Macaroons are a delicious treat made with cream or whole milk. They are traditionally eaten out of hand, just like they were more than a thousand years ago. If you like the classic white macaroons and like watching them bake, simply skip the waiting step and let your macaroons slowly bake on their own. At around 15 minutes into the cooking, the top tips will just start to turn golden brown, and by then you’ll want to remove them from the oven quickly so they don’t scorch.
In order to bake your macaroons at a time that’s best for you, it’s important to have a perfectly prepared kosher salt, a skillet, a baking sheet, and a timer. First, line up your pan with the baking sheet evenly spacing apart to ensure even cooking. Next, preheat your oven to 350F. With your macaroons in hand, carefully slide them onto the prepared baking sheet making sure to avoid over crowding. The foil method is a common one used because it seals in the steam while simultaneously preventing your macaroons from spilling and burns.
Using your measuring spoon, carefully pour the kosher salt on to your lined baking sheet. Make sure all sides of the macaroons are coated with salt, this way they don’t dry out while baking. Next, depending on your preferred method of baking, egg whites or butter should be melted and added to the salt before putting them in the oven. Continue mixing the butter and egg whites until they are fully combined, then remove them from the heat.
Once the butter and egg whites are blended, spoon the wet ingredients into your pastry bag with a beating spoon. Using your measuring spoon, fill in the circles with your macaroons until completely covered with the coconut mixture. Wait for five to ten minutes to ensure the macaroons have fully set. Once finished, carefully remove them from the baking sheet, and pop them in the refrigerator to enjoy.
If you would like to add a flavor to your macaroons it is simple to do so. Simply add a little extra virgin olive oil, a pinch of turmeric, and a pinch of Cayenne pepper, wrap them individually in foil, and bake at 350F for approximately thirty minutes. Before serving, lightly dust with powdered sugar, to seal in the flavors. Store in the fridge to enjoy within an hour or two.
There is another method that involves the use of coconuts. Rather than using regular macaroons you will substitute them out for a coconut. Utilize a coconut that is a bit bigger in size than the macaroons. Fill your baking dish with water, place the coconut on top of the prepared dish and allow for it to sit for approximately twenty minutes.
After the twenty minutes are up, remove the coconut from its tray and slice it open. You should be left with large chunks of moist sand that have remained within the center of the coconut. Use a teaspoon to extract the sand. This is a great method for using up leftover coconut that has not been used in a recipe. Just be sure to use the cleaned sand in its raw state.
There are several other methods that can be used when it comes to macaroons. These include using a cookie cutter and pressing different shapes into the batter. The most popular method of baking a macaroni pie is by using a cast iron skillet. The only problem with these is that they take up quite a bit of counter space. If you find that you have a tight kitchen space then you may want to consider these more expensive options.
