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Chocolate macarons are perhaps my favorite of all my macaron recipes (yes, I have quite a few!). They are rich in flavor and adorable in their appearance! 

Finished macarons with chocolate filling

Chocolate macarons are quite popular in high-end bakeries. But, where did they come from? There is much debate about whether macarons originated in France or Italy. I’ll tell you, there is no definitive answer here. But, for this recipe, we will be using the French macaron technique. 

Want to learn all the tips and tricks (and a little bit of history) on the macaron? Read my guide for The Perfect French Macarons to go more in depth on this delicious little cookie. 

Ingredients for the chocolate macarons

How to Make Macarons

In the recipe I will explain how to make macarons in depth. But here is a brief overview of the process so you can see that this impressive cookie is actually not that hard to make: 

  1. First, you will beat your eggs with sugar in an electric mixer until you see soft peaks form. 
  2. Next, you will sift your cocoa powder and almond flour with a sieve to remove any lumps. This is a crucial step in making your macarons smooth and uniform. 
  3. Then, you will lightly fold the sifted dry ingredients into your meringue. Be careful not to over mix! This will result in flat discs, versus light and fluffy wafers. 
  4. Transfer the macaron batter to a pastry bag (also called a piping bag). 
  5. Pipe small, circular discs onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Allow the wafers to “dry out” at room temperature for around 20 minutes before baking. 
  6. Preheat your oven. Bake for at least 13 minutes. Depending on the oven, I have had to go up to 20 minutes. 
  7. Make your ganache filling. Allow it to cool. Then assemble your macarons! 

Note: Macarons are best when they have been refrigerated for at least 24 hours (or up to two days) before serving. They are never eaten straight out of the oven. This process is called “maturing”, but what it means in plain terms is allowing your cookies to develop the best flavors possible! 

Use Almond Flour for Macarons

Almond flour is what gives macarons their signature texture and flavor. For most recipes, you will be asked to use blanched almond flour, which means the skins of the nuts were removed before they were milled (or ground into a fine flour). This type of almond flour will result in the silkiest and most uniform of macarons. If you used unblanched almond flour (which is totally fine), you will get a more coarse texture and a cute, speckled appearance. 

You may have an allergy to almond flour or are simply wondering if there is any other type of flour you can substitute. I know some people have used pumpkin seed flour, but to be honest, I don’t have any experience or tips here. 

Why are my Macarons Cracking?

There are a couple of reasons why your macarons are cracking. The main one is most likely that you didn’t let them dry out at room temperature long enough before baking them. I recommend a minimum of 20 minutes. You will notice that this allows them to form an outer shell, which will protect them from cracking in the oven. 

Tip: After piping your macarons, tap the outer edge of your baking sheet lightly a couple of times. This will release any air bubbles that may be lurking within your macaron batter. During the baking process, these pesky bubbles will expand and crack through the top of your cookie. 

Finished macarons with chocolate filling

Chocolate Ganache Filling

I absolutely love this ganache. Why? Because it is DELICIOUS and it only requires two ingredients to make. This is a relief after making the delicate (and at times fickle) sandwich wafers. 

To make the ganache, melt butter and chocolate chips together in a small saucepan over medium-heat. Continue to stir the ingredients together with a rubber spatula until fully incorporated. After you allow your filling to cool to room temperature, carefully spoon the ganache onto the flat side of one wafer and then place another on top. And, ta-da, you have a macaron! 

Macarons Recipes 

  • Cranberry White Chocolate Macarons: These pretty macarons are perfect for the holiday season! 
  • Coffee Macarons: If you are a coffee lover, these macarons are for you. The wafer is made with coffee grounds and the filling is chocolate. Can you say mocha macaron?!
  • Dulce de Leche Macarons: I love dulce de leche and will find any reason to use it. It adds such a nice caramel-y flavor to these macarons! 

Recipe

Finished macarons with chocolate filling

Chocolate Macarons

Print Pin
Servings
15 Units
Prep Time 30 mins
Cook Time 13 mins
Total Time 43 mins
Chocolate macarons are perhaps my favorite of all my macaron recipes (yes, I have quite a few!). They are rich in flavor and adorable in their appearance!

Ingredients

Macarons

Macaron Chocolate Cream

US Units – Metric

Instructions

Macarons

  • In a bowl of a standing electric mixer, beat the egg whites with granulated sugar until they begin to rise and hold their shape.
    whipped egg whites in a bowl
  • Shift powdered sugar, cocoa and almond flour to get rid of any lumps.
    flour and cacao powder
  • Stir in dry ingredients into egg whites. Be sure not to over mix the ingredients.
    cacao with egg whites in a mixing bowl
  • Place plastic bag or pastry bag into a cup to hold it straight. I would suggest a pastry bag, hence once you cut off the edge of a plastic bag it may not be a round shape. In this case, I wasn’t going to make a trip to the store, so I did use a ziplock bag. Pour the entire mixture into the bag. 
    macarons batter in a ziplock bag
  • Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Pipe circles into the baking sheet, making them thick. Tap baking sheet at least 3 times on each side, this will get rid of any air bubbles and will prevent from cracks. Let macarons sit in room temperature for about 20 minutes, they will create a bit of a shell, also helps from cracks on top.
    macarons on a baking sheet
  • Bake macarons at 350 °F for 13-15 minutes, depending on your oven. I would suggest checking them after 13 minutes or so.
    baked macarons

Macaron Chocolate Cream

  • Place butter together with chocolate chips in a glass bowl.
    chocolate chips and butter
  • Microwave chocolate with butter in 30-second increments. Stir to combine it together every 30 seconds to ensure that the mixture is perfectly creamy. Let the mixture cool down to room temperature.
    chocolate and butter in a bowl

Finalizing

  • Place spoonful of the cream on a flat side of the macaron and cover it with another macaron.
    macarons with chocolate filling
Nutrition Facts
Chocolate Macarons
Amount Per Serving
Calories 136 Calories from Fat 63
% Daily Value*
Fat 7g11%
Saturated Fat 3g15%
Cholesterol 6mg2%
Sodium 28mg1%
Potassium 65mg2%
Carbohydrates 17g6%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 15g17%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 74IU1%
Calcium 14mg1%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Posted February 6, 2020

About Author

Natalya Drozhzhin

Natalya founded Momsdish to demonstrate that placing a homemade meal on the table is not hard at all. Natalya makes cooking easier and approachable, by simplifying the ingredients, while still producing the same great taste.