These delightful Christmas Tree Macarons are made with delicate green almond shells, filled with a festive raspberry and pistachio cream. Adorned with gold pearls and a tiny star on top, they’re perfect for holiday celebrations and make for an elegant, sweet treat that will impress all your guests.
Contents
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Ingredients
- Macaron Shells
- 1 1/2 cups almond flour, sifted
- 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
- 4 large egg whites, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- Green gel food coloring
- Raspberry & Pistachio Cream Filling
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup pistachio paste
- 2 tbsp raspberry jam
- Fresh raspberries and pistachio pieces for layering
- Decoration
- Edible gold pearls
- Edible gold stars
Instructions
- Prepare the Macaron Shells
- Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, sift together almond flour and powdered sugar. Set aside.
- In a separate mixing bowl, beat the egg whites on medium speed until foamy. Gradually add the granulated sugar and continue to beat until stiff peaks form.
- Gently fold the almond flour mixture into the egg whites in batches. Add green gel food coloring and continue folding until the batter flows like lava.
- Transfer the batter to a piping bag fitted with a round tip. Pipe small rounds in a circular arrangement to create a tree shape on the baking sheets. Tap the trays on the counter to release air bubbles.
- Let the shells rest at room temperature for 30-60 minutes until a skin forms.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes, rotating the trays halfway through, until the macarons are firm. Allow to cool completely before filling.
- Make the Raspberry & Pistachio Cream Filling
- In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter until smooth. Add the powdered sugar gradually and beat until fluffy.
- Divide the buttercream into two portions. Mix pistachio paste into one portion and raspberry jam into the other.
- Transfer each filling into separate piping bags.
- Assemble the Christmas Tree Macarons
- Pipe a ring of pistachio cream on the bottom half of each macaron tree, then fill the center with raspberry cream. Add a fresh raspberry and pistachio pieces.
- Gently place another macaron shell on top to create the tree stack.
- Decorate with edible gold pearls and top with an edible gold star.
Notes
- Resting the Macarons: Allowing the macarons to rest and form a skin is crucial for creating that perfect “feet” texture.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving.
- Coloring: Gel food coloring is recommended as it won’t alter the consistency of the macaron batter.
Helpful Tips for Christmas Tree Macarons with Raspberry & Pistachio Cream Filling 🎄💚
- Achieving the Perfect Macaron Texture: When folding the almond flour into the egg whites, stop once the batter flows like lava. Overmixing or undermixing can affect the texture.
- Allow Macarons to Rest: Letting the piped macaron shells rest for 30-60 minutes helps them develop a skin, which prevents cracks and helps form the iconic “feet” at the base.
- Use Gel Food Coloring: Gel coloring is ideal because it won’t add extra moisture to the batter, helping you maintain the perfect macaron consistency.
- Keep Your Buttercream Creamy: Ensure your butter is softened but not melted for a smooth, fluffy cream filling. Beat well to achieve a light texture.
- Decorating the Macaron Trees: Use tweezers to place edible gold pearls for precise decoration. This will give your macarons a clean, polished look.
Substitutions and Variations
- Flavor Variations for Filling:
- Lemon Pistachio: Replace raspberry jam with lemon curd for a tangy twist.
- Chocolate Hazelnut: Swap pistachio paste with chocolate hazelnut spread, and use fresh raspberries for a chocolate-berry combination.
- Fruit Alternatives:
- Strawberries or Blackberries: Use finely chopped strawberries or blackberries in place of raspberries for a different berry flavor.
- Dried Cranberries: Add a festive touch by using dried cranberries in the filling instead of fresh fruit.
- Nut Alternatives:
- Almond Paste: Substitute pistachio paste with almond paste for a different nutty flavor that complements the holiday theme.
- Walnuts or Pecans: Swap pistachios with crushed walnuts or pecans for a seasonal variation.
Frequently Asked Questions for Christmas Tree Macarons 🎄💚
- Why are my macarons cracked?
- Cracked macarons can occur if the batter wasn’t allowed to rest long enough before baking, or if the oven temperature is too high. Make sure to rest the macarons for 30-60 minutes until a skin forms, and check your oven temperature with an oven thermometer.
- How do I know when my macarons are ready to come out of the oven?
- Gently touch the top of a macaron. If it feels firm and doesn’t wiggle from the “feet” at the base, it’s ready. Typically, this takes 15-18 minutes, depending on your oven.
- Can I make these macarons without food coloring?
- Yes, the food coloring is mainly for presentation. You can skip it, but the macarons will be a natural almond color rather than festive green.
- Christmas Tree Macarons with Pandan Buttercream Filling – Check out this unique twist on Christmas macarons using pandan for a delightful flavor and festive green color. Recipe link
- Peppermint Christmas Tree Macarons – For a classic holiday flavor, these peppermint macarons shaped like Christmas trees are a perfect addition to your festive treats. Recipe link
- Christmas Tree Cake Macarons – Combine the charm of Christmas trees with the elegance of macarons in this cake-inspired version that’s sure to impress! Recipe link
These recipes offer creative variations on holiday macarons to add to your festive baking list!
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Christmas Tree Macarons with Raspberry & Pistachio Cream Filling
- Total Time: 1 hour 18 minutes
- Yield: 12 macaron trees 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These delightful Christmas Tree Macarons are made with delicate green almond shells, filled with a festive raspberry and pistachio cream. Adorned with gold pearls and a tiny star on top, they’re perfect for holiday celebrations and make for an elegant, sweet treat that will impress all your guests.
Ingredients
Scale
- Macaron Shells
- 1 1/2 cups almond flour, sifted
- 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
- 4 large egg whites, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- Green gel food coloring
- Raspberry & Pistachio Cream Filling
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup pistachio paste
- 2 tbsp raspberry jam
- Fresh raspberries and pistachio pieces for layering
- Decoration
- Edible gold pearls
- Edible gold stars
Instructions
- Prepare the Macaron Shells
- Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, sift together almond flour and powdered sugar. Set aside.
- In a separate mixing bowl, beat the egg whites on medium speed until foamy. Gradually add the granulated sugar and continue to beat until stiff peaks form.
- Gently fold the almond flour mixture into the egg whites in batches. Add green gel food coloring and continue folding until the batter flows like lava.
- Transfer the batter to a piping bag fitted with a round tip. Pipe small rounds in a circular arrangement to create a tree shape on the baking sheets. Tap the trays on the counter to release air bubbles.
- Let the shells rest at room temperature for 30-60 minutes until a skin forms.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes, rotating the trays halfway through, until the macarons are firm. Allow to cool completely before filling.
- Make the Raspberry & Pistachio Cream Filling
- In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter until smooth. Add the powdered sugar gradually and beat until fluffy.
- Divide the buttercream into two portions. Mix pistachio paste into one portion and raspberry jam into the other.
- Transfer each filling into separate piping bags.
- Assemble the Christmas Tree Macarons
- Pipe a ring of pistachio cream on the bottom half of each macaron tree, then fill the center with raspberry cream. Add a fresh raspberry and pistachio pieces.
- Gently place another macaron shell on top to create the tree stack.
- Decorate with edible gold pearls and top with an edible gold star.
Notes
- Resting the Macarons: Allowing the macarons to rest and form a skin is crucial for creating that perfect “feet” texture.
- Storage: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before serving.
- Coloring: Gel food coloring is recommended as it won’t alter the consistency of the macaron batter.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 macaron tree
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 10mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 16g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
Keywords: Christmas Tree Macarons, Holiday Macarons, Festive Macarons, Raspberry Pistachio Cream Macarons, Christmas Dessert