The 2009 October Daring Bakers’ challenge was brought to us by Ami S. She chose macarons from Claudia Fleming’s The Last Course: The Desserts of Gramercy Tavern as the challenge recipe.
This was not my first attempt at making macarons. In September Twitter was all abuzz about the finicky like pastry and I joined with others around the globe in a Mac Attack. Who knew that one little cookie could be so temperamental and difficult to master. My first attempts at macarons yielded a delicious but less than perfect macaron with tutus instead of feet.
In hopes of finally conquering the challenge of creating a perfect macaron, I read and reread all the tips and suggests for this month’s challenge. I aged my egg whites on the counter. I weighed my ingredients. I sifted my almond meal. I whipped my whites until stiff peaks formed and the peak did not fall over. I used stacked cookie sheets. Although short of the perfection I was hoping for, my macarons have definitely come a long way baby.
For my first batch I used vanilla sugar and made Audax’s two egg version of the Daring Bakers recipe, but I doubled the granulated sugar. They were a bit undercooked and sticky, even after trying to dry them in a warm oven, but still delicious! Both macarons are filled with dulce de leche.
The second batch was David Lebovitz chocolate macarons. The chocolate macarons were a bit too ruffly, but tasted divine! Sort of like a chocolate caramel brownie.
Visit the Daring Bakers’ Blogroll to see macarons in lots of wonderful flavors and all the colors of the rainbow.
Lori
A chocolate caramel brownie eh? Yum!
Your macs look great Barbara! You always nail these challenges.
jayasri
first time in your blog you have done some amazing bakes, my Macs were flops,they never developed any feet at all, yours look gorgeous..
sandie
you have gorgeous feet madame!
Dharm
These look just super! Great Job on the challenge this month. Can I have one of those Macs now please…
Rylan: Art and Appetite
Terrific! I love your blog as well, I'll keep on reading.
Jennie
Oh my goodness! I want one NOW!!!
Cristie
They really do look wonderful. I may have to try making them- but oh, so much work! Beautiful blog.
Lisa
Barb…gorgeous macs! I also used David's chocolate mac recipe, and they turned out great..but Helen's basic mac recipe was even better when it came to all the others. Beautifully done as always..one would think you're one of the online 'Mac queens'..wait, you are!
TeenieCakes
Dulce de leche filling, that sounds wonderful. Could you share your filling recipe? Beautiful macaroons! Thank you for posting and sharing the macaroon template =)
the ungourmet
Every time I run across Macarons I think how I would love to make them sometime. I'm a bit intimidated though. I like the flavors you made. They look so delicious!
Kristen
how delicious!
Anita
Very pretty! You've done a great job with both recipes.
petite nyonya
Your macarons look perfect! I am more and more intrigued about these 'temperamental' cookies now.
Ninette
Yours look perfect!
Sue Sparks
I love the contrast of your macarons! Beautiful! I would love to take a bite out of the chocolate version! 🙂
Art
Que delicia!! Saludos desde México
Te invito a visitar mi blog
http://artscakesandchocolate.blogspot.com/
Lynda
These look great, perfect in fact! LOVE the filling!
sweetakery
your macs look gorgeous and i bet they taste amazing love the filling! yumm
CookiePie
They look beautiful!! Love your flavors too. Well done!!
Maria
Nice job! They look wonderful!