Hello Bakers,
I am so sorry that so much time has passed since my last post. I spent the month of April practicing for my CMB or Certified Master Baker exam. I am relieved to report that I came out of the two day 16 hour baking practical
alive and with only one retake. Not bad. I will retest that item in Chicago in August.
I learned so much training and taking this certification, which will make me a better instructor and resource for your - my bakers.
This post is all about Chocolate Macarons. I paired them with a raspberry ganache and fresh raspberries.
Chocolate Macarons with Raspberry Ganache and Fresh Raspberries
You might remember my saying that my blog content would serve as skill building for my Craftsy classes. (Of course, you do not have to be a Craftsy student to make these recipes.) But if you are this post is building on techniques taught in this class:
There are almost 10,000 students in this class and their work is amazing!!!!! Here is a promo code if you would like to enroll. http://craftsy.me/2qar6tN
Chocolate macarons can be a little tricky. Cocoa is a drying agent. It dries out all the other ingredients - so we have to compensate by changing the ratios of the other ingredients. There is a bit more sugar in this recipe to add moisture.
These are delicious - rich and almost brownie like. If that is possible for a macaron. Watch over baking them - they can over bake quickly in the last few minutes.
I paired them with a raspberry ganache which should be made the day ahead. These would make a great Mother's Day gift and for my macaron bakers - you have to add this to your repertoire.
These is a contest with this post too. Whoever bakes and posts a photo of the finished macarons and raspberry ganache wins this dish towel. Only one winner per year, just to be fair.
I know how competitive you are bakers. :)
Happy Baking!
Colette
Chocolate Macarons
.Yield: 17-18 filled macarons
Equipment:
Stand or Hand held mixer
Large bowl
Flat rubber spatula
Food processor
Piping bag
#12 Wilton tip or Ateco #803 or any plain round tip with a 3/8” diameter opening
Eye dropper – optional but good for adding color and flavor
2 half sheet trays lined with parchment paper
2 Half baking trays lined with parchment or Silpats.
Macaron Templates (optional)***please email me at BakingwithColette@gmail.com and I will send them to you.
Ingredients:
109g powdered sugar
98g ounces almond meal
15g Dutch process cocoa
90g ounces egg whites
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
75g ounces granulated sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla or chocolate extract
Brown gel color - optional
Chocolate Macaron Mise en place
Preheat oven to 325 degrees (conventional) 300 degrees (convection).
1. Layer the powdered sugar, almond meal and cocoa in a food processor or mini-prep fitted with a metal blade.
2. Pulse the powdered sugar and the almond meal in a food processor until
the mixture looks like fine meal. This takes about 15 seconds or 8 pulses.
Powdered sugar, almond meal and cocoa
1. Using a stand or hand held mixer, whip the egg whites with the cream of tartar on medium speed until they look frothy and no egg white liquid remains. They will still have a yellowish cast and no structure.
2. With the mixer running, add the granulated sugar slowly. Once the sugar is added turn the mixer on to medium high speed.
3. Continue to whip until the meringue is soft and shiny. At this stage it resembles “marshmallow fluff” or “shaving cream” and does not form a peak.
4. Stop the mixer and add color if desired and extract. Put the color on the bottom of the whisk or beater attachments.
5. Turn the mixer to high speed, whip the egg whites until the mixture begins to look dull and the lines of the whisk are visible on the surface of the meringue.
6. Now check for peak. The peak should be firm with the angle supporting the peak at 11:30. (see photo) Transfer to a medium sized bowl.
7. Fold in the almond meal, powdered sugar and cocoa in three increments.
8. Paint the mixture halfway up the side of the bowl, using the flat side of your spatula. Then scrape the mixture down to the center of the bowl.
9. Repeat 2-3 times then check to see if the mixture slides slowly down the side of the bowl.
10. Pipe on parchment or Silpat lined baking sheets.
11. Slam the tray, hard, 4-6 times on the counter. Then fist bump each side of the tray twice. (see photo)
12. Let dry until they look dull but not overly dry. **Drying time varies on humidity.
In a dry climate the macarons can dry in 15-20 minutes and in a humid climate it can take 35-40 minutes. But never dry them for more than an hour.
13. While the macarons are drying, preheat the oven to 325 degrees, 170 Celsius, Gas Mark 3
14. Place on the middle rack of the oven.
15. Check in 11 minutes.
16. If their tops slide then bake for 2 -3 more minutes. They should release from the parchment or Silpat without sticking. Check one or two. If they stick put them back in the oven for 1-2 more minutes.
17. Let them cool for a few minutes before removing from the Silpat or parchment paper.
Raspberry Ganache
Yield: 454g (1 pound of ganache)
Prep time: 15 minutes
Total time: 15 minutes – must chill or sit overnight at room temperature to achieve proper consistency.
Equipment:
Large bowl
Fine mesh sieve
Saucepan
Heatproof bowl
Spatula
Digital thermometer
Ingredients
170-180g Raspberry puree ***DIY recipe follows
92g Granulated sugar
46g Light corn syrup or glucose
145g White chocolate, cut into small pieces
23g Butter, softened
1. Warm raspberry puree to 140 degrees.
2. In a small pan, preferably with tall sides caramelize the sugar, be careful as a small amount of sugar caramelizes quickly.
3. Remove caramel from heat and deglaze with corn syrup or glucose.
4. Add the caramel mixture to warm the raspberry puree. Stir with a heat proof spatula to combine – place over low heat and stir if the caramel has seized up. The heat will melt it back down and the mixture will become smooth.
Pour over chocolate and stir gently to melt.
Add butter and stir until smooth.
To use the same day, pour onto a small tray lined with plastic wrap or lightly buttered parchment paper, cover and chill for 2-3 hours so that the ganache sets up. The ganache can also be left, covered, at room temperature overnight.
Use the next day and refrigerate any leftovers.
***DIY Raspberry puree
1 12 ounce bag frozen raspberries
57g sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1. Place the frozen raspberries in a fine mesh sieve and thaw over a large bowl.
When the berries are thawed, press down hard on them to extract as much juice as possible. All that should be left are the seeds and a little pulp.
2. Add sugar and lemon juice.
This should yield 170g – 180g of puree enough for the ganache recipe.