Shamrock Macarons

Impossibly cute, amazingly tasty…this sweet shamrock macarons are filled with Bailey’s buttercream. Learn how to make and decorate these easy French macarons perfect for your St. Patrick’s Day party!

Okay, I know! I’m posting a seemingly involved recipe for St. Patrick’s Day ON St. Patrick’s Day. I know, I know…this isn’t the day you’re tying on the apron in the kitchen. No sir, instead you’re tying one on in the pub. As. You. Should. Be.

But, in fairness, I did provide this St. Patrick’s Day post for you and in between, well, we did have Pi Day!

So, my apologies for the late notice, but maybe we should be thinking St. Patrick’s Weekend instead of Day. You with me? Why not? My kids are always down for “birthday week”, Christmas lasts seemingly a month, and well…Hanukkah. So why shouldn’t we have St. Patrick’s Week?

If you haven’t guessed by now, I’m all about the party. And I see no reason not to extend the fun, especially if we’re talking cookies, fun drinks and hearty meals.

St. Patrick’s Day has been a mixed bag for me in the past. I love celebrating with friends, but I don’t want to get caught up in annoying shenanigans (Irish for annoying). I also don’t subscribe to anything costume-y (including mandatory green).  But…I have this crew of Irish friends that I love more than life itself and nothing makes me happier than getting together with them and celebrating.

See, the thing I’ve realized as I get older…sometimes there needs to a celebration , a reason, to get together with friends. We’re all running in opposite directions, but if we all make the effort for a day, a common day, to meet up, it can tide us over for months. And yeah, if it’s a celebration about food, drink and fun, even better.

So, short and sweet (literally) today because I’m heading out to get up to all sorts of nonsense with some folks I adore. I hope you’re able to do the same. If you can’t steal away today, maybe a little macaron-making this weekend? After all, it’s a holi-weekend, right? Cheers!

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Shamrock Macarons

Prep Time

30 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

Total Time

50 mins

 

Impossibly cute, amazingly tasty…this sweet shamrock macarons are filled with Bailey’s buttercream. Learn how to make and decorate these easy French macarons perfect for your St. Patrick's Day party!

Course: Cookies

Cuisine: French

Keyword: shamrock, macarons

Servings: 12 Servings

Calories: 483 kcal

Author: Cathy Roma | What Should I Make For...

Ingredients

Macaron Cookies

• 1¾ cups confectioners sugar
• 1⅓ cups almond flour (I like Bob's Red Mill or homemade ground almonds)
• ¼ tsp salt
• 4 egg whites
• ¼ cup superfine sugar
• *green gel food coloring if desired

Bailey's Swiss Meringue Buttercream

• 5 egg whites
• 1 cup sugar
• 14 oz unsalted butter, softened
• 1/4 cup Irish Cream (I like Bailey's)

Instructions

Macaron Cookies

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment and trace 1½ inch circles onto the parchment as a guide for piping. Flip the parchment over before piping.

2. Combine almond flour, confectioners sugar, and salt in a food processor fitted with a steel blade and blend until completely combined, 1-2 mins.

3. Beat egg whites on high speed until soft peaks form.
4. Add superfine sugar and beat on high speed until meringue is glossy and (very!) stiff peaks form.
5. Fold almond flour mixture into meringue - I find about 50 strokes to be the magic number. The batter should be the consistency of lava.
6. As you are folding, you can add a drop of food coloring if desired, for green shells.
7. Fill the piping bag with the batter and pipe rounds within the lines that you traced. The batter will spread a bit, so don't overfill.
8. Tap the baking sheet once of twice on the counter to release any air bubbles and with a slightly moistened finger, gently pat down any points on the surface of the shells.
9. Bake one tray at a time for 10-12 mins until shells are set but not browned.
10. Let cool for a few minutes on baking sheet, before carefully removing to a wire rack to cool.

Bailey's Swiss Meringue Buttercream

1. Combine sugar and eggs whites in the bowl of your electric mixer or a large metal bowl.

2. Place over a pan of simmering water and cook, whisking frequently, until sugar is completely dissolved and isn't grainy when you rub it between two fingers.

3. Remove from the heat and using your electric mixer, beat on high with the whisk attachment until the meringue is thick and glossy and the bottom of the bowl no longer feels warm, about 7-8 minutes.

4. Add the butter, piece by piece, and mix until incorporated.

5. Switch to the paddle attachment and add the Bailey's. Continue beating until light, smooth and completely homogenized. Add green food coloring if desired.

Make the Sandwich Cookies

1. Using a pastry bag, pipe 1½ - 2 tsps of filling on to half of the shells. Place an empty shell on top of the filling and press lightly so filling spreads to the edge, taking care not to crack the shell. You may have leftover icing.

2. *Optional* Sprinkle metallic disco dust over a shamrock cutout. Shake off the excess.
3. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Recipe Notes

Yield: 24 macarons

Serving Size: 2 macarons

Special Equipment: Piping bag fitted with a #806 Ateco round tip or equivalent

Nutrition Facts

Shamrock Macarons

Amount Per Serving

Calories 483 Calories from Fat 297

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 33g 51%

Saturated Fat 17g 85%

Cholesterol 71mg 24%

Sodium 89mg 4%

Potassium 44mg 1%

Total Carbohydrates 42g 14%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Sugars 39g

Protein 5g 10%

Vitamin A 16.5%

Calcium 3.5%

Iron 2.6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.