Cheery Cherry Macaroons Food

CHERRY MACAROONS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and extract; mix well. , Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in the coconut and cherries (dough will be very stiff). , Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 in. apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire racks.

BLACK CHERRY MACARONS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 315 degrees F. To make the paste: In a large bowl, sift together almond flour and powdered sugar. (If using powdered food coloring, mix it now.) Add the egg whites and fold until mixture resembles a paste (If using colored food gel, mix it in now). To make the meringue: Place sugar in a small sauce pan and pour the water over it. Do not stir. The sugar will absorb the water. Turn heat to medium high, clip a thermometer to pan and cook without stirring. Using the handle of the pan swirl pot every once in a while. Bring mixture to 240 degrees F. While syrup is cooking, place egg whites and dehydrated egg whites into a stand mixer bowl fitted with a whisk attachment and beat on low until egg whites start to form bubbles. Increase speed to medium and beat until mixture resembles well lathered shampoo. Increase speed to high and beat until stiff peaks form. Remove syrup from heat once it comes to temperature. Turn mixer to low and slowly drizzle syrup down the side of the bowl. Be patient, and don't be tempted to pour the syrup in too quickly otherwise it will harden against the side of the bowl. Once all the syrup is poured in, increase speed to high and beat until meringue is stiff and glossy. Add half of the meringue to the paste and fold to combine. Add in remaining meringue and fold until batter resembles thick cake batter. Transfer batter to a pastry bag and pipe onto Silpat. Rap baking sheet on the counter top a few times to get rid of any excess air bubbles. Bake macaron cookies one tray at a time until macarons do not give when gently pressed and easily peel away from Silpat. Remove from oven and let macarons cool on baking sheet.

COCONUT CHERRY MACAROONS

Steps:

• Arrange the oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
• Whisk together the sugar, cherries, orange zest, vanilla, egg whites and salt. Add the coconut and toss until completely coated. Spoon heaping tablespoons of the batter onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1-inch between each. Moisten your fingertips with water and shape each macaroon into a tall and rounded mound or pointed pyramid.
• Bake until the macaroons are toasted and the edges are lightly browned, rotating the pans halfway through the baking time, 16 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool. Store macaroons in an airtight container for up to a week.

~ CHERRY-MACAROON COOKIES ~

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 375 degree F. Using my food processor, I chopped the cherries. ( drained well & set aside.
• 2. In a large bowl, combine the butter, sugar, salt, almond extract, lemon rind and egg, beat thoroughly.
• 3. Sift the dry ingredients together and blend into the butter mixture. Add the cherries and coconut, combine well.
• 4. On a greased baking sheet or a sheet covered with parchment paper. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes. Remove from pans to a cooking rack.
• 5. Enjoy!

CHOCOLATE CHERRY FRENCH MACARONS

Steps:

• Line 3 baking sheets with baking mats or parchment paper.
• Make the cookie base: Using a fine mesh strainer, sift together the powdered sugar and almond flour. (This may take some time - I use a spatula to try to work out any large clumps or pieces. If there are bits of the almond flour that won't go through the strainer, you can put the mixture in a food processor and pulse a few times. Make sure to just pulse so you don't turn it into butter.)
• Add the 65g of egg whites and stir until the mixture is moistened.
• Make the Italian meringue: Place the 185g of sugar in a small saucepan. Add about 2 tablespoons of water and stir with your finger until the sugar is moistened. Wet your finger and wipe down the sides of the pan to remove any sugar on the sides of the pan.
• Place the pan over medium heat and bring to a boil.
• Meanwhile, place the egg whites in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of sugar and the cream of tartar. Turn the mixer on to medium-low.
• Once the sugar has dissolved in the saucepan, take a pastry brush dipped in water and wash down the sides of the pan. Once the mixture is at a roiling boil, turn the mixer up to medium high.
• Cook the mixture until it reaches 244ºF on a thermometer.
• When the egg whites have volume but are still soft, turn the mixture to low and slowly drizzle the sugar mixture into the egg whites, between the side of the bowl and the outer reach of the whisk. Turn the speed up to medium and continue to whip until the outside of the bowl has cooled off and the whites are firm and glossy but not dry, about 5 minutes.
• Add a small amount of the meringue to the cookie base and stir it in with a spatula. This will lighten up the mixture. Add in a few drops of red food coloring. Add the remaining meringue in 3 batches, folding them gently into the mixture. When the meringue is completely incorporated, continue to fold the mixture over until the mixture forms a ribbon that settles slowly into the mixture. If the ribbon rests on top of the mixture, stir another 4 or 5 times and test again. You don't want to stir it too much to liquify the mixture, or the cookies will not hold their shape.
• Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
• Transfer the mixture to a piping bag fitted with a large round tip (I used Ateco #804). Pipe the mixture onto the prepared baking sheets in quarter sized rounds.
• Let the cookies stand at room temperature for 10-15 minutes. The cookies should be dry to the touch and will form a "shell" on the surface.
• Bake the pans for 8-10 minutes each, until they are risen and set, but not browned. Remove from the oven and let them cool on the pan.
• Beat the butter in a medium bowl until light and fluffy. Slowly add in the powdered sugar and the cocoa and continue to beat until smooth. Add in 1 tablespoon of milk and the cherry extract. Continue to beat until combined. Add an additional tablespoon of milk, if needed, to achieve a consistency that is easy for piping. Transfer the mixture to a piping bag fitted with a medium round tip.
• To assemble the macarons, turn half of the macaron shells upside down. Cut the maraschino cherries in half or into thirds, and place one piece in the middle of each of the cookies that are upside down. Pipe the buttercream around the cherry. Place another macaron shell on top, flat side down. Press down lightly.
• Store the cookies in a covered container in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before serving.

ALMOND MACAROON CHERRY PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400F.
• Roll out pie pastry and place in 9 inch pie pan.
• In large bowl, combine pie filling, cinnamon, salt and lemon juice.
• Mix lightly.
• Spoon into crust-lined pie pan.
• Bake 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine all topping ingredients in medium bowl and mix until blended.
• Remove pie from oven after 20 minutes, spread topping evenly over surface, and return pie to oven.
• Bake an additional 15 to 30 minutes, or until crust and topping are golden brown.

CHERRY MACARONS

Steps:

• Before the start, get all of your ingredients ready. Prepare a large piping bag, fitted with a large round tip.
• Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mat.
• Measure out all of the ingredients.
• Sift the powdered sugar, almond flour, and cocoa powder together. Set aside.
• Place the egg whites and granulated sugar in a heat proof bowl or in a double boiler. Over a pan of simmering water, whisk the whites and sugar until frothy and sugar completely melted. It will take a couple minutes.
• Make sure the bottom of the bowl isn't touching the simmering water.
• Transfer the mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer.
• With the whisk attachment, whisk the mixture on low, and gradually increase the speed over the next 2 minutes, until you achieve high speed. Then continue to whip for a few minutes until stiff peaks are formed.
• Best way to check this is to keep your eye on the whites. Once they get glossy and you start seeing streaks formed by the whisk, it might be time to stop.
• Whisk until stiff peaks have formed. When you pull your whip up, the peaks should be shooting straight up. The peak should be stiff, forming a slightly curved shape at the top, but not bending down to the side.
• Pour the powdered sugar, almond flour, and cocoa powder into stiff whites.
• Start folding gently forming a letter J with a spatula.
• Add food coloring at this point, if using any.
• It's time to stop folding when the batter is glossy and has a thick and flowing consistency. There are several ways to test this.
• First, pick up some batter with the spatula and try to form a figure 8 a few times. If you can draw a figure 8 with the batter falling off the spatula a few times, without the batter breaking up, that's one indication that it might be ready.
• Then, you can perform what I call the Teaspoon Test. Grab a teaspoon of batter and spoon onto the parchment paper or silicon mat, then tap the tray gently against the counter and wait one minute.
• If the batter stays stiff and doesn't spread out a bit, fold the batter a bit more, then test again.
• Once the teaspoonful of batter smooths out on top and starts to look glossy on the parchment paper/silicone, without forming a peak at the top it means it's ready.
• You don't want the batter to be too runny either. So be careful not to over mix. It's always best to under mix and test several times until the proper consistency has been achieved.
• Transfer the batter to the piping bag.
• Pipe 1 1/2" inch circles on the parchment or silicone. Hold the bag at a 90 degree angle right in the middle of a circle template. Apply gentle pressure for about 3 seconds, then pull the bag up.
• Once you've piped as many 1 1/2" circles as you could, bang the trays against the counter a few times each. Use a toothpick to poke any air bubbles on the surface of the macarons.
• Let the trays sit for a while so the shells will dry out a little bit. I usually leave about 20-40 minutes, depending on how humid the day is. You'll know they're ready when you gently touch the surface of a macaron and it seems dry.
• Pre-heat the oven to 325F.
• Bake one tray at a time.
• Bake for 5 minutes, rotate tray.
• I bake for a total of 15 to 20 minutes. Until you try to move a macaron and it doesn't feel jiggly.
• When baked, the macarons will have a deeper color and formed feet. And they will peel off the tray easily.
• Remove from the oven and bake the other tray.
• Let the macarons cool down before proceeding with the filling.
• Place the cream cheese and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer. Cream at medium high speed for 1 minute. With the mixer off, add powdered sugar. Mix on low until combined. Raise speed. Cream on medium for 1 minute. Add vanilla and cherry jam. Stir to combine.
• If buttercream is too liquid and runny, you might want to add some more sifted powdered sugar in.
• If the buttercream seems too stiff, add just a tad of milk or more jam (about 1 teaspoon at a time until you achieve desired consistency)
• Place cherries in a small food processor, puree until liquid. Pour in a small saucepan with sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir and let mixture simmer at medium heat for 10 minutes, or until thickened, and with a very deep color.
• Mix the cornstarch with the water until dissolved. Then add it to the pan.
• Let the mixture cook for a few minutes, while stirring non-stop in order to make it thicker.
• Remove from the heat, transfer to a bowl and let it cool down completely.
• Pipe a small amount of buttercream on a bottom shell. Top with another shell. I also sprinkled some chocolate sprinkles over the filling.
• Keep these macarons in the fridge for up to 7 days, and in the freezer for up to 1-2 months, very well packaged.

CHOCOLATE-CHERRY-COCONUT MACAROONS

Steps:

• Place chopped cherries in a strainer and press with the back of a spoon to extract as much juice as possible (if you are looking for something to do with the juice, it can be added to iced green tea to give it a delicious taste). Place cherries on a double thickness of paper towel; wring and squeeze paper towel to extract more juice. Spread cherries on another sheet of paper towel until ready to use.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees farenheit. Grease 3 to 4 large baking sheets. In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs and salt until light. Beating constantly at medium speed, add sugar 1/4 c at a time, beating well after each addition. Increase speed to high; continue beating until mixture is thick and pale and ribbons form in bowl when beaters are lifted, about 5 to 10 minutes. Fold in vanilla and flour, then coconut, chocolate chips and the chopped cherries. Drop dough by rounded tablespoons,1 1/2 inches apart, on prepared baking sheets. Press down slightly.
• Bake 15 to 19 minutes, or until golden brown on the tips. Cool on racks. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks or freeze for longer storage.

COCONUT CHERRY BERRY FOOL

Steps:

• Put the cherries in a saucepan with the pomegranate or cherry juice and bring to a simmer. Cook gently for 10 mins until the fruit is tender. Add the sugar, lemon juice and brandy (if using), then simmer again for 10 mins until the liquid becomes a little thicker and syrupy. Leave to cool - if you want to do this quickly, pour the mixture into a metal roasting tin.
• Put the yogurt, cream and icing sugar in a large bowl and whip until thick but not stiff.
• Put half the cherries and their syrup in a blender or processor and pulse until very smooth. Ripple this through the cream and yogurt. Crumble the macaroons and add one-third to 4 glasses or bowls. Spoon some of the fool on top, and add some of the remaining cherries. Repeat the layers, and finish with more crumbled macaroons. Serve with extra macaroons on the side, if you like.

COCONUT MACAROONS WITH A CHERRY TOP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°. Line baking trays with parchment paper.
• Place coconut in a large zip lock bag. Toss in 2 T. maraschino cherry juice and shake until coconut is pink. Set aside.
• Cut 18 maraschino cherries in half. Drain on paper towels. Set aside.
• Using a mixer, beat egg whites and salt at high speed until soft peaks form.
• Sprinkle sugar in, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating well after each addition until sugar is completely dissolved (allow 2 minutes after each addition of sugar). Whites should be in stiff glossy peaks when you're done.
• Beat in vanilla. With a rubber spatula, fold in coconut and flour.
• Drop coconut by rounded teaspoon about an inch apart onto the prepared baking sheets. They won't spread very much at all. Place a half cherry on top of each cookie.
• Bake at 300° for 20 minutes, or until lightly browned. Slide parchment paper and cookies directly onto a rack to cool.
• Store in tightly covered container for up to 3 days.
• Makes 36 cookies.

CANDIED CHERRY MACAROONS

Steps:

• Cover cookie sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil, shiny side up.
• In large mixing bowl, mix almond paste and white sugar until well blended. Mix in egg whites one at a time. Combine the flour, confectioners' sugar and salt; blend into the almond paste mixture. Stir in cherries.
• Force dough through a cookie press or drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheets. Cover and let stand for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• Bake for 25 minutes. Remove parchment or foil from cookie sheets and let cool. Peel off macaroons.

CHERRY-COCONUT MACAROONS (1 WW POINT)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F.
• Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper coated with cooking spray.
• (Note: if you do not have parchment paper, simply coat cookie sheets with cooking spray.) Combine egg whites and salt in a medium bowl; beat with an electric mixer at low speed until egg whites are foamy, about 1 minute.
• Gradually add sugar, increasing the mixer speed until egg whites form stiff, glossy peaks (about 5-7 minutes) Fold in remaining ingredients.
• Make 24 cookies by dropping batter by tablespoons onto prepared cookie sheets.
• Bake until light golden brown, about 15 minutes.
• 2 cookies per serving (1 WW point per serving).

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED CHERRY MACAROONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. Spread chopped cherries out on a paper-towel-lined plate. Set aside. In a large bowl, stir together coconut, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Then fold in the chopped cherries. This will turn the mixture a light pink color-just fold until the whole mixture is evenly colored. Sprinkle flour evenly over the mixture and then fold again to incorporate. With a stand mixer or hand mixer, with the whisk attachment, whip egg whites and salt on high speed until there are medium-firm peaks. Very gently fold egg whites into coconut mixture. Using a medium-sized cookie scoop (the one I used is 1-3/4 inches in diameter), pack the coconut mixture fairly tightly into the scoop, and drop the batter onto prepared baking pans. Place both pans in the oven and bake for about 30-33 minutes, or until golden brown and set, alternating pans halfway through the total baking time. Remove pans from oven and let macaroons cool on the pan for 5 minutes before removing them to a rack to cool completely. Line a pan with parchment paper and set aside. In a very small microwave-safe bowl, gently melt the chocolate in the microwave. Heat for 15-20 seconds at a time, stirring in between, taking extra care to make sure the chocolate doesn't scorch. Dip the bottom of each macaroon into the melted chocolate, so chocolate reaches about ¼ inch up the sides. Wiggle the macaroon so excess chocolate will fall back into the bowl. Very gently scrape the bottom of the macaroon across the lip of the bowl, from inside of bowl to outside, to let excess chocolate fall back into the bowl. Place chocolate dipped cherry macaroon on parchment paper lined pan. Repeat until all macaroons are dipped. Let macaroons sit at room temperature until chocolate is set, or place in refrigerator for 10 minutes to speed up the process. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days. These also freeze very well in an airtight container with parchment paper separating any layers of macaroons.

CHEERY CHERRY MACAROONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• In a mixing bowl, cream sugar and shortening together.
• Add eggs and almond extract and mix well.
• Combine flour, soda, powder and salt and gradually add to creamed mixture.
• Stir in coconut and cherries, this will take a bit because the dough is very stiff.
• Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto greased or non stick cookie sheets.
• Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until light golden brown.
• Cool on racks.

"O MY GANACHE" CHERRY MACAROON TORTE

Steps:

• Let cookie dough stand at room temperature 10 minutes to soften. Meanwhile, heat oven to 350 degrees F. In 1-quart saucepan, heat 1/2 cup of the whipping cream over low heat just until hot but not boiling; remove from heat. Stir in chocolate chips until smooth. Set aside.
• In 8-inch skillet, cook almonds over medium heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until golden brown. Remove from heat; cool 5 minutes. Coarsely chop almonds.
• In medium bowl, break up cookie dough. Mix in coconut with wooden spoon until well blended. Press dough evenly in bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup of the almonds; lightly press into dough. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, in blender or food processor, place preserves, cherries and orange juice. Cover; process with on-and-off pulses until blended. Set aside.
• Spread cherry mixture over crust to within 1/2 inch of edge. Stir chocolate mixture with wire whisk; pour over cherry mixture, spreading to cover cherry mixture. Sprinkle with remaining almonds. Freeze 30 minutes until chocolate is firm.
• Meanwhile, in small bowl, beat remaining 3/4 cup whipping cream with electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. Run sharp knife around edge of torte to loosen. Remove side of pan. To serve, cut into 12 wedges. Top each serving with dollop of whipped cream. Store covered in refrigerator.