les cupcakes francais: epic fail.

So, last post I did not show you pictures of my macarons. That is because they were what one might call an epic fail. I would just like to clarify a few things about macarons and my skills.

I am in love with macarons, but I am not the best at making them. They are considered one of the most difficult pastries in the world. If you would like to attempt making them, I would wholeheartedly encourage you to find a recipe. I would also send you the All About Chocolate recipe - just ask.

Some perfect macarons look like...

As you can see, they come in vibrant colors, which means there are infinite flavor combinations to choose from. Some of these have things sprinkled on the top like nuts, cocoa, or chocolate shavings. I have not experimented with colors or flavors besides chocolate, so more on that later. These are also smooth(ish) on the tops. If you let them set for a while before baking, or bang the tray carefully on a table, they should even out for a nice texture and look. The bubbly looking bit at the bottom of each half is called a foot. If your macs develop feet in the oven, they will most likely have a light and airy center. Here is a good diagram to explain.

Pierre Hermé: the god of macarons and french pastry. Everything he makes, no matter how crazy, turns out pretty fantastic (or so I hear). On my next trip to Paris, for sure going to one of his shops. The thing about macarons, however, is that they are expensive. At the famous Ladurée tea room, I got 4 delicious mini macarons for FOUR EUROS. That's like 6 dollars. A little ridiculous. So that is why I have set out to make yummy, high quality macarons in my house, not in France. I am trying to buy some french macaron books, but shipping is a bit insane and the amazon site is in French. I actually feel really smart when I read it. For some reason, Hermé's book is like.. really expensive. I did find a pack of 3 books that are less than 20 euros combined.

I don't know about you, but I think macarons are adorable (even though everyone thinks they are hamburgers), so I am going to show you some gorgeous photos of different kinds of macarons. Enjoy!