Dark Chocolate Macarons Food

CHOCOLATE MACARON RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 320ºF and line a 1/2 baking sheet with the macaron template and parchment paper
• Sift together the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, salt, and almond flour, twice if not blended.
• Pulse the mixture in a food processor 8-10 times to make the almond flour mixture even finer and texture and to blend the ingredients together.
• Whip the egg whites on low to frothy consistency and slowly add the sugar in thirds.
• Once the egg whites turn white and you can see some lines forming in the surface from the whisk, add cream of tartar, whipping on medium until soft glossy peaks form.
• Add the vanilla to the meringue during the soft peak stage. Then continue whipping on medium-high until you get stiff peaks that start gathering and bunching on the inside of the whisk.
• Add 1/3 of your almond mixture to the meringue. Fold your spatula under the batter and around the edges and then cut through the center until almond flour is mixed in. Continue with the rest of the almond flour and folding until homogenous. (see video)
• Gently press the spatula on top of the batter while you turn the bowl to take out some fo the air from the meringue. Continue folding around the outside edge until the batter forms a ribbon and moves like lava.
• Your meringue is ready when it forms a ribbon off the spatula and the batter that settles almost dissolves all the way back into the rest of the batter but still leave a bit of a line.
• Place parchment paper onto your sheet pan. Pipe small rounds about 1" in diameter. Use a template if needed
• Drop the pan onto the table 5-6 times from about 5" above the table to release bubbles. Use a toothpick to remove big pockets of air trapped under the surface. Use a very small amount of water on your fingertip to smooth any rough spots.
• Allow to dry, uncovered until a crust forms on the surface. About 30 minutes - 2 hours or until a dry film develops over the surface of the cookie. For humid areas put a space heater nearby to help dry the cookies faster.
• Bake at 320ºF for about 14-15 minutes or until lightly browned. If not quite brown baked, bake for an additional 1 minute. Cooled cookies should pull away from the parchment paper without sticking. If they do stick, they were not baked enough.
• Let cool fully before removing from the parchment and filling with ganache. Cookies can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Shells can be frozen for 6 months in an airtight container.
• Place all the ingredients into a heatproof bowl and microwave for one minute. Let sit for 5 minutes then whisk until smooth. Heat for another 15 seconds if not fully melted. Place into the fridge for 20 minutes then whisk until smooth. It should be the texture of peanut butter.

DARK CHOCOLATE MACARON CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a straight-sided baking sheet with parchment.
• In a food processor, combine the almond meal, powdered sugar, cocoa powder and salt. Process for 30 seconds to make a very fine mixture. Set aside.
• Using a hand-held mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the egg whites on medium speed until beginning to stiffen, about 1 1/2 minutes. Add the cream of tartar, and continue beating, slowly adding in the sugar. Beat on medium speed until glossy and stiff peaks form, an additional 1 1/2 minutes-be careful not overwhip. In 3 additions, fold the dry ingredients into the egg white mixture, just until combined and no streaks remain.
• Divide the batter evenly into 2 rounds on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until dry on top and slightly puffed, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely on the baking sheet.
• Meanwhile, heat the heavy cream, vanilla and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat until small bubbles form around the edges. Place the chopped chocolate in a medium bowl and pour the cream over the chocolate. Let sit for 3 minutes, then whisk until smooth. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the chocolate and refrigerate until firm but spreadable, about 1 hour.
• Spread the ganache on the flat side of each cake layer. Line raspberries in circles on top of the ganache. Top with the remaining cake. Wrap with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for about 2 hours. Slice and serve with a dollop of unsweetened whipped cream.

DARK CHOCOLATE MACARON CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a straight-sided baking sheet with parchment.
• In a food processor, combine the almond meal, powdered sugar, cocoa powder and salt. Process for 30 seconds to make a very fine mixture. Set aside.
• Using a hand-held mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the egg whites on medium speed until beginning to stiffen, about 1 1/2 minutes. Add the cream of tartar, and continue beating, slowly adding in the sugar. Beat on medium speed until glossy and stiff peaks form, an additional 1 1/2 minutes--be careful not overwhip. In 3 additions, fold the dry ingredients into the egg white mixture, just until combined and no streaks remain.
• Divide the batter evenly into 2 rounds on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until dry on top and slightly puffed, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely on the baking sheet.
• For the ganache: Meanwhile, heat the heavy cream, vanilla and salt in a small saucepan over medium heat until small bubbles form around the edges. Place the chopped chocolate in a medium bowl and pour the cream over the chocolate. Let sit for 3 minutes, then whisk until smooth. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the chocolate and refrigerate until firm but spreadable, about 1 hour.
• Spread the ganache on the flat side of each cake layer. Line raspberries in circles on top of the ganache. Top with the remaining cake. Wrap with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for about 2 hours. Slice and serve with a dollop of unsweetened whipped cream.

CHOCOLATE MACARONS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Place the almond paste and sugar in a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until the almond paste is softened and the sugar well incorporated, about 5 minutes. Add the cocoa powder and blend just until combined.
• Add the egg whites a little bit at a time, incorporating fully after each addition. Egg whites are difficult to pour in small amounts, so hold a rubber spatula against the rim of the bowl and use it to "cut" the egg whites as they are poured. If you add the egg whites all at once, the mixture will be lumpy because the difference in consistency between the egg whites and the almond paste mixture is too great. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. You may or may not need all of the egg whites depending on the moistness and age of your almond paste. Stop mixing when the mixture reaches a consistency soft enough to pipe (like toothpaste).
• Place the batter in a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain tip. Pipe 1-inch mounds onto a parchment paper-covered baking sheet. It will be easier if you hold the pastry bag at a slight angle and allow the tip to touch the parchment as you start to pipe. Once you have formed the mound, stop squeezing and lift the tip straight up, leaving a small tail on the top of each mound. Space the macarons about 1-inch apart to allow for spreading. Pipe carefully: Your macarons will look nicest when they are sandwiched together if they are all the same size.
• Immediately before placing them in the oven, liberally sprinkle granulated sugar over the macarons. This will give them a nice crust that will keep the inside moist and chewy. Bake until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. The top of each macaron should be very finely cracked, a characteristic for which they are known. If overbaked, the macarons will be dry and crunchy.
• Remove the baking sheet from the oven and immediately pour 1/4 cup of water onto the baking sheet under the parchment paper. Be careful: If you get any water on the macarons, they will be soggy. You will need to tilt the baking sheet to spread the water evenly. Let it sit for 2 minutes. The water will loosen the macarons from the paper. Remove the macarons from the paper 2 at a time and stick them together, matching the flat sides. Do not put them back on the hot, wet baking sheet or they will become soggy.
• The macarons can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or well wrapped in the freezer for up to 1 week. Unwrap them before bringing back to room temperature, or the condensation will make them soggy.

CHOCOLATE MACARONS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/ 160C fan/gas 4. Line a large baking sheet with baking paper. Sift the icing sugar and cocoa into a bowl, then stir in the ground almonds. Whisk the egg whites until stiff, then fold them into the dry ingredients.
• Fill an icing bag fitted with a plain nozzle with the mixture (or put in a large food bag and snip off the corner). Pipe 24 small blobs, about 3cm across, onto the baking sheet, leaving a little space between each. Smooth the surface with a wet finger, then leave for 15 mins to dry out. Bake for 15-20 mins until macaroons feel firm to the touch and peel easily off the paper. Cool on the paper, then peel off and store in a tin for up to 1 week.
• To make the filling, put chocolate into a heatproof bowl and gently melt over a pan of barely simmering water. Stir in the warm milk until smooth. Leave to cool and thicken a little, then use to sandwich the macarons together