JUMBO MACARONS RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and butter the paper.
• In a large bowl, use a fork to stir the coconut, condensed milk, salt, vanilla, and almond extract to blend them together. Set aside.
• In a clean medium bowl, use a whisk or electric hand mixer to beat the egg white and cream of tartar on low speed until foamy and the cream of tartar dissolves. Whisk vigorously or increase the mixer speed to medium-high and beat until soft peaks form. Whisk or use the mixer to beat in the sugar. Use a rubber spatula to fold half of the whipped egg white into the coconut mixture, then fold in the remaining white. Using an ice cream scoop with a 1/4 cup capacity or a 1/4 cup measuring cup, scoop mounds of the coconut batter onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing the macaroons two inches apart.
• Bake until the bottoms of the cookies and the tips of the coconut shreds are light brown, about 17 minutes. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. Slide a metal spatula under the macaroons to loosen them from the parchment and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Make the chocolate coating. In a heatproof container or top of a double boiler, put the chocolate and oil. Place it over, but not touching, a saucepan of barely simmering water. Stir over the hot water until the chocolate melts and is smooth. Remove from over the water and let it cool and thicken slightly, about 10 minutes. Scrape the chocolate coating into a small bowl. Dip the bottom of each macaroon in the chocolate and place each cookie, chocolate bottom facing up or on its side on a wire rack. You will have some chocolate coating leftover for another use or to pour over ice cream. Let the macaroons sit until the chocolate coating is firm, about 1 hour. To speed the firming of the chocolate, refrigerate the macaroons on the rack for about 15 minutes.
• Serve cold or at room temperature. Store in the refrigerator in a covered container for up to 5 days.

Steps:

• Make the macarons: In the bowl of a food processor, combine the powdered sugar, almond flour, and ½ teaspoon of salt, and process on low speed, until extra fine. Sift the almond flour mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl.
• In a separate large bowl, beat the egg whites and the remaining ½ teaspoon of salt with an electric hand mixer until soft peaks form. Gradually add the granulated sugar until fully incorporated. Continue to beat until stiff peaks form (you should be able to turn the bowl upside down without anything falling out).
• Add the vanilla and beat until incorporated. Add the food coloring and beat until just combined.
• Add about ? of the sifted almond flour mixture at a time to the beaten egg whites and use a spatula to gently fold until combined. After the last addition of almond flour, continue to fold slowly until the batter falls into ribbons and you can make a figure 8 while holding the spatula up.
• Transfer the macaron batter into a piping bag fitted with a round tip.
• Place 4 dots of the batter in each corner of a rimmed baking sheet, and place a piece of parchment paper over it, using the batter to help adhere the parchment to the baking sheet.
• Pipe the macarons onto the parchment paper in 1½-inch (3-cm) circles, spacing at least 1-inch (2-cm) apart.
• Tap the baking sheet on a flat surface 5 times to release any air bubbles.
• Let the macarons sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour, until dry to the touch.
• Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C).
• Bake the macarons for 17 minutes, until the feet are well-risen and the macarons don’t stick to the parchment paper.
• Transfer the macarons to a wire rack to cool completely before filling.
• Make the buttercream: In a large bowl, add the butter and beat with a mixer for 1 minute until light and fluffy. Sift in the powdered sugar and beat until fully incorporated. Add the vanilla and beat to combine. Add the cream, 1 tablespoon at a time, and beat to combine, until desired consistency is reached.
• Transfer the buttercream to a piping bag fitted with a round tip.
• Add a dollop of buttercream to one macaron shell. Top it with another macaron shell to create a sandwich. Repeat with remaining macaron shells and buttercream.
• Place in an airtight container for 24 hours to “bloom”.
• Enjoy!