Thursday, March 4, 2010

I saw. I tried. I DID NOT conquer.

Posted by CB / 7 comments » / cookies

I see them everywhere.

On all my favorite blogs.

The one word almond meringue cookie sandwich that gives me goose bumps just thinking about.

Not macarOOn. M-A-C-A-R-O-N.

I’ve made them before with great results. I’ve even had my macaron recipe featured on (this) food website. I was pretty damn impressed with myself. But I let it all go to my head. I got cocky. So when the last Tuesdays With Dorie baking endeavor, the Toasted Coconut Tart, left me with 7 egg whites, I decided to challenge myself with making these finicky french confections again. I even laid down the gauntlet to all my TWD bakers. Some said they already made an omelet *cough MIKE cough* while others said they’d give it a shot with me. Check out how Miss Kate did (here) and Erin did (here). If any other TWD bakers made some macarons with me, please let me know!

But I should have known. Baking lesson #348960284: Nothing good can come of being cocky.

What did I do wrong?


I drew out my template.


I ground the almond meal, powdered sugar and dutch process cocoa in my food processor to a fine powder.


Then I sifted the almond meal, powdered sugar and dutch process cocoa. Twice!


I used 48 hour aged egg whites…


… and whipped those babies like I’ve never whipped before.


I slowly folded the cocoa mixture into the meringue.


Until it was the consistency of liquid magma.


I piped the macaron batter onto my pre-prepared parchment paper and let it develop a skin for about 30 minutes and then baked for about 15 minutes. But 2 batches later. AARRGGHHHH! Cracks and no feet.


Now it’s just a platter of chocolate meringue cookies on my dining table that no one wants to eat. Not even the dog. She sniffed them and walked away. I think I’ve hit a new low when the dog turns her nose up at them. I mean she eats out of the trash. I told you. New low.

I didn’t even bother to fill them.

Nothing could save those cookies from my contempt.

You may have won this battle, Mr. Macaron. But I’ll win the war. Mark my words. MARK IT!!

Score: Macaron-2 CB-1

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7 comments

7 Responses to “I saw. I tried. I DID NOT conquer.”

  1. 1

    doreen — March 4, 2010 @ 1:15 pm

    i won’t try these babies until i buy a scale.

    Don’t let them get the best of you!!!

  2. 2

    miss kate — March 4, 2010 @ 4:31 pm

    ARRRGH! Those look like my first attempt (and probably my next). So frustrating! Your earlier ones look FAN-FLIPPING-TASTIC. Thanks for throwing down the gauntlet! I’ll be happy to try again anytime.

  3. 3

    Cathy — March 4, 2010 @ 7:52 pm

    Wait, I think if I look closely I see little feet. Don’t I? No? Well, no matter – I’ve got all my money on you in the epic CB v. Macaron war.

  4. 4

    Elizabeth - Cake or Death — March 4, 2010 @ 10:35 pm

    Oh, tragic! Macaron drama is the WORST. Having made many a failed batch, I have to say that sometimes there doesn’t seem to be a rhyme or reason. Maybe it’s humidity in the air, maybe it’s a voodoo doll someone made, who knows? Sometimes they just don’t work and it’s so frustrating. I will say that recipes made with the Italian meringue style seem to be more consistent for me, but there’s always that little element of danger.

    P.S. Loved the mad libs comment you left! You rock.

  5. 5

    Suzy — March 5, 2010 @ 6:56 am

    macarons scare me. You are a much braver person than I am to have tried to make them!
    However my dogs aren’t quite as picky. I had a cupcake fail the other day and they happily ate the disaster-paper liners and all.

  6. 6

    Erin — March 5, 2010 @ 6:52 pm

    I threw down the macaron gauntlet with you. I am in the process of posting right now. I am really sorry to hear about your macarons. They are sneaky little bastards :)

  7. 7

    Chocolate and Vanilla Macaron Success! | Crazy Delicious Food — March 14, 2010 @ 8:58 am

    [...] CB’s attempt last week and doing some “research” to help her figure out why she had problems [...]

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