Project Macaron

March 6, 2011

Today, armed with piping bag in one hand and Jill Colonna’s Mad about Macarons in the other, I made my first ever Macaron at home – embarking on what is undoubtedly going to be the most frustrating culinary challenge I’ve ever set myself. As a self-declared baking noob, you are cordially invited over the rest of this year to share in my failures, tears and hopeful aspirations for success. Here I present to thee, Project Macaron: my search for the perfect home-made Macaron.

Project Macaron: Take #1

So how was my first time you ask? Appearance-wise, a little flatter and yellower (due to some food colour spillage) than I would have hoped for. Texture and taste-wise though, it far exceeded any of my non-existent expectations – crisp on the outside, but with that characteristic sweet chew in the middle. I must say, as time-consuming as the process is, there’s something incredibly addictive about watching the formation of these little meringue domes in the oven as they rise above their airy “feet”. Can’t wait to perfect the meringue shells and get on to making some fillings.

Look out Pierre Herme and Laduree!

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Category : Ramblings&Cravings, Recipes

Tags : Baking, Laduree, Macaron, Pierre Herme, Recipes

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9 thoughts on “Project Macaron”

Kay@Chopstix2Steaknives on March 6, 2011 at 11:03 pm said:

Good Luck!! I myself am not ready to attempt the insurmountble tasks of the macarons! Can’t wait to see how it progresses

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Guan on March 6, 2011 at 11:18 pm said:

Tx Kay – lets hope my patience can last the many iterations to come! =)

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Jill on March 7, 2011 at 12:51 pm said:

Hi Guan,

Just dropped by to say hello and well done on your first macarons. They look great. Looking forward to seeing the next episode. There will be lots of fun ahead after that first batch, you’ll see. Hope you don’t mind but I shared your blog link on the MadAboutMacarons page on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mad-about-Macarons/129321380441563

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Guan on March 7, 2011 at 10:04 pm said:

Jill: Tx so much for stopping by and for the kind words! – The first batch turned our a little flatter and yellower than I would have liked, but for a complete baking newbie, I’m just glad it wasn’t a complete shambles. I love your book btw… found the instructions spot on and am extremely grateful for all the tips from the 30 mins resting time to scraping the piping bag down to fill it up. Will post in the coming weeks when i get round to the sequel…

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Kim - Liv Life on March 7, 2011 at 8:17 pm said:

Good for you!!! I have Jill’s book on my counter and the eggs in an airtight container in the fridge… Tomorrow is baking day for me. After your success I’m hopeful!!

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Guan on March 7, 2011 at 10:12 pm said:

Kim: I hope it goes well! – do let me know how you fare. For a first run, I was particularly surprised to see that I managed to get the “feet” at the bottom. Just be careful with the food colouring if you are using any… you don’t want yours’ looking as lemoney yellow as mine!

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something_good on March 7, 2011 at 10:16 pm said:

embarking on such endeavor takes a lot of courage, so congratulations!

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Guan on March 7, 2011 at 10:41 pm said:

something_good: Tx for stopping by. Was just browsing some of your recipes and its inducing a post-dinner hunger pang! Your Rabo de Toro Oxtail stew looks right up my street and hope to give it a go one day… Will let you know how it goes!

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