
Yet the pastry chef has the not-so-simple challenge of making them firm enough so that they don’t crumble en route from pastry kitchen to table (or home), yet delicate and moist enough so that with one bite, the teeth sink right through and they melt in the mouth. The parisian tea salon and patisserie Laduree, on the rue Royale in Paris (and other locations), now sells macarons in every flavor and color of the rainbow-and are a standard against which all other macaroons are judged.Īside from the colors and flavors, macaroons are simple affairs of almond flour, sugar and egg whites. In America, the most popular cookie bought at retail is the Oreo! But in France, where palates are more refined, it is the macaron, which can range from a simple affair to the double-decker cookie sandwich filled with ganache (today, jam or creme as well), that was the inspired invention of Pierre Desfontaines, the grandson of Louis Ernest Laduree. Of the May issue of THE NIBBLE online magazine. This is just one of our delicious Cinco de Mayo With more than 200 delectable recipes, more than 150 tantalizing photographs and tips covering every baking method, including foolproof techniques to ensure that your cookies look as good as the eat-me-off-the-page examples in the book. Great Cookies: Secrets to Sensational Sweets, by Carole Walter. Our recommendations are based purely on our opinion, after tasting thousands of products each year, that they represent the best in their respective categories. Or receive fees from manufacturers for recommending them. THE NIBBLE does not sell the foods we review

#Macgourmet alternative archive
See the Table of Contents of the May issue of THE NIBBLE, plus the back issues archive and our most popular articles.Read reviews of more of our favorite cookies.
#Macgourmet alternative full
Read the full review below, see more photos of these mad, fun macaroons and get a tray or two for your own festivities. And they’re easier: All you have to do is open the box and put them on a plate. Made from egg whites, sugar and almond flour, macaroons are often a better end to a fine dinner than heavier sweets. Thanks to online ordering, you, too, can enjoy tasty bites of Mad Mac, in colors that make a special dinner or a party even more festive.
#Macgourmet alternative mac
He began Mad Mac to supply restaurants, hotels and retail pastry stores nationwide.

One of New York City’s prominent patissiers, Florian Belanger, recognized the need for an alternative to droning, monotonous macaroons. We’ve nibbled on quite a few macs that have made us long for better flavor and texture. Yet, not everyone has the knack for making them this way. French macaroons evolved in a different direction, some into ethereal, filled, meringue-like cookie sandwiches-pretty, variously flavored and colored, a delicacy for a sophisticated table. Those coconut macaroons are only one variation on the theme, having evolved from the original Italian almond paste cookie, which was similar to today’s amaretti (read the history of the macaroon). Sometimes you can find them at retail but like Aesop’s fox and his grapes, the macaroons are often dull when they should be exciting.Ī hasty note: We are not speaking of the type of macaroon that is a hearty, chewy, mounded cookie made with coconut (see Erica’s Macaroons, another Top Pick Of The Week). Those fortunate enough to dine out often on haute cuisine may get a decent macaroon on a petit-fours plate.

WHY WE LOVE IT: It makes brightening up the end of a dinner or creating a special afternoon tea very, very easy.ĬAPSULE REPORT: While most Americans don’t have to go too far to buy a tarte aux pommes (French apple tart) or a mille-feuille (Napoleon), one of the toughest baked delicacies to track down is a macaron, a French macaroon. WHY IT’S DIFFERENT: The flavors ring loud and clear, and the bright colors are enchanting. WHAT IT IS: Gourmet French macaroons in Apricot, Chocolate, Cinnamon, Coffee, Gianduja (chocolate and hazelnut), Lemon, Matcha (green tea), Peanut Butter, Pistachio, Raspberry, Vanilla and White Chocolate. Time for dessert.or afternoon tea.or a luxurious little snack.
