Pumpkin Season

After a hot summer, I always welcome the cooler, fresher air of Autumn.  These Roasted Pumpkin Macarons get me in the Thanksgiving mood.  After hand-piping thousands of macarons, I still love making this classic confection, but I must admit that I'm not the hugest fan of eating them.  I grew up on American style cookies, both homemade and of the boxed variety, so my palate craves a more intense crunch and chew than a tender, delicate macaron can offer.

That being said, I do love these macarons.  Filled with a fall-spiced pumpkin ganache with lightly bruleed cheeks, their cinnamon-y warmth makes them the perfect pairing for a hot apple cider.  When making your next batch of macarons, try kissing the surface with the flame of a blowtorch for an added roasty-smokey flavor that also cuts their inherent sweetness.  Just be sure to space them out on a non flammable surface beforehand, like a marble or stainless table.  As you can see from the photo below, I tried to get away with torching them on the paper lined sheet tray.  Needless to say, I learned my lesson.

Mother's Day Macarons

May means Mother's Day in the world of baking and gifting.  And Mother's Day gifting often means flowers.  And wouldn't it be fun to give mom flowers she can eat?

Macarons can take on any shape you like, but the problem is trying to match them.  We made a simple, five-petal daisy template on Word to help us keep every flower uniform.  Notice in the photo below that the piped "petals" have a tiny gap between them.  This allows them to spread slightly when rapping the tray and settling the batter.  They spread just enough to ever so slightly kiss each other at the sides.  When baked, it's nice to see a little definition between each petal (see photo above).

For each recipe, we tinted a fifth of the batter a bright yellow for the centers.  It's fun to know that simple little tricks can create something fun, clever and whimsical.

Sweet Hearts

"Cray cray adorbs!".  Those were the words uttered when one of my cooks spotted the multiple trays of these Valentine macarons.  I must say I have to agree!  We make A LOT of macarons at the bakery, so why not make heart-shaped ones too?  And while we're at it, why not stencil little love notes on them?  And while we're STILL at it, why not stack them on a bed of pink krinkeleen and put a bow on it?

We used a chablon to help us pipe the same chubby heart shape every time.  And just as every hipster has a tattoo "guy", we have a laser cutting "gurl" who helped us make itty bitty font stencils.  These "petits coeurs" also make great cake decorations, seen below on our "gateau for two".  Who's gonna be YOUR lucky Valentine??

Halloween Kitch

I can't say I'm much into Halloween anymore.  Probably because I've had to work on this "holiday" for at least the last 8 years of my life.  Although I do enjoy seeing everyone else having fun in their clever homemade costumes, and of course, all that mini candy.  

Now that October is upon us, we are getting the party started with these adorable Jack O'Lantern macarons.  About two and half times larger than our everyday varieties, these little guys get a spray-stenciled face and green taffy stems.  Each happy pumpkin is nestled in its own bed of raffia, and takes pride of place next to our entremets.  

Sitting happily together, it looks like a macaron pumpkin patch!