Holiday Macaroons Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Combine the coconut, condensed milk, and vanilla in a large bowl. Whip the egg whites and salt on high speed in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until they make medium-firm peaks. Carefully fold the egg whites into the coconut mixture. Drop the batter onto sheet pans lined with parchment paper using either a 1 3/4-inch diameter ice cream scoop, or 2 teaspoons. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown. Cool and serve.

Steps:

• Pulse confectioners' sugar and almond flour in a food processor until combined. Sift mixture 2 times.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Whisk whites with a mixer on medium speed until foamy. Add cream of tartar, and whisk until soft peaks form. Reduce speed to low, then add superfine sugar. Increase speed to high, and whisk until stiff peaks form, about 8 minutes. Sift flour mixture over whites, and fold until mixture is smooth and shiny.
• Transfer batter to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain round tip, and pipe 3/4-inch rounds 1 inch apart on parchment-lined baking sheets, dragging pastry tip to the side of rounds rather than forming peaks. Tap bottom of each sheet on work surface to release trapped air. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees. Bake 1 sheet at a time, rotating halfway through, until macarons are crisp and firm, about 10 minutes. After each batch, increase oven temperature to 375 degrees, heat for 5 minutes, then reduce to 325 degrees.
• Let macarons cool on sheets for 2 to 3 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack. (If macarons stick, spray water underneath parchment on hot sheet. The steam will help release macarons.)
• Sandwich 2 same-size macarons with 1 teaspoon filling. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Make the macaron batter: In a large bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar and almond meal. Set aside.
• In a separate large bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric hand mixer until the egg whites stay stuck to the sides of the bowl when tilted.
• Add the granulated sugar and beat until soft peaks form.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the whipped egg whites and fold with a rubber spatula until just combined.
• Transfer half of the batter to another bowl.
• Make the gingerbread flavor: To one bowl, add the cloves, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice, and gently fold to combine.
• Make the red velvet flavor: To the other bowl, add the cocoa powder and red food coloring, and gently fold to combine.
• Transfer the batters to 2 separate piping bags or zip-top bags.
• Pipe a bit of batter in each of the 4 corners of the baking sheet, then lay a piece of parchment paper on top and press against the batter dots to seal. Pipe the batter onto the baking sheet in ¾-inch (2 cm) circles, spacing about ½ inches (1 ¼ cm) apart. Gently tap the baking sheet against the counter to release any air bubbles.
• Let the macarons rest at room temperature for 1 hour, until a skin forms on the surface.
• Preheat the oven to 300˚F (150˚C).
• Bake the macarons for 20 minutes.
• Make the filling: In a large bowl, cream together the butter and shortening until smooth.
• Add the salt, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and eggnog, and beat to incorporate. Add the powdered sugar, a bit at a time, and beat until well combined and the filling is smooth.
• Transfer the eggnog filling to a piping bag or zip-top bag.
• Pipe the filling onto a macaron, then sandwich with another macaron. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
• Let the macarons rest in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours, or overnight.
• To assemble the tower, insert a toothpick into the styrofoam cone, leaving ½-inch (1 ¼ cm) exposed. Gently press a macaron onto the toothpick. Repeat around the rest of the cone with the remaining macarons.
• Enjoy!