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Cookie Dough Macarons

These cookies are filled with a brown sugar and chocolate chip buttercream filling and topped with a dark chocolate dipped shell sprinkled with buttery cookie crumbs.

Equipment

  • fine mesh sifter
  • large bowl
  • 4 quart stand mixer with whisk and paddle attachment
  • rubber spatula
  • 12-18 inch piping bag
  • small #12 Wilton round tip
  • silpat mat
  • baking tray
  • tooth pick

Ingredients

  • 124 grams powdered sugar
  • 140 grams blanched almond meal
  • 110 grams sugar
  • 107 grams egg whites, room temperature
  • ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
  • ¼ cup dark chocolate chips, melted
  • ½ teaspoon melted coconut oil
  • optional, crushed mini chocolate chip cookies

Buttercream Ingredients

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, soft
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • ¼ cup heat treated all-purpose flour (see notes)
  • ¼ cup chopped dark chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Line an upside down pan with a silicone baking mat and fit a piping bag with a small #12 Wilton round tip, then set them both aside.
  • In a medium bowl, sift the almond meal and powdered sugar into a larger bowl and discard any large pieces. Set aside.
  • In a stand mixing bowl, add the egg whites and begin whisking on medium speed (speed 3-4) for 1-2 minutes. When the whites get foamy, add the cream of tartar.
  • Very slowly, begin adding the sugar by the spoonful, sprinkling it into the whites as they whip. When all of the sugar is added increase the speed to medium (speed 4-5) and whip for about 4 minutes, then add 2 drops of the food coloring. Continue mixing for another 2-3 minutes, or until stiff peaks form.
  • Add the whipped egg whites to a large bowl.
  • Add ⅓ of the almond meal/sugar mixture to the whites. Fold very gently with a spatula until combined. Continue until all of the dry ingredients are incorporated.
  • Using your rubber spatula, scrape the batter against the side of the bowl. Every few scrapes, pick up the batter and let it fall into the bowl. The batter should flow slowly in a continuous ribbon. Try to make a figure 8 with the batter. If it falls without breaking, it's ready.
  • Fill your piping bag with the batter. Pipe directly over the top of the baking tray. Then drop the pan on the counter a few times to release any air bubbles. Use a tooth pick to pop any bubbles that come to the surface.
  • Allow the shells to sit out to dry and form a skin. This can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour depending on the level of humidity in your house. They are ready to bake when the shell can be touched without it sticking to your finger or leaving an impression.
  • While the shells rest, preheat your oven to 300 degrees F/149 C. (If your oven is on the hotter side a lower temperature might be better ie: 275-285)
  • Bake each tray for about 12-14 minutes. The shells are done baking when you can gently touch the top of the shell and it barely budges from the foot. Let the tray cool completely on a wire rack before removing the shells and filling.

Making the Buttercream

  • In a stand mixing bowl, add the soft butter and mix on medium low speed until smooth, about 1-2 minutes.
  • Add the powdered sugar in a little bit at at time, mixing well after each addition. Scrape down the bowl with a spatula, then whip on high speed for 30 seconds until the buttercream is light and fluffy.
  • Add the brown sugar, flour, and chocolate chips and mix on low until combined.

Assembling

  • Fill a piping bag fitted with the same small round tip with the buttercream.
  • Pipe a dollop onto one half of the shells and then sandwich the filling with the other half.
  • Melt the dark chocolate chips in a bowl then add the coconut oil. Dunk the top of the shells in the chocolate and then sprinkle them with the crushed cookie pieces.
  • Keep in the fridge in an airtight container overnight or at least for 12 hours to mature and soften.

Notes

Step-by-step process photos are provided above, in the body of this post.

Expert Tips
  • Follow all helpful tips- check out this thorough macaron post with even more tips and tricks for baking success!
  • Using a kitchen scale-macaron batter can be extremely finicky if the ingredient ratio is off by even a few extra crumbs. Using a kitchen scale is the best tip for making these cookies to ensure accurate measurement.
  • Never make them on a rainy day- the moisture in the air gets into the meringue and batter and the shells will bake soft and splotchy.
  • Scale all ingredients before starting- set yourself up for success by measuring all ingredients before starting as well as getting all the equipment and tools needed and ready to go.
  • Let the whites come to room temperature- make sure your egg whites are not cold and are at room temperature. If you forget to take them out beforehand, place them in a sealed container and submerge it in a bowl of hot tap water.
  • Wipe down your equipment with vinegar- wipe down your mixing bowl and whisk to make sure any traces of fat that could be on your equipment don't interfere with the batter.
  • Make sure the puree is at room temperature before adding it to the buttercream or it will make it look curdled and separated.
 
Once baked and filled, store the filled cookies on a tightly wrapped tray or in an airtight container in the fridge.
The assembled cookies will get hard in the fridge because the butter is re-solidifying. Take them out and let them come to room temperature to soften before enjoying them. They will stay fresh for up to a week if stored properly!
 
If you make this recipe, let me know how it went in the comments below, I'd love to hear from you! You can also tag me on Instagram or Facebook so I can check it out!