Cream Cheese Macaroon Food

STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE MACARONS RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, beat the egg whites until frothy. Keep beating and slowly add the sugar until stiff peaks form.
• Sift the powdered sugar and almond flour over the egg whites. Fold the dry mixture into the egg whites, giving the bowl a quarter turn every third fold. Once the batter reaches a lava-like consistency, transfer half to another bowl and add the food coloring. Mix until just combined. Do not overmix!
• Working quickly, put the white and pink batters into separate small zip-top bags. Cut a corner off of each bag and squeeze the 2 batters evenly into a larger gallon-size bag or piping bag to create a multicolor effect.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. (Tip: use a little batter to "glue" down the edges of the parchment paper so it stays put). In a circular motion, pipe 1½-inch (4-cm) dollops onto the baking sheet. Lift the baking sheet and gently tap on the counter to settle the batter. Let the cookies rest for 1 hour, until they are no longer wet to the touch and a skin forms on top.
• Preheat the oven to 285ºF (140ºC).
• Make the filling by mixing the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and milk in a medium bowl until smooth. Transfer to a piping bag and set aside until ready to fill the cookies.
• When the cookies are dry to the touch, bake for 13-15 minutes, until they have risen. Let them cool for 10 minutes. To fill, pipe a circle of the cream cheese mixture around the edge of 1 cookie and place a small dollop of jam in the center. Sandwich with another cookie. Macarons are best kept refrigerated until serving.
• Enjoy!

CINNAMON ROLL MACARONS

Steps:

• Place egg whites in a small bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Sift almond flour, 1-1/4 cups confectioners' sugar and cinnamon together twice., Preheat oven to 325°. Beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high until stiff peaks form. Fold in almond flour mixture., Cut a small hole in a corner of a food-safe plastic bag. Pipe 1-in.-diameter cookies 2 in. apart onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake until lightly browned and firm to the touch, 9-12 minutes. Keeping cookies on the parchment, transfer to wire racks; cool completely., For filling, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until creamy. Beat in vanilla. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until fluffy. Refrigerate until mixture firms to a spreading consistency, about 10 minutes., Spread about 1/4 teaspoon filling onto the bottom of each of half of the cookies; top with remaining cookies. Sprinkle with additional cinnamon. Store in airtight containers in the refrigerator.

FRENCH MACARONS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F using the convection setting. Line 3 baking sheets with silicone mats. Measure the confectioners' sugar and almond flour by spooning them into measuring cups and leveling with a knife. Transfer to a bowl; whisk to combine.
• Sift the sugar-almond flour mixture, a little at a time, through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl, pressing with a rubber spatula to pass through as much as possible. It will take a while, and up to 2 tablespoons of coarse almond flour may be left; just toss it.
• Beat the egg whites, cream of tartar and salt with a mixer on medium speed until frothy. Increase the speed to medium high; gradually add the superfine sugar and beat until stiff and shiny, about 5 more minutes.
• Transfer the beaten egg whites to the bowl with the almond flour mixture. Draw a rubber spatula halfway through the mixture and fold until incorporated, giving the bowl a quarter turn with each fold.
• Add the food coloring and extract (see below). Continue folding and turning, scraping down the bowl, until the batter is smooth and falls off the spatula in a thin flat ribbon, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Transfer the batter to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch round tip. Holding the bag vertically and close to the baking sheet, pipe 1 1/4-inch circles (24 per sheet). Firmly tap the baking sheets twice against the counter to release any air bubbles.
• Let the cookies sit at room temperature until the tops are no longer sticky to the touch, 15 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the humidity. Slip another baking sheet under the first batch (a double baking sheet protects the cookies from the heat).
• Bake the first batch until the cookies are shiny and rise 1/8 inch to form a "foot," about 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely. Repeat, using a double sheet for each batch. Peel the cookies off the mats and sandwich with a thin layer of filling (see below).
• Almond-Raspberry:
• Tint the batter with 2 drops neon pink gel food coloring; flavor with almond extract. Fill with seedless raspberry jam (you'll need about 3/4 cup).
• Mint-White Chocolate:
• Tint the batter with 2 drops mint green gel food coloring; flavor with mint extract. For the filling, microwave 3 ounces chopped white chocolate, 2 tablespoons heavy cream and 1 tablespoon butter in 30-second intervals, stirring, until smooth. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon mint extract and 1 drop mint green gel food coloring.
• Blueberry Cheesecake:
• Tint the batter with 3 drops royal blue gel food coloring; flavor with vanilla extract. For the filling, mix 4 ounces softened cream cheese and 3 tablespoons blueberry jam.
• Lavender-Honey:
• Tint the batter with 2 drops violet gel food coloring; flavor with almond or vanilla extract. For the filling, mix 3/4 cup mascarpone cheese, 2 tablespoons honey and 1 teaspoon ground dried lavender.
• Pineapple:
• Tint the batter with 2 drops lemon yellow gel food coloring; flavor with vanilla extract. For the filling, press 3/4 cup pineapple jam through a sieve, discarding any large pieces.

PASSOVER TWO-CHEESE MACAROON CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F if using a 9-inch silver springform pan (or to 300°F if using a 9-inch dark nonstick springform pan). Mix cookie crumbs and margarine; press firmly onto bottom of pan.
• Beat cream cheese, cottage cheese, sugar and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended. Pour over crust.
• Bake 55 min. to 1 hour or until center is almost set. Run small knife or metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim of pan. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Spread sour cream over top of cheesecake; top with strawberries just before serving. Store leftover cheesecake in refrigerator.

COCONUT MACAROONS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Line 1 large or 2 small cookie sheets with cooking parchment paper.
• In 1-quart saucepan, combine sugar, water and corn syrup. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Reduce heat; simmer 30 seconds to 1 minute, stirring constantly, until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat; stir in almond extract.
• In large bowl, combine sweetened coconut and 1 cup of the unsweetened coconut. Pour sugar mixture over coconut; beat with electric mixer on low speed until well mixed. Add cream cheese and egg whites; beat on low speed until blended.
• Place remaining 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut in shallow bowl. With moistened hands, firmly shape rounded tablespoonfuls of coconut mixture into balls; roll in unsweetened coconut to coat. Place 1 inch apart on cookie sheet.
• Bake 30 to 40 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely, at least 30 minutes. Store in tightly covered container at room temperature.

PHILADELPHIA MACAROON CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Combine cookie crumbs and butter; press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan.
• Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until blended. Add eggs,1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust.
• Bake 55 min. to 1 hour or until center is almost set. Run knife around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool completely before removing rim.
• Refrigerate 4 hours. Top with strawberries just before serving.

MOUNDS RICH, MOIST AND CHEWY MACAROON COOKIES

Steps:

• In large bowl, cream butter, cream cheese and sugar til well blended.
• Add egg yolk, o.j., and almond extract.
• In small bowl, whisk/mix flour, baking powder and salt.
• Gradually add to butter mixture, mixing well after each addition.
• Stir in well, 3 cups coconut.
• Cover and chill 1 hour or til firm enough to handle and roll into balls.
• Heat oven to 350.
• Shape dough into 1 inch balls, roll into last cup of coconut. You can lightly press it on a little.
• Place onto ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake 12-15 minutes (MINE TOOK 15! *the original recipe said 10-12 and that wasn't EVEN long enough, they sank after I took them out and had to re-bake them!)or until lightly browned. I suggest at LEAST 13 minutes, but again, mine took 15.
• Leave them on the cookie sheet 1 minute, then carefully and gently remove to wire racks to cool.
• *You can gently press a maraschino cherry half in the center of each cookie on top, if desired, before baking.
• Makes 3-3 1/2 dozen.