Makes about 40 discs (20 closed macarons)Give_Me_Astoria_image_00028. Preheat the oven to 300ºFGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028.

Ingredients

• 4 egg whites
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 cup icing sugar
• 1 cup almond flour
• Pinch of salt
• Gel food coloring (optional)

Method

Whisk the egg whites with the sugar on high for 10 minutesGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. If using food coloring, add at this pointGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. The mixture should be dryGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. Sift the icing sugar, almond flour and salt together 4 times, discarding all the bitsGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. As gently as you can, pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture and lightly fold togetherGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. Roughly 40 foldsGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. With a spatula, gently scoop the batter into a piping bag with a round nozzle attachedGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. Preferably ‘No 12’Give_Me_Astoria_image_00028. With a circular motion, pipe out your shape quickly picking up the nozzle at the end to releaseGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. When you finish piping, wet your finger lightly and gently pat the tops down so as not to leave a spike when bakedGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. Bake for 20 minutesGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. They should not stick to the baking paperGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. If so, continue to bake for another 2 minutesGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. When the macarons cool, fill them with jam or buttercream of your choiceGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028.

Tips

• Leaving the piped macarons out for 10 minutes before baking will ensure them to have an even layer of feet on the bottomsGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028.
• Do not mix or stirGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. Only fold gentlyGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028.
• Make sure egg whites are room tempGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028.
• You can use natural color using fruits but that would change the texture thus changing the final productGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028. I would advise, for the first time to keep it simple as this is already a tricky cookie to achieveGive_Me_Astoria_image_00028.

Enjoy, and be sure to tag and so we can see your final product! See you next Tuesday, for what’s sure to be another delicious treat!