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Horchata Macarons with Churro Crumble

Equipment

  • baker's half sheet pans: high quality baking sheets with rimmed edges
  • KitchenAid stand mixer
  • parchment paper or silpat baking mats (with macaron template)
  • oven thermometer
  • piping bag
  • Wilton Piping Tip #12
  • food scale that will measure in grams or ounces
  • scribe (a sharp, pointed tool), or a toothpick
  • digital minute timer

Ingredients
  

Ingredients for Sweet Mac Shop Macaron Shells

  • 160 grams egg whites room temperature
  • 88 grams granulated sugar
  • 256 grams powdered sugar
  • 205 grams almond flour
  • 1 tsp. clear vanilla extract
  • 4 grams cinnamon

Ingredients for American Buttercream

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter Let sit on counter for 30 minutes.
  • 250 grams powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 1/2 Tbsp. heavy whipping cream
  • 1/4 teaspoon Super-Strength Horchata Flavor from LorAnn Oils

Ingredients for Churro Crumble

  • 180 grams granulated sugar 1/2 cup
  • 25 grams brown sugar 1-1/2 Tbsp.
  • 90 grams cake flour 3/4 cup
  • 2 grams baking powder 1/2 tsp.
  • 2 grams salt 1/2 tsp.
  • 20 grams sprinkles 2 Tbsp. | any color, we used white
  • 40 grams grapeseed oil ¼ cup | Don’t have grapeseed? Try vegetable
  • 12 grams clear vanilla extract 1 Tbsp.
  • 2 Tbsp. cinnamon sugar recipe below

Instructions
 

Instructions for SweetMacShop Macaron Shells

  • Preheat oven to 285 for steel pans, or 300 for aluminum pans. Preheat for at least 10 minutes.
  • Measure out your granulated sugar in a small bowl; set aside.
  • Measure powdered sugar and almond flour together, then use a sifter to combine. This will make them smooth and lump-free. Stir in the cinnamon. Set aside.
  • Place your bowl on the surface of your food scale. Hit "tare" button to zero out the weight of the bowl. Now measure the room temperature egg whites into the bowl of your KitchenAid stand mixer.
  • Add the clear vanilla extract.
  • Place bowl on mixer stand (this recipe is for the KitchenAid mixer), and attach the wire whisk beater. Set timer for one minute. Turn mixer to Speed 4, and slowly add sugar to egg whites, shaking it in a little at a time during that first minute.
  • When timer goes off, set mixer to Speed 6, and set timer for 2 minutes.
  • When timer goes off, set mixer to Speed 8, and set timer for 1 and 1/2 minutes (90 seconds). Coloring may be added just before this last mixing. Egg whites should look silky, yet stiff enough to hold the peak.
  • Now we'll make the macaronage: blend in dry ingredients, by moving a flexible spatula around the bowl, then cutting down through the middle, making sure to scrape the bottom for the flour and incorporate it into the meringue. You know you are done when the batter rolls off the spatula in a continuous ribbon. Batter will be thick...but can flow like a ribbon
  • BAKER'S NOTE: I have several videos of making macaronage in my Instagram Highlights
  • Insert Wilton #12 tip into the small opening of your piping bag. Scoop the macaronage into the bag, filling only half-way full, leaving room to twist the top closed in order to keep the batter from spilling out the top. Pipe the macrons by applying pressure until the batter flows out and just reaches the inner rim of the marked circle on your mat. Immediately release pressure and swirl tip to incorporate point back into the center of the cookie. See my tips on Instagram Highlights
  • NOTE: if you will be using parchment paper -- search for online -- then download a template of circles and place underneath your parchment paper. You'll remove this before baking
  • Once the full pan is piped, gently (or aggressively--no judgement here) bang the pan down onto the counter to release air bubbles. I usually place a towel on the counter before banging the pan. Use your scribe or toothpick to pop any large bubbles, in order to create smooth shells
  • PREP FOR BAKING, METHOD ONE: Place your parchment paper or Silpat mat on the bottom of an upside-down baker's half sheet. Pipe your circles. Let rest about 5 minutes, bang (see above) then place them to bake in a pre-heated oven.
  • PREP FOR BAKING, METHOD TWO: Place your parchment paper or Silpat mat on the inside of a baker's half sheet (like normal). Pipe your circles. Let rest until your finger can glide across the top of the mac without stickiness, often up to 30 minutes. Bang (see above), then place them to bake in a pre-heated oven.
  • Bake for 20 minutes.
  • Once out of the oven, DO NOT -- I repeat -- do not remove from pan until they are completely cooled.
  • This recipe yields 36-42 completed cookies (about 72-84 shells).

Instructions for Churro Crumble

  • NOTE: We put our bowl right on the scale, and re-set, or tare out, the setting every time we add a new ingredient.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • In stand mixer with paddle beater attachment mix dry ingredients to combine.
  • With mixer on low speed, slowly add oil and vanilla. Mix just until crumble starts to form small clusters.
  • Spread out onto Silpat/parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes.
  • Crumble will be soft coming out of the oven. As soon as it comes out, sprinkle with 2-4 tbsp cinnamon sugar (recipe below), making sure to coat all crumble pieces with the cinnamon sugar.
  • Once cooled, crumble will get crunchy. Store in airtight container in fridge for up to 3 weeks, or freezer for up to 2 months.
  • This crumble makes enough to make 4-5 dozen macarons.

Cinnamon Sugar Mix

  • Mix ¼ cup sugar with 1 Tbs. cinnamon, and mix until cinnamon is well-distributed throughout sugar. Place into shaker, or sprinkle with teaspoon.
  • Instructions for American Buttercream
  • Place butter in bowl of mixer, and attach paddle flat beater. Mix on medium speed until butter breaks up and is starting to look smooth.
  • Add vanilla and salt; mix for 30 seconds until combined.
  • Add in heavy whipping cream.
  • Measure powdered sugar on scale. Slowly add to the mixer, 1 cup at a time. PRO TIP: Start the mixer speed back up slowly after adding the cup of powdered sugar, otherwise, pull out the mop.
  • Once ingredients are all mixed, turn the mixer to medium high and set timer for five minutes.
  • At this point, color the buttercream to your preference. Add in 1/2 to 1 teaspoon flavored extract, to your taste.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!