Little Lemon Macaroons Food

LEMON-PISTACHIO MACAROONS

Steps:

• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Pulse the pistachios in a food processor until finely ground but not powdery. Whisk the egg whites with the sugar, lemon zest, vanilla and salt in a large bowl until frothy. Stir in the ground pistachios, then stir in the coconut until completely combined.
• Scoop heaping tablespoons of the coconut mixture onto the prepared pans. Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the macaroons are golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes on the pans, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.

LEMON-ROSEMARY MACAROONS

Steps:

• Pile the rosemary on a cutting board and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar; finely chop, then transfer to a medium bowl. Add the coconut, the remaining 1/3 cup sugar, the lemon zest, vanilla and salt. Use your fingers to rub and toss the mixture until thoroughly combined. Let sit at room temperature, 1 hour.
• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Whisk the egg whites in a medium bowl until frothy. Fold into the coconut mixture with a rubber spatula until combined.
• Drop tablespoonfuls of the mixture about 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. With damp fingers, form each mound into a cone shape. Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the edges are golden and the macaroons are dry, 16 to 20 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes on the baking sheets, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.

LEMON MACAROON CHICKS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Combine the coconut, lemon curd, egg whites and salt with a spatula in a medium bowl until a uniform consistency.
• Roll generous tablespoons of the mixture into egg shapes, setting them big-side down onto the prepared baking sheets. Repeat with the rest of the mix. Bake until the bottom and a few of the coconut frays turn deep golden brown, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cut the jelly beans in half lengthwise and set aside.
• Remove the macaroons from the oven and let them cool enough to handle, but are still warm, about 5 minutes.
• Take one of the jelly bean halves and pinch an end to make a pointed beak. Hold the point, shiny-side up, and push the rounded end into the side of a macaroon. Push 2 mini chocolate chips, peak-side in, into the macaroon on either side of the beak for eyes. Repeat with the rest of the macaroons and serve.

LEMON MACAROONS

Steps:

• These cookies are light and fun to make. They can be a great fall or winter addition to some chocolate treats.
• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. In a medium bowl, sift together the powdered sugar and almond flour.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the 5 egg whites for 1 minute to combine. Add the cream of tartar and continue beating the whites on high speed until soft peaks form, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the scraped vanilla bean seeds and continue beating until it is fully incorporated and the whites are glossy, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the bowl from the mixer and use a rubber spatula to gently fold in the lemon zest and the powdered sugar mixture.
• Coat 1 or 2 large baking sheets with a layer of parchment paper. Spray the paper with a thin layer of nonstick spray. Put heaping teaspoonfuls of the batter about 2-inches apart on the tray(s). Take care to leave the space between each mound because this batter spreads as it bakes.
• Put the tray in the center of the oven and bake for 8 minutes, then raise the temperature to 375 degrees F and bake until the cookies are golden brown around the edges and form a nice shell-like exterior, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool for a few minutes before gingerly removing them from the tray with an offset spatula. Take care! They can stick to the paper.

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.

ALMOND-LEMON MACAROONS (PASSOVER ALMENDRADOS)

Steps:

• Using a food processor equipped with a metal blade, grind 2 cups almonds very finely. Add 3/4 cup sugar, the egg and lemon zest, and pulse to make a cohesive dough. Transfer to a medium bowl, cover and refrigerate for at least 12 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick liner. Place remaining 1/4 cup sugar in a small bowl.
• Pinching off pieces of dough about the size of a walnut, roll them first into balls, then into sugar. Gently press an almond point first into top of each cookie, so that half the almond can be seen. Arrange cookies one inch apart on baking sheet.
• Bake until cookies have barest hint of color but still remain soft, 8 to 10 minutes. (Cookies must be soft when removed from oven to avoid excess hardening when they cool.) Cool completely, and store in an airtight container.

GLUTEN FREE LEMON MACAROONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
• Fold in sifted powdered sugar and juicce of the 2 lemons.
• Fold in ground almonds and hazelnuts.
• With two teaspoons place little heaps onto greased cookie sheet. I'd recommend using baking paper or silicon sheets.
• Bake for 30 to 40 minutes.
• While cookies are baking, you can prepare some lemon icing from lemon juice and powdered sugar. Ice cookies after removing from oven.
• Let cool completely and store in an airtight container in a cool place.

WHITE CHOCOLATE-LEMON MACAROONS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F.
• Combine coconut, white chocolate, sugar, flour and salt in large bowl. Add egg whites, lemon zest and almond extract; mix well.
• Drop by tablespoonfuls, 2 inches apart, onto lightly greased and floured baking sheets.
• Bake 20 min. or until edges of macaroons are golden brown. Immediately remove from baking sheets to wire racks. Cool completely. Drizzle with melted chocolate.