I got a little carried away at the store today. I had this idea to make candy corn macarons for this month’s MacTweets and I went to the store to buy candy corn to dress up the pictures. When I got there, they had ordinary candy corn of course, but this year Bach’s also had Caramel Candy Corn, and Chocolate Caramel Candy Corn, and Caramel Apple Candy Corn. All of which I decided I should take home and try.
But I didn’t stop there – no of course not. There were also candy cane flavored Dots and candy corn Kisses and I thought I should sampled those as well. (Let’s not talk about the two cute packages of Halloween Lindor Truffles that I bought and have hidden in my closet.)
The reason for my apparent current obsession with candy corn is that I hate them. I think they have a horrible, waxy flavor. My husband and my kids seem to like them, but I think they’re pretty nasty.
But I do sort of think of them fondly. They remind me of this time of year – cooler weather and yummy treats. Candy corn always seemed to be hanging around when you were bobbing for apples or eating pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. They look so cheery and fun and I really do want to like them.
So when I saw the orange pumpkin spice Kisses I thought they would make a perfect filing for a candy corn mac. A candy corn that would be full of fabulous fall flavor, not waxy and bland with an odd smell. Of course, I wanted to make the top white and the bottom yellow. I tried shaping one in the shape of a candy corn, but it looked more like an egg, so I stuck with round candy corn macs instead.
I made the Ottolenghi recipe that works well for me. I used half the batter for white and then added yellow to the other half. If I was making two colors again, I would make half a batch of each because the yellow got over mixed and spread much more than the white ones, making it hard to match them up.
I made the filling by melting about 10 Pumpkin Spice Kisses in the microwave at 50% power for about 1 minutes and adding enough powdered sugar to make a thick filling. This really is a perfect mac flavor for fall and so much better than candy corn candies.
adapted from Ottolenghi – The Cookbook
Ingredients
- 110gm powdered sugar
- 60gm finely ground almond meal/flour
- 60gm egg whites (of 2 eggs)
- 40gm granulated sugar
Directions
- Preheat oven to 310 degrees F
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and have a pastry bag with a plain tip (about 1/2-inch, 2 cm) ready. (Setting the pastry bag in a glass while you fill the bag was a great tip I learned during this process.) (Also, I like to double stack the baking sheets.)
- Combine the powdered sugar with the almond powder. (Pulse in a blender or food processor if you don’t have finely ground almond meal. A mini food processor works best for this if you have one.)
- With an electric mixer, beat the egg whites until they begin to rise and hold their shape. While whipping, beat in the granulated sugar until very stiff and firm, about 2 minutes. (To test to see if egg whites are ready, whip until the tip of the peak doesn’t fold over when you pull the beater out of the meringue.)
- Carefully fold the dry ingredients, in two batches, into the beaten egg whites with a flexible rubber spatula. When the mixture is just smooth and there are no streaks of egg white, stop folding and scrape the batter into the pastry bag. (You can put a spoonful on a plate to test it. If it slowly flattens out it’s perfect. If it runs, add a bit more almond flour/powdered sugar. If it just stays in a blob, give it a few more folds.)
- Pipe the batter on the parchment-lined baking sheets in 1-inch (3 cm) circles (about 1 tablespoon each of batter), evenly spaced one-inch (3 cm) apart.
- Rap the baking sheet a few times firmly on the counter top to flatten the macarons. Leave out, uncovered for 15 minutes, then bake them for 15-20 minutes. Give the macs a gentle little shake with the tip of your finger to see if they’re done. You want them set but not firm. It’s better to undercook them.
- Let cool completely then remove from baking sheet.
So you may be wondering what I thought of the other flavors of candy corn – waxy and nasty. Somehow the Kisses nailed the strange candy corn flavor in their Candy Corn Kisses, but at least it was smooth and creamy and not waxy. The Dots sort of captured the candy corn flavor but in a gummy sort of way.
Be sure and stop by MacTweets on September 20th to see the roundup of long ago & far away memories of the MacTweeters.
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I love to bake, especially cookies, cakes, and pies. I’ll post my adventures in the kitchen, my favorite new recipes, as well as our family favorites.
I’m with you on the candy corn. I’ve never liked the taste but I do think they are so cute! I’d much rather try your yummy macarons!
Those are the cutest macarons I’ve ever seen! Adorable!
I am crazy for your macarons! These are so cute. And those kisses sound a lot better than candy corn, which to me are far too sweet and very fake tasting. But I like having them around – they are festive looking!
I’m jealous of all your different types of candy. I agree your macarons would be way sweeter to receive than candy corn.
We tried out the candy corn flavored dots last year. Pretty yummy, but I could not get over the chewiness. These macarons sound pretty tasty, I mentioned them to my husband and it has been officially added to the “list”!
Woah, I made macaroons today as well. Yours look fantastic. I have to say you have a wide variety of candy corns. Everything looks fantastic.
These are lovely Barbara! I love the idea of candy corn..it’s so pretty! I love the shot of your macarons with the different flavors of candy corn even though i’m not very much a candy person..:)
I’ve only mad macarons once..and they didnt turn out! I’m jealous cuz these look so cute
Love the macs, and love how inspired they are. I hate candy corn too, and the sisters send my kids some each year at this time. The kids love the candy though!
Ooooh love that you’ve cut over to WP. It’s looking fab Barbara. Will get in touch with you for directions. Did you migrate yourself?
Love how good it looks, and the feet seem to dance in celebration!
Thanks for being with us at MacTweets! xo
These look great!!! I am fascinated by candy corn because they don’t sell it here. Your macarons are perfect.
How beautiful barbara. The color is so inviting as well.
So very cute, they look perfect!
I am not a fan of candy corn either but as a kid I sure was. Now my kids love them and I just cringe when they want to share, lol! Your macaroons would be a lovely substitute any day!
You are too funny and I completely agree. The candy are gross, just pure waxy sugar, but they are so pretty and to me signify fall and halloween and thanksgiving and golden and red leaves and cool evening walks. Did you try any of the funky variations you got? Were they any good?
Um, Barbara? If you have nothing to do with all of that candy, I can give you my mailing address! I adore all of that candy, maybe even more now that I live so far away and only have the chance to buy it once a year or so when I get back. I have always loved candy corns, waxy flavor and all and I remember the eating the chocolate ones when I was a kid (used to nibble off the different flavors/colors strip by strip!). This was a fantastic idea for a macaron and this month’s challenge! Yay! I love everything you do, Barbara! xoxo
BTW you are getting perfect macs, now, every time!
Beautiful shot for gorgeous macarons….. love the photo so much!
Sawadee from bangkok,
Kris
Ah! Those are just so cute!
I confess. I love candy corn. I, like Jamie, ate them by color and still do when I can get my hands on some. They are not available here in Germany either. Occasionally friends take pity on me and send me a bag or two. For someone who doesn’t share the candy corn love, your macs came out as a perfect tribute to them. Just adorable. The filling was a great idea.
Isn’t it funny how so many of us have never liked candy corn? I guess perhaps I did as a kid. They remind us that fall is here…those colors.
You’ve done a magnificent job with your macarons, Barbara. And the photos are so adorable! Very clever to use the pumpkin kisses as filling.
Lovely clicks and can’t wait to try some. Look so yummy!
Loving this post today! So clever and creative! And Yum!
I am 100% in love with these!
Barbara, are they gorgeous or are they gorgeous!!!! Such vibrant colors!! Love them.. and the FEEET!! WOW! perfect… I am going to try the ottolengi recipe sometime.. maybe it’ll come out nice and hub won’t complain
P.S. I love the first photo with hazed out candy corn in the background.. perfect props!
I love these! What a great idea! Makes me wish for fall even more!
I know some people loathe candy corn – as you seem to. I personally love it and can’t wait for it to appear on store shelves in the late weeks of summer. Have you been to Target recently? They have smaller specialty bags of candy corn – far pricier than a traditional bag of candy corn though.
btw the macarons turned out really cute
Found this post on Twitter. Don’t you love it? These are SO pretty! They would be perfect at a Halloween/Fall party.
I LOVE candy corn! These are so cute!
That looks great.
I’ve never liked the taste of candy corn, but I do think they are so cute..to see! Your yummy macarons look awesome!
Those are adorable! I love them!
Candy Corn is a sure sign of autumn! I never enjoyed that candy, either. The happy orange marshmallow pumpkins are a whole other story.
Your macarons – Yummy!
Barbara: You are always an inspiration. I just adore the beautiful colors you dress your perfectly pied macs in. What a great idea to melt those pumpkin spice kisses – I’ll need to find those to taste ‘em, they sound interesting.
Now about candy corns {LOL!} I feel exactly the way you do about them. I want to like them, but cannot. I stood in Target a couple of days ago holding a bag of them, contemplating what to do with them. They’d be adorable adorning a Halloween inspired cupcake or the like…but I won’t eat them.
Who knew there were so many different types of candy corn! I love it – so sugary and sweet
Your macarons look delicious as well of course!
I don’t really like candy corn either but I buy it for the candy dish. I like looking at it, not eating it. Kisses don’t stand a chance of being looked at cause *poof*, their gone.
But I LOVE macarons! Wonder how they travel. 
I’m right there with you on candy corn, never been a fan of the taste. But it I had these macarons in front of me, I wouldn’t be able to resist them.
Your candy corn dresses up this picture tremendously. Very festive macarons indeed.
These are really perfect for this time of year! I agree with you, candy corn just feels like fall.
i can not stand candy corn!
kennedy loves them and so does my mom… they gobble them all season! ew! i tried the kisses too… guess what else i don’t like? white chocolate. they are cute but… yuck! however- your macs are some of the best yet! awesome idea and they really look super!
Holy. Freaking. Cow. This is the cutest thing I’ve seen in a LONG time!!! You are SO creative!!! That first picture is just perfect!
They’re wonderful! And I must confess that I love candy corn. Just something about them say “Fall”. I’m a bad foodie.
Totally bookmarking this!
Congrats on making TasteSpotting today!
I love the look of your candy corn macs! They look perfect! I think I’m going to try your mac recipe too(this is the same one Bonnie suggested to me) and hopefully I’ll have more success! Good choice on the filling!
Barbara- These are my very favorite macs yet! So creative and fun. You did a fabulous job on these:)
I have a very love/hate relationship with candy corn. I hated it for most of my life but there’s something slightly appealing in the fact that it’s really not that good. LOL. That makes no sense. At all.
Okay then. Pumpkin spice kisses. Where can I find those! These macs look fantastic and the whole candy corn thing is such a cute idea!
These are just gorgeous!! How perfect for fall and Halloween! Love them!
Best macs yet! Great job!!!
What cute fall mac’s! The filling sounds nice, I’ve not seen those before. I’m with you on the candy corn, leave those for others. You know, someone like yourself could actually make a great tasting candy corn if they wanted to, maybe the original was delicious. Have to do some historical research.
Your macarons look like the real deal: lovely,…eghhh,…awesome even!
Oh my goodness! This is such a good idea! I have a secret weakness for candy corn. I just love how awesome these look!
those are adorable!!