Lemon Macarons Recipe - Bright, Delicious Cookies Perfect for Spring
Brighten your day with these delightful Lemon Macarons! These Italian-style macarons are decorated with royal icing daisies and filled with a tangy cream cheese-lemon buttercream. Perfect for spring celebrations or as a sweet treat to welcome warmer weather.
Ingredients
For the macaron batter:
- 150 g almond meal sifted twice
- 150 g powdered sugar
- 55 g aged egg whites room temperature
For the meringue:
- 150 g granulated sugar
- 40 g water
- 55 g aged egg whites
For the lemon filling:
- 4 oz unsalted butter softened
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 –3 packets True Lemon crystals or substitute with fresh lemon juice/zest
Extras for decorating:
- Gel food coloring optional
- Royal icing
- Sprinkles
Instructions
- Prepping Like a Pro: Before you start mixing, prep everything. Yes, everything . Measure out all your ingredients, line your baking sheets with parchment paper, and trace circles for piping. Why? Because once you start working with the batter, timing is key.
- Making the Batter: Sift together the almond meal and powdered sugar into a bowl. Make a well in the center and add half of your egg whites. Mix until you have a thick paste-like consistency.
- In a saucepan, heat the granulated sugar and water over medium heat until it reaches 239°F. Meanwhile, whip the remaining egg whites in a stand mixer.
- Slowly pour the hot sugar syrup into the whipping egg whites while continuing to mix. Keep going until you achieve glossy, stiff peaks.
- Folding and Piping: Now comes the fun part—folding the meringue into the batter. Be gentle but confident. The goal is to achieve a lava-like consistency. If the batter flows back into itself after about 20 seconds, you’re golden.
- Pipe the batter onto your prepared circles, tap the tray to release air bubbles, and let them rest for 30–60 minutes. This step helps form that coveted crispy shell.
- Baking and Filling: Bake at 300°F for 12–14 minutes. Once cooled, fill with your homemade lemon cream cheese frosting. For an extra pop of color, decorate the tops with royal icing flowers or sprinkles.
Notes
- True Lemon Crystals : Adds intense lemon flavor without extra liquid; substitute with fresh lemon juice/zest if unavailable.
- Weather Sensitivity : Avoid making macarons on humid or rainy days, as they can affect the texture.
- Resting Time : Allow piped batter to rest for 30–60 minutes before baking to form a hard shell.
- Storage : Best enjoyed 1–2 days after preparation. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.