Salted-Caramel Macarons
I’ve had this salted-caramel macarons in my archives since last year and i’m not sure why i haven’t posted it yet. I’m getting nostalgic just from looking at them. Going on pilgrimage at Pierre Herme’s boutique in Paris two weeks ago and tasting the masterpiece reminded me that maybe i should publish this post after all. Damn, it was good. While the salted-caramel flavor combination is classic and less daring than let’s say… a strawberry-wasabi macaron, i dare you to find someone.. anyone who will not love this macaron at the first bite.
I remember struggling with the salted-caramel ganache a bit when i made those. The butter ratio seemed a little bit odd but it could be a mistake i made when converting the recipe which happened after a night of heavy drinking. It’s hard for me to accept there is such thing as too much butter in a recipe but i will double check from my informant on the other side of the Atlantic and adjust the recipe if necessary.
The macaron technique remains the same old classic Herme i demonstrated in previous recipes here and there, only the color changes. Those are a bit too yellow by the way. You’re aiming at a caramel color all the way through. As those colorful flakes you sprinkle on the shells prior to baking, they’re optional of course, but you can buy them in specialty pastry supply shops if you like your macarons to have some ‘bling’.
Good luck and enjoy!
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Salted-Caramel Macarons (Macaron Caramel au Beurre Sale by Pierre Hermé)
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- Recipe translated/adapted from Pierre Herme’s “Macaron”
- Makes about 72 macarons
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For the meringue:
- 300 grams almond flour, sifted
- 300 grams powdered sugar
- 110 grams egg whites, aged 7 days (or left outside covered overnight)
- 300 grams powdered sugar
- 75 grams bottled spring water
- 110 grams egg whites, aged 7 days (or left outside covered overnight)
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Salted-Caramel cream:
- 300 grams sugar
- 335 grams creme fraiche
- 65 grams French salted butter
- 290 grams French butter, softened
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For the salted-caramel cream:
- Place about 50 grams of sugar in the bottom of a large pot. Melt it of medium heat and incorporate 50 more grams of sugar. Repeat 4 more times until all the sugar has melted. Meanwhile, bring the creme fraiche almost to a simmer.
- Caramelize the sugar until it’s a deep amber color and take it out from the heat. Add the 65 grams of salted French butter while mixing with a wooden spatula (be careful as the mixture is extremely hot). Add the creme fraiche in several additions and keep mixing with the wooden spatula.
- Place the pot back on the burner on low heat and cook until it reached 108′C. Pour in a deep dish, cover on contact with cling wrap and refrigerate until cold.
- Meanwhile, beat the remaining 290 grams of butter for 8 to 10 minutes, until light and fluffy and incorporate it to the caramel cream in two additions. Place in a pastry bag with a #11 tip.
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For the macaron meringues:
- Sift the almond flour and the powdered sugar in a medium bowl. Add them to the almond flour and to the powdered sugar. Add the first batch of egg whites (110 gr) without mixing them.
- In a small saucepan, combine the water and sugar and bring to a boil until it reaches 118′C. Meanwhile, place the second batch of egg whites in the bowl of a mixer equipped with the whisk attachment. When the sugar is at 115′C start beating the whites on medium speed.
- Pour the sugar at 118′C over the egg whites. Beat until the temperature of the mixture drops to 50′C and you have a compact and shiny meringue. Fold the meringue into the almond-sugar-egg white mixture until it’s homogeneous. Place in a large pastry bag with a plain #11 tip.
- Place parchment paper on 4 baking trays and use a pencil to draw 1 1/2 inches circles to cover the surface with 1/2 inch in between. You should have about 36 circles on each parchment papers. Turn over the paper so the pencil markings won’t transfer to the meringues.
- Pipe rounds of the meringue dough onto the prepared parchment paper. Sprinkle the pistachio powder over the meringues and let them out at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. This is a very important step where the piped meringue rounds develop a thin ‘crust’ over their surface.
- Preheat the oven to 350′F. Bake the meringues for exactly 12 minutes. Open the oven door quickly-twice during cooking. When the cookies are cooked slide the parchment paper onto a work surface and leave them to cool.
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Assemble the macarons:
- Garnish half the shells with the salted caramel ganache. Cover with the other half. Refrigerate for 24 hours. Enjoy at room temperature.
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August 3rd, 2010 at 11:19 pm
I’m getting macaron cravings just by looking at these! I love salted caramel anything. This flavor will never be old.
August 3rd, 2010 at 11:35 pm
I made them lately, those are really killers Mac!
August 4th, 2010 at 12:50 am
Oh! These sound so good…salted caramel. Your pied turned out perfect!
August 4th, 2010 at 4:36 am
Yummy looking macs! Please send me some!!
August 4th, 2010 at 10:24 am
I am craving these so badly in Austin, Texas. I’ve never made them myself, the recipe seems daunting, but I have found a french baker who makes so great salted caramel macarons – I may just continue to buy them from her. Great post!
August 4th, 2010 at 11:12 am
These, I would kill for… or wait until it’s winter to bake some in my kitchen…
August 4th, 2010 at 11:42 am
such a tease, such a bloody tease
August 4th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Those are perfect. Nothing else to say.
August 4th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
Ahhhh why do you tempt me with macarons I cannot have? These look fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. *drools*
August 4th, 2010 at 3:41 pm
what stunning colour and so perfect. Why do you always do this to me. Macaron tease!
August 4th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Yum. These look perfect. Salt and caramel are magic. If I can’t make them myself, I will take up your recommendation for Pierre Herme’s botique in Paris. I am in the process of finally booking a trip there in October. Now when I’m with other foodies, I can actually contribute to the conversation when everyone starts talking about whether or not Parisias are rude – unlike the last time!
August 4th, 2010 at 5:34 pm
Yum! You make fabulous macs and these are no exception. I adore salted caramel and must try this recipe.
August 5th, 2010 at 1:08 am
These are so beautiful! I bet they took forever to make but seconds to devour.
August 5th, 2010 at 2:10 am
I love some macs with bling! These look amazing!!!
August 5th, 2010 at 3:57 am
Informant says butter ratio and cream making technique in French version is identical
Mais quel est son secret?! Il monte son beurre avec des pales d’hélico?
August 5th, 2010 at 12:09 pm
hey, some of your top ingredients repeat – is that a typo or you do need 300 g powdered sugar 2x?
August 5th, 2010 at 5:57 pm
Radish – I had to read the instructions twice too – there are two batches of sugar and egg whites.
Gorgeous, Stephane. After experiencing childbirth, I think I might finally be brave enough to try making macarons.
August 5th, 2010 at 8:37 pm
I’ve got Pierre Herme’s Macaron book but I don’t speak French. I’ve been meaning to translate using the internet but you’ve just saved me the trouble! Thanks – your macarons look just like Pierre Herme’s!
August 5th, 2010 at 9:48 pm
Where have you been? I guess…Paris! These are beautiful. When the heat and the humidity go away after the Summer, I will have to give macarons another go!
August 6th, 2010 at 7:45 am
Having recently returned from Paris, I can attest to the magical quality of PH’s macarons, each flavor better than the last you taste. For me, the olive oil vanilla was a revelation, and a large Ispahan made me weep it was so good. Yours look perfect…Bravo! – S
August 6th, 2010 at 10:31 am
What beautiful little treats, and anything that has “salted-caramel” in the title I am totally there. Are you still in Paris?
August 6th, 2010 at 11:29 am
In heaven you can’t eat Macarons, but we can taste these and feel we’re in heaven… Deal!
August 6th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
I wish I can make mine as pretty as yours.
August 6th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
Curious how you achieve the yellow color? Powdered food coloring or liquid? Thanks.
August 7th, 2010 at 7:40 am
your macarons are beautiful! salting sweets can really make the cookies so much better, they just explode with flavor!
August 10th, 2010 at 11:55 am
Delicious! I can’t wait to try these in my kitchen…and eat any mistakes I might make along the way! ;-D
August 11th, 2010 at 4:30 am
Zen! (is that your name?) your recipes are fantastic and mouthwatering as always… I live in australia and was just wondering if powdered sugar is icing sugar or castor sugar? If you could help me out with this i would be most thank full.. Keep blogging!