Tiffany Blue Macarons with Orange Blossom Buttercream

“I want them for every table.”

And so, she shall have them.  Specifically, bowls-full of macarons in assorted colors and flavors.  I was giddy at the news and my mind was flooded with inspiration for buttercream fillings; mimosa, lemonade, blackberry, buttermilk, bourbon, mint julep – southern flavors that would do justice to the the location of the nuptials.

I had just one concern.  I haven’t made macarons in months, so a few practice batches were in order.

Luckily, I still have the knack! 

Although macs are already very feminine and dainty, a strand of sugar pearls makes them look even more elegant – almost like they are meant for fancy jewelry boxes instead of the dessert table.  I found this idea in a UK-printed magazine simply called “Wedding Cakes“. 

The task of pressing sugar pearls into buttercream one-by-one is a little tedious and time consuming, but just one or two pearl-donned macs can make an entire bowl look dressy.  I can handle that.

Need help with your mac-making technique?  Find my batter folding video here.

Tiffany Blue Macarons with Orange Blossom Buttercream

Makes about 15 sandwich cookies                                                                                    [click for printable version]                                     

Shells: 
3/4 cup almond flour – I like Hodgson Mill
1 cup confectioners’ sugar 
2 large egg whites, room temperature
1 pinch cream of tartar
1/2 cup extra fine sugar

Sky blue gel food coloring by Wilton

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line two baking sheets with parchment.
  2. Sift almond flour and confectioners’ sugar together 2-3 times. Set aside.
  3. Whisk egg whites with a hand mixer until foamy.  Add cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form.  Reduce speed and gradually add extra fine sugar.  Increase speed and beat until stiff peaks form.
  4. Sift flour mixture over whites with a fine sieve. Discard any lumps or coarse bits that remain. 
  5. Fold mixture together with a rubber spatula -using short strokes at first –until just combined .  The batter will be very stiff. Place a small amount of Wilton Sky Blue gel food coloring on the end of a rubber spatula.  Normally powdered food coloring is used, but a small amount of gel does not disturb the batter.  I would not recommend liquid food coloring.
  6. Use bigger folds once batter loosens.  When batter is ready, it should fall from the spatula in a thick ribbon. 
  7. Transfer mixture to a piping bag.  Pipe 1 or 1 1/2″ rounds on the parchment lined baking sheets. Let piped macarons stand uncovered for 15 minutes to form a crust.
  8. Decrease temperature to 325 just before placing the baking sheet in the oven.  Bake pans one at a time for 10 minutes, turning halfway through.

Note: After first batch has baked, oven temp should be increased to 375 then decreased to 325 just before the 2nd baking sheet goes in. 

Orange Blossom Buttercream:

1 cup unsalted butter

3 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar

Orange blossom water to taste 

Pearl dragees

  1. Cream butter and confectioners’ sugar together in a large bowl using a hand mixer or stand mixer.  Beat on high speed until light and fluffy.  If mixture is stiff, use 1 or 2 tablespoons of cream to loosen.  
  2. Add orange blossom water in small drops (a little goes a long way!).  Beat until flavor is thoroughly incorporated.  Transfer icing to a piping bag and pipe on half the macaron shells – don’t use too much icing! You don’t want the icing to be taller than the pearl dragees. Sandwich with remaining shells.  
  3. Using a new pair of tweezers (or baking dedicated tweezers) press a line of pearl dragees into the buttercream.
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Lora
Lora
12 years ago

These are incredible. The most perfect Tiffany macaron ever. The pearl idea is genius.

Averie @ Averie Cooks
Averie @ Averie Cooks
12 years ago

Tiffany Blue is one of my fave colors…I use it as an accent color in my house! I had it as my blog colors for 2+ years til I just changed it up last week.

These look amazing!!

Lynn
Lynn
12 years ago

Speechless

Lauren at Keep It Sweet
Lauren at Keep It Sweet
12 years ago

Beautiful, these are going to be a huge hit!

Anonymous
Anonymous
12 years ago

I'm so excited! I really wanted to make macrons this weekend!! Thank you 🙂

Caroline @ chocolate & carrots
Caroline @ chocolate & carrots
12 years ago

These are so precious! I love them! 😀

Shannon
Shannon
12 years ago

These are too beautiful! I have yet to figure out the secret to vegan macarons, but I will succeed eventually.

Paula
Paula
12 years ago

The colours of these macs are breathtakingly soft and feminine. The addition of the candied pearls around the buttercream is so delicate. I love this idea and very happy that you shared it with us.

Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
12 years ago

These are the absolute prettiest! Awesome idea.

Burnt Mill Candles and Soap
Burnt Mill Candles and Soap
12 years ago

those look great!

regan
regan
12 years ago

These are so beautiful! And thanks for the link to the video….that helped a lot! I've never made these before, but I think I could try now!

Anonymous
Anonymous
12 years ago

The photos and the macarons are stunningly beautiful!

Miss T
Miss T
12 years ago

three words. OH. MY. GOD. Now, three letters – O.M.G

The Red Rolling Pin
The Red Rolling Pin
12 years ago

I LOVE! Thanks Sis! 😀

Nash Nordin
Nash Nordin
12 years ago

That is beautiful! I love the pearls!

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

Just wanted to give you a heads up. You might get a little traffic from Pinterest the next few days. I was showing my husband what Pinterest is all about, and your blog, and this post was one of the first things that popped up. I pinned an hour ago, and have already been repinned 11 times. You have a great blog and some beautiful pictures. Thank you for such a great site.

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

This is the most gorgeous thing I have ever seen. I would weep for joy if this were incorporated into my wedding. No, actually, I would probably be speechless and then give you the biggest hug you have ever recieved.

As always, beautiful pictures, but these ones are by far my favorite.

Brittany
Brittany
12 years ago

These are gorgeous! And I'm sure just as delicious :]

Devi @ Diddles and Dumplings
Devi @ Diddles and Dumplings
12 years ago

These are so beautiful!

Devi
http://diddlesanddumplings.blogspot.com

Sue
Sue
12 years ago

Yep, You definitely still have the knack, and I don't think you'll ever lose it:)
The Tiffany blue is stunning, and the sugar pearls are breathtaking!

Julia @The Roasted Root
Julia @The Roasted Root
12 years ago

I have never made a macaroon in my life and am so envious of those who have a knack for it. I love baking but have been hesitant toward macaroons because they seem outside of my little cookie and brownie baking skill set 😉 These are truly gorgeous, and the pearl decoration makes them so elegant and pretty. Thanks for sharing a great recipe. I'll let you know when I buck up and try it on my own – until then, I'll be admiring yours! 🙂

Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious
12 years ago

These are absolutely beautiful. And that has to be the prettiest Tiffany Blue I've ever seen. The work you've done with these pearls is so intricate. I'm sure it was quite tedious but it paid off so well!

Rosa's Yummy Yums
Rosa's Yummy Yums
12 years ago

Extremela dainty! Those pops are gorgeous.

Cheers,

Rosa

Angela @lesgetbaking
Angela @lesgetbaking
12 years ago

These are simply beautiful and very ladylike with the pearls, totally worth the effort!

Darla | Bakingdom
Darla | Bakingdom
12 years ago

I'm pretty sure I'd take these over jewels just about any day! 🙂 Everything you make is magic!

Georgie
Georgie
12 years ago

Adore these, simple gorgeous little Tiffany blue macaroons.

Robin @ Bird On A Cake
Robin @ Bird On A Cake
12 years ago

That is my absolute favorite color too…just gorgeous! Excuse my ignorance, but where do you get orange blossom water? There are orange blossoms blooming down the street from my house…could I make my own??

Shannon
Shannon
12 years ago

Beautiful. Just beautiful.

Janet
Janet
12 years ago

I wonder if you could line up a row of the dragees and roll the macaroon along them. Even if you had to place two or three by hand it would be faster than the tweezer method for all of them.

Rachel @ The Avid Appetite
Rachel @ The Avid Appetite
12 years ago

wow, I think you've outdone yourself this time! These are incredible! Everything is better in Tiffany blue 🙂

Monica
Monica
12 years ago

These are going to look amazing at the wedding and receive plenty of appreciative attention! I love macarons…they are so adorable and delicious. I recently figured out how to make them and I'm so happy! : )

Alexandra
Alexandra
12 years ago

Love the pearls. It makes them so elegant.

Bobbie
Bobbie
12 years ago

How beautiful!

Anonymous
Anonymous
12 years ago

How nice macarons, they look like jewels! 🙂
Lucía
http://www.sevillaneando.wordpress.com

Kelli @ The Corner Kitchen
Kelli @ The Corner Kitchen
12 years ago

Such beautiful macarons!!

ashleynicole1091
ashleynicole1091
12 years ago

i love macaroons! and yours are beautiful… i am curious as to how to get them on the stick for a macaroon pop. i will definitely be experimenting this week.

Alicia Poyatos
Alicia Poyatos
12 years ago

Impresionante como cada entrada tuya!
Las perlas de azúcar han quedado divinas.
Besos.

Redd H from Salted Spoon
Redd H from Salted Spoon
12 years ago

These are beautiful!

Lili
Lili
12 years ago

I seriously adore these. The Tiffany blue with the sugar pearls is to die for! How amazing Heather and what a lucky lucky bride (and guests!) xoxo ~Lili

Dana@TheSundaySweet
Dana@TheSundaySweet
12 years ago

I am in love. They are beautiful! And orange blossom buttercream?! Yum!

Lili
Lili
12 years ago

Also I forgot to say that your photography is amazing!

Karen
Karen
12 years ago

These are beautiful, and so is your photography!

Anonymous
Anonymous
12 years ago

Such a beautiful idea and stunning imagery. They would match so well with my tiffany blue champagne layer cake except macs and me do not see to get on – I have yet to make a succesful batch and so I am avoiding them but at least I can stare at these instead to get my macaron fix.

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago
Dharma
Dharma
12 years ago

Que delicia, que delicadeza y que preciosidad de trabajo. Saludos

Anonymous
Anonymous
12 years ago

Charming and so clever – please tell what they are floating on in the cup….darling idea.

Suzanne
Suzanne
12 years ago

I've just been in Paris eating macaroons which were to die for from the best shops, but none were as pretty as your pearl-studded ones. Just beautiful.

Heather Baird
Heather Baird
12 years ago

Thanks to all for your kind comments!

Anonymous- warm tea with very heavily frothed milk on top! Thanks for asking!

Ana Sofia
Ana Sofia
12 years ago

Oh wow this is gorgeous! 😮

cupcakesandflowers.blogspot.com

x

Gerry @Foodness Gracious
Gerry @Foodness Gracious
12 years ago

The color is right on the money! Your right about losing the knack. I haven't made some in a while but need to get back into it. I had a few fails and fell of the wagon 😉
Take care..