Christmas Tree Cake Macarons (Print-Friendly Version)
Airy almond flour macarons packed with a creamy center made from crushed Christmas snack cakes. Great for holiday get-togethers or December events. Simple to dress up and dish out as a holiday sweet. Tap & save.
# Ingredients You’ll Need:
→ Macaron Shells
01 -
1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
02 -
1 cup finely ground, blanched almond meal
03 -
3 large egg whites, at room temperature
04 -
1/4 cup white sugar
05 -
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
06 -
Green gel food coloring, as needed
→ Cake Filling
07 -
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
08 -
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
09 -
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
10 -
2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
11 -
1/2 cup finely crumbled Little Debbie snack cakes (or similar holiday treats)
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Tiny pinch of salt
→ Decoration (optional)
13 -
White chocolate, melted, for drizzling on top
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Colorful sprinkles, for garnishing
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Gold star sprinkles, for finishing touches
# How to Make It:
01 -
Double-sift the confectioners' sugar with the almond meal to get rid of lumps and make sure everything mixes well.
02 -
Using a clean bowl, whip egg whites until they start foaming, then add the cream of tartar. Slowly pour in white sugar while beating until you get shiny, stiff peaks. Add green gel coloring until you reach the tree-like shade you want.
03 -
Add the almond mixture to the egg whites bit by bit, folding gently. Keep going until the batter drops from your spatula like thick honey and smooths out within 10-15 seconds.
04 -
Put the batter in a piping bag with a round tip. Pipe Christmas trees or circles onto baking sheets lined with parchment. Bang the trays on the counter a few times to pop any air bubbles. Let them sit out for 30-60 minutes until they feel dry to touch.
05 -
Heat your oven to 300°F. Bake each tray one at a time for about 14-16 minutes, turning halfway. They're done when you can lift them cleanly off the mat. Let them cool completely before you fill them.
06 -
Whip the room temperature butter until it's fluffy. Mix in the confectioners' sugar, vanilla, heavy cream, and salt until smooth. Carefully stir in the crumbled snack cakes. Scoop everything into a piping bag.
07 -
Match up shells that look about the same size. Squeeze some filling onto the flat side of one shell, then press another shell on top to make a sandwich cookie.
08 -
Dribble some melted white chocolate over your macarons, scatter sprinkles on top, and stick a gold star on each tree shape if you want.
# Extra Suggestions:
01 -
Don't rush the resting time for the shells - they need that dry skin on top or they'll crack while baking.