French Macaron Magic
Raghu Yadav
| 12-07-2023
· Food Team
Macarons, also known as French small round cakes, are a delectable dessert made with almond powder, protein, white sugar, icing sugar, and cream filling.
They are a perfect blend of taste and texture, with a crispy exterior and a soft, delicate interior. With their colorful appearance and small size, macarons have become a symbol of fashionable desserts.
It is a common misconception that macarons are a French dessert, but they actually originated in Italy. It wasn't until the 19th century that France began making real macarons.
French pastry chefs combined almond flour and sugar to create the crust and filled it with a variety of flavors such as chocolate, coffee, lemon, and strawberry, resulting in the iconic French macarons we know today.
Macarons have since become a highly diversified dessert, with new and innovative flavors emerging in the pastry world. Macarons have developed different types over time, but the Paris macaron has had the greatest impact and influence, becoming a popular and luxurious treat in the fashion capital.
The macaron is composed of several distinct layers, with a thin, crisp outer shell, a soft and creamy inner layer made of cream, and a beautiful circle on the lower edge of the cake body that displays colorful hues when viewed under the light. A perfect macaron should have a smooth surface, no pits, and a faint luster.
To make the cake body, 75 grams of white sugar and 90 grams of powdered sugar are needed, and 60 grams of white sugar are added in the process of making the filling. Because of this, some people find macarons too sweet.
Nonetheless, the increasing popularity of floral flavors such as rose, jasmine, lavender, and coconut, as well as savory flavors such as curry and chicken, attest to the diversity and innovation of this classic French dessert.
Moreover, macarons have become a staple dessert for many weddings, parties, exhibitions, and other events due to their small and exquisite appearance and diverse flavors. Macarons are also seen as a cultural symbol of French pastry culture and fashion trends.
Making macarons requires a high level of skill and precise ingredient ratios, making it a relatively challenging dessert. However, with mastery of the production skills, even novices can DIY delicious macarons at home, allowing themselves and their loved ones to enjoy this delectable French dessert.
In terms of preservation, it is best to place macarons in a sealed bag and store them in a dry, cool place away from direct sunlight and high temperatures. Mixing macarons of different flavors during storage is not recommended to avoid affecting the flavors of each.
In modern society, macarons have become a snack that represents fashion and taste. They are not just food but also a cultural symbol that represents the essence of French pastry culture and fashion trends.
Macarons can be found in coffee shops, pastry shops, fashion weeks, and social media, proving that they are here to stay and will continue to delight pastry enthusiasts around the world.