{"id":607984,"date":"2023-02-13T16:48:33","date_gmt":"2023-02-13T22:48:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.sellorbuyhomefast.com\/index.php\/2023\/02\/13\/why-are-french-macarons-so-expensive\/"},"modified":"2023-02-13T16:48:33","modified_gmt":"2023-02-13T22:48:33","slug":"why-are-french-macarons-so-expensive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2023\/02\/13\/why-are-french-macarons-so-expensive\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Are French Macarons So Expensive?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The short answer: Blame the high-end ingredients and necessary baking expertise. We asked Test Kitchen pro Josh Rink to explain.<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
\n

You can find macarons everywhere from an upscale bakery to the freezer aisle at Trader Joe\u2019s<\/a>. There may be no other treat that comes in as many flavors, from vanilla and raspberry to orange blossom and mojito. These Oreo-sized treats cost three times as much as anything else at the bakery.<\/p>\n

Why are macarons<\/a> so expensive? Here\u2019s what you\u2019re getting for your money.<\/p>\n

Macaron Ingredients Are Expensive<\/h2>\n

Unlike most bakery treats, macarons are not made with all-purpose wheat flour, which even a home cook can pick up at the supermarket for less than 50 cents a pound. Instead, they\u2019re made with almond flour, which costs more than nine times as much\u2014and that\u2019s at Costco.<\/p>\n

\u201cFinely ground almond flour gives structure, texture and mild flavor to macaron shells,\u201d says Taste of Home<\/em> food stylist Josh Rink<\/a>. \u201cMacarons are meringue<\/a>-based confections.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re prized for their combination of textures: lightly crunchy exterior, chewy center and creamy filling,\u201d Josh adds. Trying to make them with a less-expensive ingredient like all-purpose flour would change the texture. The result would not be a true macaron.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the difference between macaroons vs. macarons<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Making Macarons Takes Time and Patience<\/h2>\n

You could make 10 other types of cookies in the time it takes to make macarons. OK, maybe we\u2019re exaggerating a bit. But here\u2019s the deal.<\/p>\n

\u201cMacarons are certainly more \u2018hands-on\u2019 than traditional chocolate chip cookies<\/a> and have a number of steps\u2014like sifting, whipping, folding and piping,\u201d Josh says.<\/p>\n

After making the batter, the baker transfers it into a piping bag. If you\u2019ve ever piped frosting, you know using a piping bag<\/a> takes a while to get the hang of everything from filling it without air bubbles to squeezing it with just the right amount of pressure.<\/p>\n

The process takes a lot more skill than using a cookie dough scoop. You have to hold the piping bag above the parchment paper at the correct height, squeeze out the right amount of batter, stop squeezing the bag, then twist and lift it to make each macaron shell the right thickness.<\/p>\n

After tapping out or popping any air bubbles, the macaron shells have to sit at room temperature until they form a skin. Then they get baked and completely cooled. After baking, the shells have to be paired to match each other in size as closely as possible.<\/p>\n

Even after all the components are made, they still have to be filled and assembled!<\/p>\n

Half of each pair then gets flipped upside down to be filled\u2014which requires another round of piping. You need just the right amount of filling, the thickness of one shell. Too much and it will ooze out the sides.<\/p>\n

Finally, the macarons go into the refrigerator for 8 to 24 hours to mature and allow the filling to soften the shells.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d never suggest making macarons when you\u2019re feeling impatient,\u201d Josh says.<\/p>\n

\n

Our Recipes for French Cookies<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Hazelnut Madeleine Cookies<\/a><\/h2>\n

What types of French cookies are there? French macarons<\/a>, palmiers, lace cookies, waffles cookies, meringues\u2014you name it! But we have to give these soft, cakelike madeleines the prize. They have a delicate hazelnut flavor\u2014perfect for making great memories! \u2014Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

\"Palmiers<\/a><\/p>\n

Palmiers<\/a><\/h2>\n

It takes just two ingredients to make these impressive but easy-to-do French pastries, which are often called palm leaves. \u2014Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin\n<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

\"French<\/a><\/p>\n

French Macarons<\/a><\/h2>\n

Even decorated simply\u2014a sprinkle of sugar, a drizzle of icing\u2014these stylish beauties are part of our creative Christmas cookies<\/a> collection. They will be the showstoppers on any cookie tray. \u2014Josh Rink, Photo Stylist Taste of Home<\/i><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

Chocolate-Tipped Butter Cookies<\/a><\/h2>\n

These wonderfully moist morsels are too tempting to resist. They melt right in your mouth. Rather than sprinkling the chocolate tips with nuts, you can roll them in red and green jimmies or leave them plain. \u2014Charolette Westfall, Houston, Texas<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

\"Chocolate<\/a><\/p>\n

Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Meringue Roses<\/a><\/h2>\n

Eat these pretty treats as is or crush them into a bowl of strawberries and whipped cream. Readers of my blog, utry.it, went nuts when I posted that idea.\u2014Amy Tong, Anaheim, California<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

\"Exps21933<\/a><\/p>\n

Lemon Tea Cookies<\/a><\/h2>\n

These sandwich cookies taste rich and buttery and have a lovely lemon filling. The recipe has been in our family since the 1950s, when my mother got it from a French friend in her club. \u2014Phyllis Dietz, Westland, Michigan<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

Cinnamon Roll Macarons<\/a><\/h2>\n

These macarons are a fall and winter staple for me. Inspired by the classic cinnamon roll, they are a delicious treat for a cold or snowy day. These pair well with a mug of tea, and can be eaten as a dessert or just a snack. Other fillings would taste great with this\u2014including custard, mousse, ganache or other buttercream.
\n \u2014Elizabeth Ding, El Cerrito, California<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

\"Meringue<\/a><\/p>\n

Meringue Kisses<\/a><\/h2>\n

There’s a nice chocolaty surprise inside these sweet kisses. They’re my husband’s top choice each Christmas.\u2014Tami Henke, Lockport, Illinois<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

\"Exps95627<\/a><\/p>\n

Chocolate Lace Cookies<\/a><\/h2>\n

My mother and I make these elegant lace cookies filled with melted chocolate chips. Baking together is a delightful way to spend an afternoon. \u2014Stacey B., Stillwater, Oklahoma<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

French Christmas Cookies<\/a><\/h2>\n

These moist treats will have everyone reaching for more. Folks tell me they enjoy these French Christmas cookies. In fact, the batches I make ahead for my family and store in the freezer until Christmas<\/a> seem to mysteriously disappear each year\u2014even though the chocolate topping I put on before serving hasn’t been added yet! \u2014Judy Wilder, Mankato, Minnesota\n<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

\"Exps80535<\/a><\/p>\n

Waffle-Iron Cookies<\/a><\/h2>\n

The recipe for these cookies is the easiest to find in my book because the page is a beautiful mess covered with fingerprints, flour smudges and memories of more than 30 Christmases! I made these with my daughters, and now I make them with my granddaughters. \u2014Judy Taylor, Quarryville, Pennsylvania<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

Pistachio Palmiers<\/a><\/h2>\n

My family loves palmiers from the bakery, so I created my own recipe. These have a Middle Eastern twist with the addition of rosewater, honey and a touch of cardamom. They are light and crisp\u2014a special treat for the holidays. \u2014Deborah Hinojosa, Saratoga, California<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

Surprise Meringues<\/a><\/h2>\n

These crisp, delicate cookies are light as a feather. Mini chocolate chips and chopped nuts are a delightful and yummy surprise in every bite. Mom knows this fun dessert is a fitting finale to a big meal. \u2014Gloria Grant, Sterling, Illinois<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

\"Hazelnut<\/a><\/p>\n

Hazelnut Macarons<\/a><\/h2>\n

You don\u2019t have to be an expert in French cooking to whip up these sandwich cookies. The crisp, chewy macarons require attention to detail, but they\u2019re not hard to make\u2014and they\u2019re simply a delight, both for personal snacking and giving as gifts!
\n\u2014Taste of Home Test Kitchen<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

\n

\"Exps156396<\/a><\/p>\n

French Noisette Cups<\/a><\/h2>\n

The word \u201cnoisette\u201d is French for hazelnut, and these delightful tassie-style treats have a yummy toasted nut flavor in a golden and delicious pastry. \u2014Marie Rizzio, Interlochen, Michigan <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n Raleigh Schewe<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The short answer: Blame the high-end ingredients and necessary baking expertise. We asked Test Kitchen pro Josh Rink to explain. You can find macarons everywhere from an upscale bakery to the freezer aisle at Trader Joe\u2019s. There may be no other treat that comes in as many flavors, from vanilla and raspberry to orange blossom […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":607985,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[534,890,119157],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-607984","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-financial","8":"category-french","9":"category-macarons"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/607984","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=607984"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/607984\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/607985"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=607984"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=607984"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=607984"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}