Macarons are delectable meringue cookies sandwiched between two equally flavorful fillings. They are a popular item in France, but they are also commonly available in the United States and may be produced at home! If there is one thing you should know about making macarons at home, it is that it takes time, practice, and perfection. One of the most typical problems that home cooks encounter while creating macarons is that the batter becomes overly thick.
So, how do you correct too-thick macaron batter? The best technique to correct too-thick macaron batter is to stir it vigorously to deflate some of the air. If this does not work, the problem is most likely due to an incorrect dry-to-wet ingredient ratio. almond oil
What Are Macarons?
French dessert macarons (pronounced “mak-uh-rohns”) are prepared with two meringue-based cookies sandwiched together with a delectable filling. The tiny cookies come in a variety of tastes and are frequently colored with food coloring. A nice macaron is light and airy with a delicate, sweet crunch and has a smooth top and ruffled skirts. The mixture is delicately folded, piped, and baked using stiffly beaten egg whites, fine almond flour, powdered sugar, and your preferred flavoring.
What Is The Perfect Consistency For Macaron Batter?
The act of massaging the batter to the desired consistency is known as “macaronage,” and it is critical in producing excellent macarons. Macaron batter should be blended until it resembles pancake batter in thickness. It shouldn’t be runny, but it also shouldn’t be too thick. It should be glossy and fluid enough to pipe into nice macaron shells.
To test the consistency, drop the batter off your spatula in the shape of a “figure-8.” The batter should easily slide off the spatula, and the figure 8 should sink back into the batter in less than 10 seconds. If it takes less than 10 seconds, the batter is usually too thin and overmixed. Continue folding if it takes longer.
What Causes Thick Macaron Batter?
Typically, your meringue starts off quite thick when you add dry ingredients (such almond flour and sugar), but it should start to soften, thin out, and get runnier as you fold the mixture. The batter may occasionally never thin out and remain thick all the way through. It could even thicken while being folded. This could be due to an unbalanced ratio of dry to liquid ingredients, greasy almond flour, or an overworked meringue. If the mixture is excessively thick when making macarons, little peaks may appear on each cookie that won’t go away, signifying that the macaronage process wasn’t completed.
How To Fix Macaron Batter That Is Too Thick
Thick macaron batter is best avoided rather than corrected – complete correction is practically impossible. Some people add more whipped egg whites as a remedy, although this may or may not help. Adding water to the concoction is a no-no and just not an option.
How To Prevent Macaron Batter From Becoming Too Thick
Here are a few simple techniques to keep your macaron batter from becoming overly thick:
Using a kitchen scale, accurately weigh the ingredients.
Use fresh, fine, and sifted almond flour instead of blitzing it in a food processor.
Overbeating the meringue may cause it to dry out and throw off the ratio.
Make certain that the sugar is added to the egg whites at the proper time.
Use only non-expired food coloring.
Here are a few extra recommendations to ensure you achieve the proper batter consistency!
Tip 1: Make The Batter In Small Batches
For large quantities of macarons, it’s best to work in batches rather than trying to mix and fold everything at once in a single large bowl. Since the mixture for the macarons will be thick and difficult to mix at first, it is best to make it in several smaller batches and mix them individually.
Tip 2: Count The Folds
The number of folds you make in the batter during macaronage determines how thick or thin the batter will be. A decent number of folds is 50-60 to ensure that the batter is neither undermixed nor overmixed. You can count out loud if it helps you keep track of how many folds there are!
Tip 3: Avoid Undermixing Or Overmixing The Batter
It is very simple to overmix your macaron mixture, which will result in a messy mess that is nearly impossible to correct. Undermixing could result in a thick batter with lumpy or hollow macarons, whereas overmixing would thin the batter out and result in broken macarons, so you really want to avoid doing either.
Additional Tips For Making The Best Macarons
Here are a few more hints for piping and baking the greatest macarons with the ideal shape, texture, and flavor:
To make the perfect round macaron shape, use a round piping tip.
Use a silicone mat to prevent the macarons from browning and to help them keep their form.
Tap the baking sheet to remove any air bubbles before baking to ensure no dents in your small shells.
Allow the macarons to rest before baking to avoid cracking in the oven. Allow the batter to dry, lose its gloss, and become no longer sticky to the touch.
Bake the macarons with an oven thermometer because oven displays are not always correct.
Allow at least 15-20 minutes for the macaron shells to cool before taking them from the mat.
Refrigerate the macarons for at least 24 hours before serving to allow them to mature and develop a chewy inside texture.
Common Issues With Macarons And Their Causes
A flawless macaron has a glossy smooth top, ruffled foot, and full interior shells. They should not only have the ideal texture, but also have a mouthwatering flavor! You could have a number of problems when preparing macarons at home, including cracked shells and a gritty texture.
If All Else Fails
If you are unable to make decent macarons despite your best efforts and wind up with cracked, hollow, or porous shells, you may either enjoy them as is or use them in an imaginative way to avoid throwing them out. In a food processor, blitz your cracked and flat macaron shells into a fine or coarse powder, depending on your preference. Just make sure the shells aren’t mushy before doing so. If they are, bake them for a little longer and then blitz!
The end result is delectable meringue cookie powder that can be used in a number of dishes. When dusted on top of cakes, cupcakes, donuts, and ice cream, combined into a custard, or used as a crumb for chocolate-dipped strawberries, macaron dust gives a fantastic texture and flavor.
Final Thoughts
Making macarons at home is easy if you follow a few basic instructions. Macarons are a delectable French confection created with meringue. It might take you some time to get it down, but once you do, it will all have been worthwhile. Who wouldn’t like to boast that they could prepare this French specialty at home?
You must be careful while integrating the ingredients and how many times you fold the batter to prevent making your macaron batter too thick. You must also avoid under- or over-mixing the recipe. To get the ideal batter consistency for making smooth, glossy, and attractive macarons, it often takes 50 to 60 folds.