets and let dry at room temperature for 15 minutes.
- Transfer the meringues to the oven and immediately turn off the heat.
- Bake the meringues for 5 minutes.
- Turn the oven on to 400 again and bake the meringues for 8 minutes, until the meringues are puffed and the tops are firm and glossy.
- Transfer the baking sheets to racks and let the meringues cool completely.
- Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine the cream with the corn syrup and bring to a boil.
- Remove from the heat.
- Add the chocolate and let stand until melted, about 5 minutes.
- Whisk until smooth.
- Transfer the ganache to a bowl and let cool to room temperature, whisking occasionally; it will become very thick.
- Carefully peel the meringues off of the parchment paper.
- Spoon the ganache into a small pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch tip.
- Alternatively, use a resealable sturdy plastic bag and snip off a corner.
- Pipe the ganache onto the flat sides of half of the meringues.
- Top with the remaining meringues and serve.
sugar, almond flour, dutch, egg whites, granulated sugar, water, heavy cream, light corn syrup, bittersweet chocolate
Taken from www.foodandwine.com/recipes/chocolate-macarons (may not work)