When you want a pick-me-up, there’s nothing like having a bit of cookie dough…and these Cookie Dough Macarons are like the week-long version of that perfect feeling of happy.
I’ll be downright honest with you, the winter has me feeling quite down.
It’s been raining, dark, cold, and just un-fun.
I thought for five minutes that it was going to be sunshiny and warm, but then winter came back in behind the door, it just slammed, and said “and another thing!”
Winter just won’t go.
So, to perk me up, I decided that I’d make these yummy Cookie Dough Macarons to eat over the next week until it warms up again!
Now, these easy french macaron cookies are seriously easy. I’m not kidding.
Just check out this video for the Cookie Dough Macarons I made to see just how easy it is to put these cookies on the table.
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”qJZ5IJzf” upload-date=”2019-03-28T15:00:00.000Z” name=”Cookie Dough Macarons” description=”Simple french macaron recipe with cookie dough filling and chocolate chips. Made with Bob’s Redmill almond flour, butter, chocolate chips and eggs.”]
See? Simple!
And you don’t have to have any special tools to make these Cookie Dough Macarons, not really. But one thing that’s a total must is the food scale–no just for cookie dough macarons, but for ANY french macaron cookie-making adventure.
Yeah, I didn’t have one, either, until I started making macarons–then I found out that I really had to have one in order to get the cookies to work right. So I snagged this really simple, flat digital scale (paid link)–it’s easy to use and I like it, so there’s that.
And then you need a template so you know about how much to put out on your silicone mat (paid link)–and thus how big your French macaron cookies will be.
So, no real tools, just a couple of thing and it really is simple to whip up a big batch of Cookie Dough Macarons.
Oh, and don’t forget to look over these 12 Tips for Perfect Macarons–because, you know, preparedness is key before you rush off to make any French Macarons, not just these Cookie Dough Macarons.
Instructions for How to Make Cookie Dough French Macaron Cookies
Ok. So, to break this down, I’m going to run through how to make french macaron cookies with chocolate chips because it really is easy, but I’ve gotten some questions.
First, you’re going to make your almond flour mixture. Measure everything out. You know, with the scale like we talked about. Then just combine the confectioners sugar (powdered sugar or superfine sugar, just not granulated sugar–you know the stuff) with the almond flour. These are your “dry ingredients”.
Then it’s time to whip your egg whites into stiff peaks in your stand mixer. Whip whip whip whip whip and whip some more.
Fold those two together, add your gel food coloring to make the shells a little brown and scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula, get it to the ribbon stage (where you can make a swirl of it dripping off your spatula and “draw” a figure 8 without the dough breaking). Once there, fill a piping bag fitted with NO tip (I know–I had you there), and make with the circles of batter on the baking sheet. Be sure to use parchment paper or a silicone baking sheet (my favorite).
Once you have those piped on the cookie sheet, bang them about 10-20 times on the counter to pop all the air bubbles possible and just bake your macaron shells in the oven.
Pull them out and remove them to a rack to cool completely. They need to be room temperature so while you wait, you start adding your butter, vanilla extract, and cream together to make that magic filling.
Fill with your buttercream and brown sugar mixture (mmmmm…). You can even color this buttercream with gel food coloring to make it brown, but whatever.
And then let them rest for a day or so to mature–then eat your heart out!
Now, go ahead and pin this so you know where to find it again when you get your food scale!
No-Fail French Macaron Cookie Tips
- Don’t over-mix. When you’re combining your wet and dry ingredients, only mix until the ribbon stage. Do not go past it. If you don’t get to the ribbon stage, you have to keep going, but if you have reached ribbon-satisfaction, STOP!
- If you don’t have a stand mixer, don’t fret! You can use a hand mixer, but like with everything, you’re going to spend a little bit more time putting elbow grease into these cookies.
- Always always weigh all your ingredients. Because this is kind of a finiky recipe, you do have to weigh the ingredients–there might be more moisture in your almond flour than was in mine, you never know! And that kind of thing can throw off french macaron cookies in a heartbeat.
- 12 Hacks for Perfect Macarons
How Long do Macaron Cookies Last?
Oh, that’s a fun question. The answer is: not long in my house. But the truth is that, if you keep them refrigerated in an airtight container, you can expect your macaron cookies to last for at least 2 weeks without them starting to dry out and not be so great. They’ll still taste good even after this, but the drying out always gets me.
Can You Freeze Macaron Cookies?
Yes! Absolutely. Just wrap them in plastic wrap and then in an airtight container. You can put those in the freezer just like that. Then, when you’re ready for a french macaron cookie treat, you just go grab one, let it sit out on the counter for a bit, and it’ll defrost. You enjoy as soon as it’s not frozen inside. Or you can let it defrost in the fridge overnight. Whatever.
Cookie Dough Macarons
Cookie Dough Macarons
When you want a pick-me-up, there's nothing like having a bit of cookie dough...and these Cookie Dough Macarons are like the week-long version of that perfect feeling of happy.
Ingredients
Cookie
- 4 oz. confectioners sugar
- 2 oz. almond flour I recommend Bob’s Red Mill
- 1 oz granulated sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 oz. egg whites roughly two eggs at room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla optional or you can use your favorite extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
Cookie Dough Buttercream
- 1 stick softened butter
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup flour
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 tsp heavy whipping cream
- ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- First, weigh out all of your ingredients.
- Next, sift together your almond flour and powdered sugar in a large bowl and set aside.
- Add your egg whites to the bowl of your mixer with a whisk attachment and start mixing on a medium high speed until they get frothy. Add in the pinches of salt.
- Gradually add in your sugar to the egg whites and mix on a medium speed until you get a soft peak consistency.
- After the egg whites are the right consistency, add about 1/3 of the dry mixture to the egg whites in the mixing bowl and fold in until there are no dry spots left. Take care to scrape the bottom of the bowl - there can be no dry spots left.
- Add in the remaining dry mixture to the meringue and fold in until there are no dry spots. Begin to check for the “ribbon” stage, where the batter falls off in thick ribbons and you can make a figure 8 without it breaking off. Once you get to this consistency stop folding.
- Prepare your piping bag with a medium round tip. Place your bag in a large cup to make it easier to add your batter. Slowly add in your batter.
- Place the macaron template under a silicon mat on a baking sheet.
- Hold your piping bag completely vertical when piping and lift straight up. Making about 1 1/2 to 2 inch circles.
- After you have piped all the batter, bang the baking sheet on the counter 10-20 times (seriously) to remove all air bubbles. Use a toothpick or something sharp to pop them.
- Now it is time to let them dry. Leave them sitting on the counter for 30-60 minutes until you can touch them and you can feel a “shell” form over them. No batter should come off on your finger.
- preheat your oven to 300 degrees F. and bake your macarons for 10-15 minutes or until lightly browned. When you touch the top of the macaron it should not wiggle around on the “feet”.
- Allow them to cool COMPLETELY before taking them off the baking tray.
- To make the cookie dough frosting, cream the butter in the bowl of a stand mixer or using a hand mixer. Add in the powdered sugar slowly with the mixer on a low speed and mix until completely combined. Add in flour and brown sugar and mix until combined. Add vanilla and cream and mix until light and fluffy about 2-3 minutes. Finally add in the mini chocolate chips.
- Place the frosting in a piping bag with no tip. Place a generous amount on half of the macaron shells.
- Sandwich them with the remaining macaron shells. Add mini chocolate chips to the outside of the buttercream or dust with cocoa powder if you wish.
- Keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 24-48 hours to allow them to “mature”. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
24Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 118Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 26mgSodium: 90mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 0gSugar: 13gProtein: 2g
Oh and one more thing, if you really love this recipe for cookie dough french macarons, be sure to check out these other amazing macaron cookie recipes. They’re all really easy (seriously, I’m no chef) and they’re totally worth the 15 minutes it takes to put them together.
