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    Home » Recipes

    Strawberry French Macarons Recipe & Two Fillings

    Last Updated: Feb 18, 2023 By: Chef Christina

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    An approachable, scrumptious strawberry French macarons recipe. Fill the macaron shells with a fresh strawberry filling. Or whip up a strawberry-infused, silky French buttercream. Or both! The method includes professional tips for success. And how to infuse as much strawberry flavor as possible into your macarons.

    Six strawberry French macarons on. white doily-lined tin.

    If this is your first attempt at baking French macarons at home, you may find it helpful to start with How to Make Macarons, Seriously, or Why Every Macaron Recipe is Really the Same. Then click back this way for how to add loads of enticing strawberry flavor to your batch.

    Jump to:
    • The Story
    • The Ingredients
    • Equipment
    • The Techniques
    • Chef's Tips
    • The Steps
    • Making Strawberry Jam
    • How to Make French Buttercream
    • Storage
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • 📖 Recipe
    • More French Macaron Recipes
    • Subscribe
    • 💬 Reviews

    The Story

    Brimming with fresh-picked flavor, strawberry French macarons are lightly fruity, delicate, and melt-in-your-mouth scrumptious. But baking any flavor of the popular almond pastries can end in chaos without proper instruction (have no fear, I've baked thousands of macarons for clients). So this recipe includes professional tips for baking macarons at home.

    Traditionally, the essence of a macaron is in the filling and the shells are tinted with food coloring. But if you'd like to infuse the shells with a hint of strawberry, you can sift a small amount of strawberry powder with the dry ingredients. Fair warning, macaron shells can be fickle friends. And I only recommend experimenting with fruit powder in the shells once you've mastered the basics.

    The strawberry fillings on two small spoons on a wooden background.

    Fill your perfectly pink shells with an easy, fresh, scratch-made strawberry jam. Or pull out all the stops and whip up a silky, rich, strawberry French buttercream.


    The Ingredients

    • Confectioner's (powdered) sugar. Avoid cheaper brands. Many generic label powdered sugar contains a higher ratio of cornstarch to sugar. And this can cause the batter to become too thick.
    • Finely-ground almond flour. Look for a very fine grind on the almond flour you choose. And that any whole almonds you use are blanched (skins removed). If using whole almonds, grind the same weight listed in the recipe with the measured powdered sugar in a food processor. Aim for a smooth, sandy texture.
    • Fresh egg whites. The pasteurized egg whites in a box don't whip up as well (or at all) because the proteins have been denatured during processing.
    • Granulated sugar. For an even smoother meringue, caster sugar is perfect if you can find it.
    • Red or pink food coloring. For pretty-in-pink shells use a small amount of gel red or pink food coloring. I often bake macarons with only a little or none at all to avoid the chemicals in synthetic food dyes. Different brands and how much you add will determine how bright or deep the pink color achieved.
    • Ground freeze-dried strawberries (optional). If you don't want to order the powder online, you can grind up freeze-dried strawberries in a food processor or spice or coffee grinder.
    Image of ingredients for strawberry French macarons - almond flour, sugars, jam, red food coloring and egg whites -  in bowls on counter, labeled with graphics.

    Strawberry Fillings

    Any strawberry jelly or jam will work as a filling, of course. But I love a scratch-made strawberry filling set with gelatin. You can't beat the intense flavor of fresh, in-season fruit. Or the speed at which the jam comes together.

    Ingredients for strawberry jam portioned into glass bowls: sugar, lemon juice, fresh strawberries scattered about.
    • Fresh strawberry purée. Simply slice the stems off fresh strawberries and blend or purée them in a food processor.
    • Granulated sugar. Since the filling is set with gelatin, you can scale back the sugar or replace it with honey.
    • Lemon juice. Fresh or bottled is fine.
    • Powdered gelatin. Or one gelatin sheet.

    Strawberry French Buttercream

    You can certainly stop at the fresh strawberry filling. But with a bit of extra effort, you can tuck a surprise dollop of jam inside a ring of silky French buttercream. Or opt for a strawberry-infused buttercream. Any variation makes for a sweet, tart, perfectly-strawberry macaron.

    Ingredients for strawberry buttercream in small dishes on a marble surface.
    • Eggs
    • Granulated sugar
    • Unsalted butter
    • Vanilla extract
    • Salt
    • Strawberry powder or homemade or prepared strawberry jam. To make homemade strawberry powder, grind freeze-dried strawberries in a food processor or spice grinder.

    Equipment

    You can certainly whip up a firm meringue with a whisk and elbow grease. But an electric hand or stand mixer makes the process nearly effortless. I recommend weighing the ingredients. But if you don't have a kitchen scale you can certainly measure by volume. Since the techniques are the crucial element in baking macarons, slight differences don't cause too much trouble.

    • Sifter or fine-mesh sieve (strainer)
    • Large mixing bowl
    • Electric mixer
    • Flexible spatula
    • Parchment paper (not wax) or silicon baking mat
    • Baking pan(s)
    • Large piping bag or plastic food storage bag
    • Quarter to half-inch round metal pastry tip (craft stores sell them)

    The Techniques

    The two (not-so) elusive techniques for beautiful French macarons are meringue, and macaronage. The best meringue method for beginners is called French, or common meringue. And it makes for lightly crisp, melt-in-your-mouth macarons. French meringue is much simpler than its Swiss or Italian sisters because heat isn't involved.

    To make meringue with the French method, simply beat granulated sugar into fresh egg whites to firm peaks. It's simple and quick. And the macarons are just as delicious as ones made with cooked meringue. Macaronage is simply how French chefs make the act of mixing batter sound glamorous.

    Meringue on the end of a stand mixer whisk attachment, at a firm peak.
    firm peak meringue
    Pink macaron batter pouring off of a spatula into a mixing bowl.
    macaronage, or mixing macaron batter

    Chef's Tips

    • Bake a small test batch. It can help to pipe and bake just three or four macaron shells before baking the rest. This will help you gauge your oven's heating, which rack to bake on, and how long to bake. If the macarons explode or brown too quickly, turn your oven down by 15 degrees. If they don't form feet and you're sure the rest of your process was solid, turn the heat up by 10 or 15 degrees.
    • Buy an oven thermometer. I teach private culinary classes including a French Macarons 101 experience. And every oven I've met doing so was lying on the readout about its true temperature. Use a cheap oven thermometer to check the actual temperature on the rack(s) you'll bake the shells.
    • Double-stack your pans. Hot spots in the oven, or uneven heating, can cause your shells to rise up fast and then settle to form large feet (my home oven does this). I find double-stacking the baking pans can slow down the rise of the shells. And results in daintier le pied, or frilly feet (bottoms).
    • To quickly, and easily fill the shells. I scoop my fillings into a piping bag fitted with a small round or star tip, depending on the consistency of what I'm piping. More simply, use a plastic baggie with the corner snipped to create a small hole.

    The Steps

    With time-sensitive batter such as meringue, it's best to line up your ducks before you begin. So gather your tools and measure out all the ingredients. Bring your egg whites to room temperature before whipping (an hour on the counter is plenty of time).

    1. Preheat and prepare. Preheat your oven to 300° F. Line a couple of baking pans or cookie sheets with parchment paper (or silicone baking mats, if you prefer). If you plan to use a piping template, place one or two underneath the parchment. I secure my parchment paper in place with a heavy cup or small magnets. Snip the corner off your piping bag and insert your round tip. Push part of the bag into the large side of the tip. This will stop the batter from leaking through when you fill it.
    A baking pan lined with a macaron template and a pastry bag fitted with a round tip.
    prepare your equipment
    Ingredients for strawberry macarons portioned into small bowls.
    measure out the ingredients
    1. Sift the dry ingredients. Since I bake macarons on a regular basis for and with clients, I sift the almond flour, powdered sugar, and any ground powder right into the bowl of whipped meringue. But for new macarons mavens, I recommend sifting ahead and setting them nearby.
    2. Whip the meringue. Whip the egg whites on medium speed until foamy. With the mixer running, slowly rain in the granulated sugar. Whip on high speed to a firm meringue. The meringue is ready when it's shiny, silky, opaque, and resembles shaving cream. The meringue will make slightly curved peaks when you lift out the beater.
    3. Add your color, optional. Add a small amount of red or pink gel food coloring, and whip on high speed for 30 seconds more.
    Foamy egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer.
    beat the whites until foamy
    Adding sugar to foamy egg whites in a stand mixer.
    add the granulated sugar slowly
    Firm peak meringue on a stand mixer whisk on a white countertop with a black background.
    whip to firm peaks (bird's beak)
    Small dollops of red food coloring on the whisk attachment of a mixer with meringue in the bowl.
    beat in coloring, optional
    1. Fold in the dry ingredients. Sift or add the dry ingredients to the whipped meringue. You can do this in a few additions if it's easier for you. Stir a bit vigorously a first to create a somewhat homogenous mixture. Then fold gently by scraping in a circular motion around the inside of the bowl and then up over the top of the batter. Cut your spatula through the center of the batter with every other stroke. Be mindful to scrape against the bottom of the bowl to bring in all of the dry ingredients.
    2. Aim for a thick, ribbony batter. Macaron batter is ready when it ribbons off the spatula, and settles back into itself in 10 to 20 seconds. You can also try the "figure 8 test" by gathering batter on the spatula and making a figure 8 with it over the bowl. Look for a thick batter that doesn't stop flowing until you finish the motion.
    Sifting almond flour and powdered sugar into a bowl of pink meringue.
    sift or add in your pre-sifted dry ingredients
    Sifted dry ingredients on top of pink meringue in a bowl.
    stir to combine
    Roughly mixed macaron batter in a stainless steel bowl with a white spatula resting inside.
    then use a folding motion
    Pink macaron batter flowing off of a spatula and ribboning down into the bowl.
    look for when the batter ribbons off the spatula
    Looking down on pink macaron batter in a pastry bag on top of a sheet pan.
    transfer to the piping bag
    Pink macaron batter in a pastry bag ready to be piped.
    lay it flat and press out any air, then twist the top to seal
    1. Transfer, pipe, and tap. Place your prepared piping bag inside a drinking glass and pull the opening of the bag down and around the rim. Then scrape in the batter, press any air out, and twist it tightly at the top to lock in the batter (you can also secure it with a rubber band). Hold the piping bag vertically and a quarter-inch off the baking pan. Then squeeze until you reach the inner edges of the template circles. Immediately stop squeezing and flick the tip away in a circular motion. If your batter doesn't settle flat after a few moments, tap underneath the pans with your hand to settle the batter (I don't recommend toothpicks, and have never met another chef who employs them routinely in macaron baking).
    Piped macaron batter into small rounds on a parchment-lined sheet pan with a template underneath.
    1. Rest the piped batter. Let the piped macarons rest on the counter for 10 to 20 minutes. The shell will turn from shiny and sticky, to smooth and dull.
    2. Bake until set. Bake the macarons for 14 to 18 minutes, rotating the pan once the signature pied, or “feet” form. This happens after about eight minutes of baking. Begin checking for doneness after 12 to 13 minutes. Gently nudge the tops of a couple of macaron shells with your finger. If the tops don't wiggle, the macarons are done. Try to avoid browning the bottoms of the shells. Remove the pan and cool the shells for a couple of minutes. Remove the shells by gently pushing up from underneath the parchment with one hand and peeling them away carefully with the other.
    3. Match and fill. Make pairs of macarons and pipe strawberry jam, strawberry buttercream, or both onto half of the shells. Then top with their partners. Avoid excessive filling or it will leak out when you bite into the macarons. To fill with both jam and buttercream, pipe a ring of buttercream around the outside of half your shells. Be sure to leave a little space between the edge of the shells and the buttercream. Then squeeze a tiny dollop of jam in the middle and top with another shell.
    4. Age the filled macarons. Store the filled macarons in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 24 hours. This allows the shells to soften and fill in (become less hollow) as they absorb moisture and flavor from the fillings. Macarons keep for about a week when stored chilled. Always serve macarons at room temperature.
    Rows of pink macaron shells alternating upside down and right-side up, with buttercream piped on the upside-down rows.
    Pink strawberry French macarons in a row filled with either jam or buttercream, surrounded by fresh strawberries.

    Making Strawberry Jam

    If you prefer to substitute powdered pectin in place of the gelatin for a vegan filling, use a bit less than called for in the recipe. Or refer to the brand's recommendations.

    1. Bloom the gelatin. Sprinkle the gelatin evenly over the water in a small bowl. The mixture will gelatinize, becoming thick and opaque after about five minutes. Remove the stems from your strawberries and blend until smooth.
    2. Simmer the jam ingredients. Bring puréed strawberries, lemon juice, a small pinch of salt, and sugar to a simmer in a small pot. Cook gently for about five minutes.
    3. Whisk in the gelatin and cool. Remove the pot from the heat, and whisk in the bloomed gelatin until it dissolves. Pour the filling into a small heat-safe bowl, and press plastic wrap against the top. Cool the filling in the refrigerator. Stir to loosen it up before piping on the macaron shells.
    Gelatin blooming in water in a small glass dish.
    bloom the gelatin
    Blended strawberries in a small blender next to the blade.
    purée the strawberries
    Strawberry jam simmering in a pot with a spatula inside.
    simmer the berries, sugar, and lemon juice for five minutes
    Strawberry purée in a pot with sugar in the middle.
    whisk in the bloomed gelatin
    Warm strawberry jam in a white ramekin on the counter.
    pour into a bowl
    Plastic wrap pressed on top of strawberry jam in a ramekin.
    press plastic wrap on top and cool

    How to Make French Buttercream

    Silky, scrumptious, and not too sweet. My favorite French buttercream recipe is based on one by Chef Thomas Keller (I worked at one of his restaurants). To add color and more flavor, you can mix in a couple of spoonfuls of freeze-dried strawberry powder at the end. Or whip in a little strawberry jam.

    1. Boil the syrup. Boil the sugar and water in a saucepan to the firm ball stage (248° F) measured on a probe or candy thermometer. At the same time, beat the eggs in a medium bowl or bowl of a stand mixer (whisk attachment) until foamy. Keep the mixer running at a low speed until the syrup is ready.
    2. Temper in the hot syrup. With the mixer on low speed, drizzle the hot syrup slowly into the foamy eggs. Do your best to avoid hitting the beater. I find this method is easiest when using a hand mixer.
    3. Whip until cool. Continue beating at medium-high speed until the mixture cools to room temperature.
    4. Beat in the butter. Add the butter a tablespoon at a time. It may appear broken and lumpy at times, but if you keep beating it will smooth out.
    5. Add flavorings. Beat in any extracts, strawberry filling and/or freeze-dried strawberry powder. Store French buttercream chilled. Beat briefly with a hand or with a stand mixer to revive it after chilling. Serve it at room temperature.
    Boiling syrup in a small sauce pot for buttercream.
    boil the syrup to 248° F
    Foamy egg whites being beaten by a hand mixer.
    beat the eggs until foamy
    Hot sugar syrup drizzling into mixing bowl of whipped egg.
    drzzle it into the foamy eggs
    Light and creamy whipped egg after pouring in hot sugar syrup for French buttercream..
    whip on high until cool
    Hand adding a tablespoon of butter to whipped egg.
    add soft butter a tablespoon at a time
    Looking down on French buttercream in a silver bowl.
    beat until smooth and add strawberry purée or powder
    Silver spoon on countertop with strawberry buttercream next to jar of jam.

    Storage

    Store filled macarons in an airtight container and chilled for up to a week. Unfilled macaron shells can be packaged carefully, sealed airtight, and frozen. Always store filled macarons chilled, but serve at room temperature.


    Frequently Asked Questions

    Are macarons really that hard to make?

    No way, chef! Baking up lovely French macarons like the beauties in pastry shops is a matter of mastering two simple techniques: meringue, and macaronage (the mixing). Many of my readers craft perfect macarons the first time out! My free French Macarons: Simplified quick-start guide is a great way for beginners to dive right in and succeed from the start.

    Do I need special equipment to make French macarons?

    Absolutely not. I've seen French chefs whip meringue with a whisk. And you absolutely don't need a stand mixer, a basic hand mixer gets the job done. I prefer printable macaron templates under parchment paper over a stenciled silicone mat.
    Simple equipment for making French macarons: a hand mixer, scale, parchment paper, and printable templates.
    And you don't need an egg separator, whatever that may be. (I read this cleverly-linked recommendation on a popular blog by a home baker and nearly fainted.)

    What can I use to flavor macarons?

    Since the tried and true macaron shell recipe is best left alone, most of the flavor in any French macaron will come from the fillings. And the sky's the limit! If you do want to infuse the shells, it's best to stick with a small amount of concentrated, alcohol-based extract, instant espresso, or dried fruit powder. Or you can whisk a tiny bit of citrus zest into the dry ingredients, then sift it out. This allows the citrus oils to transfer to the almond flour. But prevents excess moisture from ruining the meringue.


    Edible Epilogue

    When filling any macarons, the filling should not reach the edge of the shells. Less is more. Or when you proudly serve your macaron masterpieces, the filling will dribble out in every which direction when your guests take a bite. Best avoided. Because if I want strawberry jam anywhere, it's in my mouth. Not on my shoes.

    Looking down on three macarons, one on its side showing a strawberry jam filling, surrounded by fresh strawberries.

    P.S. Don't forget to rate and comment with your questions, ideas, and musings. Feedback is greatly appreciated and incredibly valuable to your fellow bakers.


    Print

    📖 Recipe

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    Six strawberry macarons with frsh strawberry filling on a white doily-lined cake tin.

    Strawberry French Macarons [Two Fillings]

    ★★★★★ 5 from 5 reviews
    • Author: Chef Christina
    • Prep Time: 30 minutes
    • Cook Time: 18 minutes
    • Total Time: About 50 minutes
    • Yield: 22 to 24 Filled Macarons 1x
    • Category: French Macarons
    • Method: Baking
    • Cuisine: French
    • Diet: Gluten Free
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    Pretty-in-pink strawberry macarons are sweet and tart, a delicious match of sweet almond and fresh fruit flavors. If you plan to make the scratch-made filling, look for strawberries at the peak of their season in your region. In much of the US that's during spring and summer. For Floridians and the Southeast, strawberries are often at peak season in late February and early March. 

    If you are new to baking French macarons, it can be helpful to read about the basic macaron recipe first. And here are my free printable macaron templates.


    Ingredients

    Scale

    Macaron Shells

    • 180 grams of powdered sugar (1¾ cups)
    • 108 grams of finely-ground almond flour (1 cup)
    • 7 grams of freeze-dried strawberry powder (about 1 teaspoon)
    • 3 fresh egg whites (about 90 grams)
    • 55 grams of granulated sugar (¼ cup + 1 tablespoon)
    • ¼ teaspoon of pink or red gel or powdered food coloring
    • ¼ teaspoon of cream of tartar, optional (to stabilize the meringue)

    Fresh Strawberry Filling

    • ½ teaspoon of powdered gelatin
    • 3 tablespoons of cold water
    • 1 heaping cup of destemmed strawberries (about 150 grams or 5 ounces)
    • 2 tablespoons of granulated or 1 tablespoon of honey
    • About 3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice (from one large lemon)
    • Tiny pinch of salt

    Strawberry French Buttercream

    • ¾ cup of granulated sugar
    • ¼ cup of water
    • 2 large eggs
    • 8 ounces of unsalted butter (2 sticks), room temperature, and cut into small pieces
    • 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
    • ⅛ teaspoon of salt
    • ¼ cup strawberry jam or freeze-dried strawberry powder

    Instructions

    1. Preheat and prepare. Preheat your oven to 300° F. Line a couple of baking pans or cookie sheets with parchment paper (or silicone baking mats, if you prefer). If you plan to use a piping template, place one or two underneath the parchment. I secure my parchment paper in place with a heavy cup or small magnets. Snip the corner off your piping bag and insert your round tip. Push part of the bag into the large side of the tip. This will stop the batter from leaking through when you fill it.
    2. Sift the dry ingredients. Since I bake macarons on a regular basis for and with clients, I sift the almond flour, powdered sugar, and any ground powder right into the bowl of whipped meringue. But for new macarons mavens, I recommend sifting ahead and setting them nearby.
    3. Whip the meringue. Whip the egg whites on medium speed until foamy. With the mixer running, slowly rain in the granulated sugar. Whip on high speed to a firm meringue. The meringue is ready when it's shiny, silky, opaque, and resembles shaving cream. The meringue will make slightly curved peaks when you lift out the beater. Add a small amount of red or pink gel food coloring, and whip on high speed for 30 seconds more.
    4. Fold in the dry ingredients. Sift or add the dry ingredients to the whipped meringue. You can do this in a few additions if it's easier for you. Stir a bit vigorously a first to create a somewhat homogenous mixture. Then fold gently by scraping in a circular motion around the inside of the bowl and then up over the top of the batter. Cut your spatula through the center of the batter with every other stroke. Macaron batter is ready when it ribbons off the spatula, and settles back into itself in 10 to 20 seconds.
    5. Transfer the batter and pipe into rounds. Place your prepared piping bag inside a drinking glass and pull the opening of the bag down and around the rim. Then scrape in the batter, press any air out, and twist it tightly at the top to lock in the batter (you can also secure it with a rubber band). Hold the piping bag vertically and a quarter-inch off the baking pan. Then squeeze until you reach the inner edges of the template circles. Immediately stop squeezing and flick the tip away in a circular motion.
    6. Tap and rest. If your batter doesn't settle flat after a few moments, tap underneath the pans with your hand to settle the batter. Let the piped macarons rest on the counter for 10 to 20 minutes. The shell will turn from shiny and sticky, to smooth and dull.
    7. Bake. Bake the macarons for 14 to 18 minutes, rotating the pan once the signature pied, or “feet” form. This happens after about eight minutes of baking. Begin checking for doneness after 12 to 13 minutes. Gently nudge the tops of a couple of macaron shells with your finger. If the tops don't wiggle, the macarons are done. Try to avoid browning the bottoms of the shells.
    8. Match and fill. Remove the pan and cool the shells for a couple of minutes. Remove the shells by gently pushing up from underneath the parchment with one hand and peeling them away carefully with the other. Make pairs of macarons and pipe strawberry jam, strawberry buttercream, or both onto half of the shells. Then top with their partners.
    9. Store chilled and age the filled shells.  Store the filled macarons in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 24 hours. This allows the shells to soften and fill in (become less hollow) as they absorb moisture and flavor from the fillings. Macarons keep for about a week when stored chilled. Always serve macarons at room temperature.

    Fresh Strawberry Filling

    1. Bloom the gelatin. Sprinkle the gelatin evenly over the water in a small bowl. The mixture will gelatinize, becoming thick and opaque after about five minutes. Remove the stems from your strawberries and blend until smooth.
    2. Simmer the jam ingredients. Bring puréed strawberries, lemon juice, a small pinch of salt, and sugar to a simmer in a small pot. Cook gently for about five minutes.
    3. Whisk in the gelatin and cool. Remove the pot from the heat, and whisk in the bloomed gelatin until it dissolves. Pour the filling into a small heat-safe bowl, and press plastic wrap against the top. Cool the filling in the refrigerator. Stir to loosen it up before piping on the macaron shells. Store chilled. 

    Strawberry French Buttercream

    1. Boil the syrup. Boil the sugar and water in a saucepan to the firm ball stage (248° F) measured on a probe or candy thermometer. At the same time, beat the eggs in a medium bowl or bowl of a stand mixer (whisk attachment) until foamy. Keep the mixer running at a low speed until the syrup is ready.
    2. Temper it into the eggs. With the mixer on low speed, drizzle the hot syrup slowly into the foamy eggs. Do your best to avoid hitting the beater. I find this method is easiest when using a hand mixer.
    3. Whip until cool. Continue beating at medium-high speed until the mixture cools to room temperature.
    4. Beat in the butter. Add the butter a tablespoon at a time. It may appear broken and lumpy at times, but if you keep beating it will smooth out.
    5. Add flavorings. Beat in any extracts, strawberry filling, and/or freeze-dried strawberry powder. Store French buttercream chilled. Beat briefly with a hand or with a stand mixer to revive it after chilling. Serve it at room temperature.

    Notes

    Chef's Notes & Tips

    •  Pipe a test batch. It can help to pipe and bake just three or four macaron shells before baking the rest. This will help you gauge your oven's heating, which rack to bake on, and how long to bake.
    • Check your oven's honesty.Use a cheap oven thermometer to check the actual temperature on the rack(s) you'll bake the shells.
    • Double-stack your pans. Hot spots in the oven, or uneven heating, can cause your shells to rise up fast and then settle to form large feet (my home oven does this). I find double-stacking the baking pans can slow down the rise of the shells. And results in daintier le pied, or frilly feet (bottoms).
    • To quickly, and easily fill the shells. I scoop my fillings into a piping bag fitted with a small round or star tip, depending on the consistency of what I'm piping. More simply, use a plastic baggie with the corner snipped to create a small hole.

    Keywords: strawberry French macaron recipe, strawberry macarons

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    More French Macaron Recipes

    • Your One-Stop, Free Shop for French Macaron Templates
    • Chocolate Macarons Recipe & Two Tempting Fillings
    • Why Every French Macaron Recipe is Really the Same
    • How to Make French Macarons, Seriously

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      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

    1. Hannah

      February 21, 2023 at 8:30 am

      I made this recipe over the weekend after failing with a couple others that showed up first in Google, and I finally got perfect macarons! Thank you!! I think you're right that the freeze-dried strawberry powder can mess with the meringue if you're not really careful. So I left it out.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Chef Christina

        February 21, 2023 at 8:31 am

        So glad to hear that, Hannah! Well done. I do believe if you're just learning to bake French macarons, it's best to keep it simple.🙂

        Reply
    2. Shannon

      February 21, 2023 at 8:11 am

      Made these for Valentine's Day, and they turned out perfect!! I love the fresh strawberry filling and professional tips. So many baking blogs overcomplicate macarons, this was refreshing! Can you do the same with other freeze-dried fruit powders?

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Chef Christina

        February 21, 2023 at 8:22 am

        Well done, Shannon! Yes, you can add tiny amounts of most freeze-dried fruit powders to the dry ingredients for the shells. I've made blueberry, mango, and raspberry macarons this way for clients. But be sure it's only a few grams (say no more than 7 or 8), otherwise, the shells may not form feet or won't bake up as expected.

        Reply
    3. Holly C

      October 24, 2022 at 6:06 pm

      I am a first time macaron baker and absolutely love this recipe. I was able to get it right the first time based on the way unique way you described the process. The portion of powder sugar to almond flour made the macarons taste so much better. I had tried a few other recipes but they some how didn't taste the way I remember macarons tasting. Your recipe tasted amazing. I absolutely love this recipe and will use it over and over. Thanks so much!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Christina

        October 24, 2022 at 8:23 pm

        Well done, Holly, I'm so happy you loved the macs! And so pleased my advice resonated. My macaron recipes are all based on one I received from a pastry chef at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, so I feel like it's pretty traditional and reliable. Thank you so much for reading! Don't hesitate with any questions and happy baking. 🙂

        Reply
    4. Pamela Callow

      June 05, 2022 at 5:23 am

      Thank you, Christina!

      Looking forward to trying the French buttercream recipe.

      Reply
    5. Pamela Callow

      June 04, 2022 at 5:21 pm

      Hi Christina! I wanted to try making the French Buttercream recipe, but the list of ingredients seems to be missing how many egg whites one requires (as the instructions indicated that one should whip egg whites). Thank you!

      P.S. I made your lemon macarons and raspberry macarons today, and they are delicious. Thank you!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Christina

        June 04, 2022 at 6:57 pm

        Hi Pam, thank you so much for coming to my site! I'm glad you enjoyed the lemon and raspberry macarons. I don't know what happened to the recipe card, but you should be able to see the proper ingredients for the French Buttercream now on the page. Let me know if you have any trouble. You may have to clear your browser cache, so just in case they still don't show up correct for you, the French buttercream ingredients are:

        -¾ cup granulated sugar
        -¼ cup of water
        -2 large eggs
        -8 ounces of unsalted butter (2 sticks), room temperature, and cut into small pieces
        -1 tablespoon vanilla extract
        -⅛ teaspoon of salt
        -¼ cup strawberry jam, homemade or store-bought

        Happy baking, and thanks again for reading.:)

        Reply
    6. Nate

      September 19, 2020 at 4:38 pm

      Surprisingly easy to make! Turned out great and my wife loved them!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Christina

        September 19, 2020 at 8:38 pm

        Clever commenting, glad you enjoyed them;)

        Reply
    7. Diana

      May 06, 2014 at 5:27 pm

      Sorry, one more question. You say to beat the egg whites on high speed for 5 minutes. When I do this, it forms a huge clump inside my whisk attachment (using KitchenAid mixer). Does this mean it's been over beaten?

      Reply
      • edibletimes

        May 08, 2014 at 8:56 pm

        Most likely you overwhipped. If you're using a stand mixer, try whipping on say speed 6 or 8 to be able to ease into the stiff peaks. You will definitely get a nice clump of egg whites when it is whipped properly, and it'll be shiny like shaving cream - you'll really know you've taken it to far if the whites get stiff but then begin to weep (give off moisture). Thanks for stopping by, happy baking!

        Reply
    8. Diana

      May 06, 2014 at 5:27 pm

      Will adding lemon juice to the egg whites affect the recipe at all? I know yours looks great but I thought adding any kind of liquid would change the outcome?

      Reply
      • edibletimes

        May 08, 2014 at 8:54 pm

        Hi Diana! Adding lemon juice actually helps the egg whites stiffen. It's acidic and helps the protein molecules break down and bond to one another as you whip (that's why many recipes call for cream of tartar, which is also acidic). In this case, the little bit will add lemon flavor, as well.

        Reply
    9. Kim

      January 15, 2014 at 2:04 am

      Your macarons look amazing, I notice in your Strawberry filling, there is no mention of sugar or the amount in the list of ingredients, but it mentions the sugar in the method. please advise on the amount of sugar? or it is depending on how sweet or sour the strawberries are?

      Reply
      • edibletimes

        January 20, 2014 at 3:59 pm

        Sugar omission a blogger's oversight! I usually base my sugar on the sweetness of the berries, but 1/4 cup is a good place to start, depending on how sweet you want the filling. It will still work without any sugar, if you want a tart filling. Thanks for stopping by! Always feel free to email me directly:)

        Reply
    10. Winnie

      May 15, 2012 at 5:23 am

      These look so great! I must try them. I love macaroons! I am also a big lemon and strawberry lover. Love your pictures of the food!

      Reply

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    Chef Christina Bailey, Boise Private Chef, Creator of Edible Times

    I'm Christina, a classically trained, Michelin-star restaurant alum and private chef. And more importantly, Chef Mom to two little boys.
    I'm here to empower you in the kitchen. I share way more than delicious, chef-tested recipes. I explain the professional formulas, ratios, and techniques, too. To read about me and my food philosophy, follow this.



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