Bakers Royale

Mocha Crunch Macarons

By 48 Comments

Rant alert. But let’s get the food out of the way first, okay? You are looking at some Mocha Crunch Macarons. I threw some instant coffee granules in the batter and then flavored the filling with coffee – so yeah, super strong in coffee flavor. I served these at a little soiree two weekends ago along with a few other desserts and this was by far the biggest hit. Although one person complained they tasted burnt – obviously, not a coffee drinker (so says the ego-fragile baker).

Mocha Crunch Macarons via Bakers Royale

(image via iPhone)

And now the rant: If you are going to tell a white lie, please don’t involve me—especially, if it’s to support a what is obviously untrue.

Apparently, some white lies require back up, a supporting agreement from another so the offender isn’t so obviously lying. Or maybe so the ass-ery can be shared and split among two? I don’t know, because I don’t get the idea of telling someone with a bad hair cut, “I love your new haircut”.

Chocolate Coffee Macarons via Bakers Royale

L-side : High heat destructions R-side: Heat diffused by using two bake sheets (image via iPhone)

What?? No you don’t!

This seriously happened (and has happened on several occasions). I don’t get it. Am I horrible person because I won’t agree when called upon? Even the mere physicality of stretching my face into a smile and nodding in agreement escapes me. Okay, so I’m slightly awful. But I can’t do it.

At my worst extreme I will say, “It’s not my favorite cut on you.” But since I hardly knew this person that was monologue, in my head!. What was audible, “Hold-on, hair talk when I come back”, which as you can guess never happened.

Okay, what do you guys say or do in this situation? Suggestions?

Mocha Crunch Macarons

Mocha Crunch Macarons

Yield: Makes approximately 24-30, 1-11/2 inch cookies

Ingredients

Macarons

  • 135g egg whites
  • 45g granulated sugar
  • 215g powdered sugar
  • 115g almond meal
  • 25g cocoa powder
  • 10g instant coffee granules (I used Starbucks Via)
  • Filling
  • 227g egg whites
  • 175g granulated sugar
  • 226g unsalted butter, cold and cut into pieces
  • 15g  instant coffee granules (I used Starbucks Via)
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Instructions

Preparation

Heat oven to 330 degrees. Line bake sheet with parchment.

To make macaron cookie

  1. Trace out 1 inch circles on parchment and set this aside as a “master copy”. Reserve two extra sheets of parchment and set aside.
  2. Place egg whites and sugar in a stand mixer bowl and fit mixer with a whisk attachment. Beat on medium low speed until egg whites start to form loose translucent bubbles. Increase mixer speed to medium and beat until meringue turns foamy and white and starts to resemble well lathered shampoo, about 2 minutes. Increase mixer to high and beat until meringue holds glossy stiff peaks, about another 2-3 minutes. Turn off mixer.
  3. Process almond meal, powdered sugar, cocoa powder and coffee grounds in a food processor and then sift.
  4. Add dry ingredients to meringue. Using a sturdy spatula fold and smash dry mixture into meringue against the bowl for about 20-25 folds. Don’t worry about being gentle the idea is to knock the air out of it. The batter should hold its shape when spooned on itself and start to slowly flatten out after about 15-20 seconds. Start checking the batter after 20 folds for readiness. Transfer batter to pastry bag and let rest for 20 minutes before piping.
  5. Place master copy of drawn circles on a bake sheet and then place a sheet of parchment on top. Fill a pastry bag with batter and pipe until batter reaches edge of circle. Remove master copy from underneath piped layer and place on second bake sheet and pipe remaining batter (remove master copy and save for future use).Take hold of each pan and give it quick hard tap against the counter, turn the pan 90 degrees and give it another quick hard tap. This will deflate any bubbles and prevent cracked shells.
  6. Bake for about 15-17 minutes. Remove from oven and transfer to a cooling rack. Leave shells to cool completely on pan. Shells will cleanly peel away from parchment when ready.

To make filling:

  1. Combine egg whites and sugar in a stand mixer bowl and place it over (not on) simmering water. Heat mixture to 160 degrees F while whisking constantly.
  2. Transfer mixer bowl to stand mixer, fitted with a whisk attachment and beat on medium high speed (speed 8 on a KitchenAid stand mixer) until mixture cools, doubles in volume and forms stiff peaks; about 10-12 minutes.
  3. Add butter in one piece at a time, mixing to incorporate after each addition. The mixture may appear clumpy and almost curdled looking at first—this is normal. Keep mixing and it will become even and smooth again.
  4. Add salt and instant coffee granules, mix to combine.

Assembly

  1. Pipe filling on one shell. Place a second shell on top.
  2. *Optional: Stripe top with melted chocolate and then sprinkle crushed toffee on top.

Notes

Ingredient notes:
  • Almond meal: I used Trader Joe's Almond Meal instead of making my own by processing raw and peeled silvered almonds.
  • Cocoa powder: I used Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa Powder.
  • Eggs: I didn't age them. Which means I didn't separate my eggs and leave them on the counter for a few days. Mine went from refrigerator to bowl-cracked, separated and ready to go.
  • Granulated Sugar: I used the most widely available sugar for where I am - C&H . I skipped using expensive bakers sugar which happens to be nothing more than ultra fine sugar that you can easily make by processing regular (by regular I mean widely available and not so expensive) granulated sugar in a food processor to make it finer. I skipped processing my sugar to a fine grain.
  • Powdered Sugar: Again, I used the most widely available - C&H brand.

A few general notes:

  • Most of my recipes are written with measured volume, but for macarons precision is key— so yes, you will need a scale for this one.
  • I took Brave Tart's suggestion and traced out circles  so I could quickly pipe my shells to avoid worrying about uniformity, but instead of doing so on each sheet I created a master copy, since I'm impatient  and drawings out a bunch of circles for each sheet is a pain. I just placed that master copy under each parchment sheet and piped to the outline.
  • My oven has been acting up with uneven heating, to mitigate that I used two bakes sheets (one on top of another to diffuse the heat).

© Naomi Robinson | Bakers Royale
Category: Cookies

Comments

  2. Belinda @themoonblushbaker says

    God, could I count the number of time my oven has some how changed it hot spot. Always affects my macarons like that too. Thankfully i found placing a tray above and below the macaron baking tray helps a bit.
    Mocha crunch? you rebel. love the painting on the shells, so dramatic.

  5. Marly says

    I always ask the person in question, “Do you like your cut?” If they respond “Yes,” then I say, “then I like it too.” Which is true – if they are happy then who am I to question it!

  6. Ellie @ Ginger Bear Kitchen says

    Beautiful beautiful macarons!

    I am a huge coffee drinker and the fact that a non-coffee drinker thought these tasted “burnt” tells me there will be the perfect amount of coffee flavor in these for me.

  7. Julie @ Table for Two says

    These are gorgeous!! I’ve failed twice with macarons 🙁 le sigh – your successful batch turned out so well – they’re nicely risen and everything!! i especially LOVE the mocha!! 🙂

  9. Liz says

    These sound amazing! They definitely wouldn’t taste burnt to me – I love coffee flavor! I always admire people who can tell the truth, whether it might not be what you want to hear.

  10. Rita says

    These macarons look fabulous! My attempts at making macarons have been unsuccessful so far. So, I appreciate the notes!

    Lies are never good, no matter how small or insignificant you think they might be. Just go with the truth; and, sometimes the truth hurts. It doesn’t make you a bad person, it makes you grounded and moral.

  12. Liv says

    I love the sound of these macarons! When you say bake sheets though, do you mean two layers of the paper or two baking trays? I’m so nervous about making macarons so I haven’t attempted it yet. I really should soon!

  13. Brian @ A Thought For Food says

    I’ve either been too lazy or scared to try macarons. Or both maybe. I just need to do it. I bet even the cracked ones are tasty (and it makes for a super-cool picture)!

  15. Beth @ The Collegiate Baker says

    These sound so good and they’re gorgeous! I love your photography!

  24. Anne Marie says

    I am with you on the white lies, I find it very hard to fake it. “It’s not my favorite cut on you.” made me giggle.

    Macarons: Are they just as big a craze in the states as they are here in Oz? We have a chef creating cooky flavours like pigs blood macarons….. but that’s another story…. and not a white lie!
    AM@TFD

  26. Tracey says

    Your macarons are gorgeous! I’ve had some egg whites on the counter for a few days aging as I tried to decide on a flavor to bake. These are a very good possibility 🙂

  27. Gaby says

    not into lying either – easy to just tell the trust and then not worry about keeping your story straight!

    and bring some of these to potluck this weekend! yummmmm

  33. Hunny Kidd says

    I say stand your ground. Telling the truth is always important. Just because you need to tell the truth doesn’t mean you have to put it in a hurtful way. Make it known that you don’t want people, especially friends, to put words in your mouth. Why, that’s just unhygenical. Kudos for telling the truth.
    Always,
    Hunny

  35. Andrea @ mrswebbinthekitchen says

    I wish I had one of these macs right now!

    Unless I know for sure that a person is asking my opinion of their haircut because they are considering changing it and legitimately want my opinion, I don’t see the point of telling them the truth and possibly seriously damaging their self esteem. Hairstyles are pretty individual and not everyone is going to like your ‘do- or they would have the same cut! So yes, hate to say it, but I’m a white liar in this situation.

  38. aravis says

    Love the macarons! I need to get my act together and make them soon as I’ve been wanting to do so for a long time. Thank you for a fab idea.

    Lies…I am all for honesty but I can’t imagine that one would always say the truth all the time. Seriously, it depends on circumstances.

  40. Betty says

    Your macarons look delicious 🙂
    My advice to avoid damaged shell is to have the right gesture when you mix the sugar/almond mix to the egg whites. In french we name this step the “macaronage”. If your shells are cracked it’s because you probably work too much on the dough and incorporate too much air in it.
    I think that video is very helpful and will help you to see the right gesture to avoid that trouble 🙂
    This is in french but you can see how to mix the ingredients.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2iCocPw_Qo

  42. Shanna@ pineapple and coconut says

    I am going to attempt macarons again this week. After seeing both of your recipes – I have the courage to try again. Oh and I can’t lie either – especially about hair cuts. That’s a tough one. If they love the hair cut then I try to avoid being asked if I like it. I would rather not be asked then have to force the awkward fake smile and nod as well.

  44. Kiara says

    I am allergic to almonds…so what could be a substitute for almond meal? I really want to try these:D

  45. michelle says

    I wonder if these macarons are on the sweet side. The macaron recipes I’ve made have been too sweet. It seems like the mocha flavor in this recipe will help lessen the overall sweetness. I am attempting this recipe tomorrow for a birthday and hope it works out! Thanks for the recipe!

  47. April says

    Thank you so much for your descriptions! I just finished making 4 dozen with your tips and not one of them broke. I was so nervous to make these macarons because it has been a long time since the last time I did. In fact, I ruined my first batch because I forgot to weigh the egg whites. *doh* I am printing your directions and will be putting them with my recipes. -April 🙂

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