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To make these festive Christmas tree cake macarons, you will need: - 1 cup almond flour - 1 ¾ cups powdered sugar - 4 large egg whites (preferably aged) - ¼ cup granulated sugar - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract - ½ teaspoon peppermint extract - Green gel food coloring These ingredients create the tasty macaron shells. Almond flour gives the macarons their unique texture. Powdered sugar adds sweetness and helps with the smoothness of the shells. The egg whites are key for the meringue, while the sugars help stabilize it. The extracts and food coloring provide that special holiday flavor and look. For the buttercream filling, gather these: - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened - 4 cups powdered sugar - 2 tablespoons heavy cream This creamy filling balances the sweetness of the macarons. The softened butter should be mixed until light and fluffy. Gradually adding powdered sugar creates a smooth texture. The heavy cream helps make the filling airy and easy to spread. To make your macarons extra festive, consider these optional ingredients: - Edible glitter or shimmer sprinkles - Miniature stars or gold sprinkles (for the tree tops) These decorative touches add sparkle and charm. They help your macarons resemble real Christmas trees, making them perfect for holiday gatherings. Use these fun decorations to show off your creativity! {{ingredient_image_2}} To start, preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. In a bowl, sift together 1 cup of almond flour and 1 ¾ cups of powdered sugar. This step helps make the shells smooth. Next, in a large mixing bowl, beat 4 large egg whites with a hand mixer on medium speed. Once frothy, gradually add ¼ cup of granulated sugar. Turn up the speed until you get stiff peaks. This is key for the right texture. Gently fold the sifted almond flour mixture into the egg whites. Do this in three parts to keep the mix airy. Then, add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon of peppermint extract, and green gel food coloring until you reach your desired shade of green. Transfer the macaron batter into a piping bag fitted with a round tip. Pipe small tree shapes onto your lined baking sheets. You can use a template if you want. Once piped, gently tap the sheets on the counter to release any air bubbles. Let the macarons sit at room temperature for 30 to 60 minutes until they form a skin. Now it's time to bake! Place the macaron sheets in your preheated oven. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. You want them to form feet and not stick to the parchment. After baking, let them cool fully on the sheets. Then, carefully move them to a wire rack to cool completely. While the shells cool, you can make the buttercream. In a medium bowl, beat 1 cup of softened unsalted butter until creamy. Gradually mix in 4 cups of powdered sugar. Add 2 tablespoons of heavy cream to achieve a light and fluffy texture. This buttercream will give your macarons a festive heart. Once the shells and buttercream are ready, it’s time to assemble! Pair similar-sized macaron shells. On the flat side of one shell, pipe a generous amount of peppermint buttercream. Top it with another shell to create a sandwich. Repeat until all shells are filled. For the fun part, use more buttercream to add small dots on top. This looks like tree ornaments. Sprinkle edible glitter for that festive sparkle. Finish by placing a mini star or gold sprinkle on top of each macaron tree. Now, you have beautiful Christmas Tree Cake Macarons that are ready to impress! - Sift your dry ingredients: Sifting almond flour and powdered sugar helps avoid lumps. It gives you a smooth macaron shell. - Use room temperature egg whites: Older egg whites whip better. Let them sit out for a few hours. - Fold with care: When mixing the dry ingredients into the egg whites, fold gently. You want to keep air in the batter. - Rest your shells: Let the piped macaron shells sit for 30-60 minutes. This helps form a skin and prevents cracks. - Check your oven: Ovens can vary in temperature. Use an oven thermometer for best results. - Overmixing the batter: This can lead to flat macarons. Stop folding as soon as the batter flows like lava. - Not using a scale: Weighing ingredients gives you accurate measurements. This helps ensure your macarons turn out well. - Skipping the resting step: Don’t rush this part. It’s key for that perfect shell. - Baking too long: Overbaking makes macarons dry. Check them at 15 minutes. - Create a festive display: Arrange the macarons on a pretty platter. Add some edible glitter or ornaments for fun. - Pair with hot cocoa: These macarons taste great with a warm drink. It adds a cozy touch. - Gift them: Pack them in a nice box. They make great gifts for friends and family. - Use as cake toppers: Place the macarons on top of a cake for a festive look. It adds height and fun! Pro Tips Use Older Egg Whites: Using older egg whites that have been aged in the fridge for a day or two can help achieve better volume and stability in your meringue. Resting Time is Crucial: Allowing the piped macaron shells to rest for 30-60 minutes before baking is essential for forming a skin, which helps create the characteristic ‘feet’ of the macarons. Check Oven Temperature: Oven temperatures can vary, so it’s a good idea to use an oven thermometer to ensure your macarons bake at the correct temperature for the best results. Decorate with Flair: Get creative with decorating your macarons! Use different colored edible glitter and various sprinkles to make each Christmas tree unique and festive. {{image_4}} You can change the flavor of the buttercream to match your taste. Here are some ideas: - Chocolate: Add cocoa powder to create a rich chocolate filling. - Coconut: Mix in shredded coconut for a tropical twist. - Eggnog: Use eggnog flavoring for a holiday classic. - Orange Zest: Add fresh orange zest for a bright, citrus note. Each option gives a new twist to your Christmas Tree Cake Macarons. Decorating your macarons can be fun and creative. Here are some ideas: - Sprinkles: Use colorful sprinkles to mimic ornaments. - Chocolate Drizzle: Drizzle melted chocolate for a festive touch. - Coconut Flakes: Add flakes for a snowy look. - Edible Glitter: Sprinkle edible glitter for some sparkle. These decorations make your macarons stand out at any holiday gathering. Do you want to try different shapes? Here are some fun ideas: - Snowflakes: Pipe snowflake shapes for a winter wonderland theme. - Stars: Create star-shaped macarons to fit the season. - Gingerbread Men: Make gingerbread man shapes for a festive touch. - Candy Canes: Shape macarons like candy canes for a sweet twist. These shapes can add excitement and charm to your holiday treats. To keep your Christmas tree cake macarons fresh, place them in an airtight container. Make sure to layer them carefully with parchment paper in between. This prevents them from sticking together. Store the container in a cool, dry place. Avoid direct sunlight, as it can ruin the texture. You can freeze macarons for up to three months. First, let them cool completely. Then, pack them in a single layer in an airtight bag. Squeeze out all the air before sealing. When you're ready to enjoy, thaw them in the fridge overnight. This keeps them fresh and tasty. Decorated macarons last up to five days at room temperature. If they contain cream filling, eat them within three days. For the best taste, enjoy them fresh. However, if you must store them longer, use the freezer method. This ensures you have festive treats ready for any occasion! Macarons are small, colorful cookies made from almond flour and egg whites. They have a smooth shell and a soft filling. The texture is light and chewy. These treats come in many flavors and colors, making them fun for any event. For our Christmas Tree Cake Macarons, they are shaped like little trees and filled with mint buttercream. Yes, you can use any color you like for the macaron shells! Just add a few drops of gel food coloring to your batter. Mix until you reach your desired shade. For our Christmas Tree Cake Macarons, we use green to mimic a festive tree. You can also mix colors for a fun twist! Cracked macarons often happen due to over-mixing or not resting long enough. To fix this, ensure you fold the batter gently. After piping, let the shells sit until a skin forms. This usually takes 30-60 minutes. If your macarons still crack, check your oven temperature. Too hot can cause issues too. If you need a substitute for almond flour, try using finely ground sunflower seeds. This option works well for those with nut allergies. You can use equal amounts of sunflower seed flour in your recipe. However, keep in mind that the color and flavor may differ slightly. You learned about the key ingredients for macarons and buttercream filling. I shared step-by-step instructions for making the shells and buttercream. We also reviewed tips to avoid common mistakes and discussed festive serving ideas. Flavor and decoration options let you customize macarons for any occasion. Proper storage keeps your treats fresh. With this knowledge, you can create delightful macarons that impress everyone. Enjoy the process, and let your creativity shine!

Christmas Tree Cake Macarons

Festive macarons shaped like Christmas trees, filled with peppermint buttercream and decorated for the holidays.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Course Dessert
Cuisine French
Servings 24
Calories 100 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup almond flour
  • 1.75 cups powdered sugar
  • 4 large egg whites (preferably aged)
  • 0.25 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 0.5 teaspoon peppermint extract
  • as needed gel food coloring green
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar (for buttercream)
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • as needed edible glitter or shimmer sprinkles (for decoration)
  • as needed mini star or gold sprinkles (for tree tops)

Instructions
 

  • Prepare macaron shells: Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Sift the almond flour and powdered sugar together in a bowl until well combined and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg whites with a hand mixer on medium speed until frothy. Gradually add the granulated sugar and increase the speed until stiff peaks form. Gently fold in the sifted almond flour in three additions, being careful not to deflate the mixture. Add the vanilla and peppermint extracts along with the green gel food coloring until the desired shade of green is achieved. Fill a piping bag with a round tip and pipe small tree shapes onto the prepared baking sheets, using a template if needed. Tap the baking sheets gently on the counter to release air bubbles, then let the shells sit at room temperature for about 30-60 minutes until a skin forms.
  • Bake macaron shells: Bake the macarons in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until they have formed feet and do not stick to the parchment paper. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely on the baking sheets before transferring them to a wire rack.
  • Prepare buttercream: In a medium bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy and smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar and mix well. Add the heavy cream until a light and fluffy consistency is reached.
  • Assemble macarons: Pair macaron shells of similar size. Pipe a generous portion of the peppermint buttercream onto the flat side of one shell and top with another shell to create a sandwich. Repeat for all shells.
  • Decorate macarons: Use additional buttercream to pipe small accents on the macarons to represent Christmas tree ornaments. Sprinkle with edible glitter or shimmer and place a mini star or gold sprinkle on top of each macaron tree.

Notes

For best results, use aged egg whites and let the macarons rest before baking.
Keyword Christmas, dessert, holiday treats, macarons