Name: Birthday Cake Macarons Recipe
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 11 min
Total time: 12 h 56 min
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 76 g (⅓ cup + 1 teaspoon) Granulated Sugar; 90 ml (About 3 egg whites) Room Temperature Egg Whites; 80 g (¾ cup + 1 tbsp) Almond Flour, Blanched; 150 g (1 ¼ cup) Powdered Sugar; Gel Food Coloring, optional; 60 g (¼ cup) Unsalted Butter, room temperature; 60 g (¼ cup) Cream Cheese, room temperature; 120 g (1 cup) Powdered Sugar; 1 tsp Vanilla Bean Paste or vanilla extract; 87 g (½ cup) White Chocolate, melted; 50 g (¼ cup) Colorful Sprinkles

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Introduction

Birthday Cake Macarons bring a delightful twist to the classic French treat, featuring colorful sprinkles and a rich funfetti frosting. These delicate, crisp shells filled with creamy buttercream are perfect for any celebration or special occasion.

A close-up view of several pale pink macarons lined up side by side on a white marbled surface, each macaron has two smooth, round shells with a slightly bumpy texture, sandwiching a thick layer of white cream that contains colorful confetti sprinkles in blue, orange, red, yellow, and green, with multiple confetti pieces scattered around the base of the macarons on the surface, photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

76 g (⅓ cup + 1 teaspoon) Granulated Sugar
90 ml (About 3 egg whites) Room Temperature Egg Whites
80 g (¾ Cup + 1 Tbsp) Almond Flour, Blanched
150 g (1 ¼ Cup) Powdered Sugar
Gel Food Coloring, optional
60 g (¼ cup) Unsalted Butter, room temperature
60 g (¼ cup) Cream Cheese, room temperature
120 g (1 cup) Powdered Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla Bean Paste, or vanilla extract
87 g (½ cup) White Chocolate, melted
50 g (¼ cup) Colorful Sprinkles

Instructions

Step 1: Line baking sheets with parchment templates and prepare piping bags with a small, round tip.
Step 2: Pour egg whites into a stand mixer bowl and whisk on medium speed until foamy. Gradually add granulated sugar and increase speed to medium. Whisk for 3 to 4 minutes until stiff peaks form.
Step 3: While whisking, pulse almond flour and powdered sugar together in a food processor for one minute. Sift the mixture into a large bowl and set aside.
Step 4: Add gel food coloring to the meringue if desired, and whisk gently to combine.
Step 5: Fold the dry ingredients into the meringue carefully. Fold until the batter flows slowly off the spatula and sinks back into the mixture. Avoid overmixing.
Step 6: Transfer batter to the piping bag and pipe circles onto prepared parchment. Tap trays firmly on a flat surface to remove air bubbles. Use a toothpick to pop any remaining bubbles. Add sprinkles on top if desired.
Step 7: Let shells rest for about 30 minutes until dry to the touch.
Step 8: Preheat oven to 310°F (155°C). Bake macarons for 9 minutes, rotate the tray, then bake an additional 2 minutes. Shells are ready when tops are set and feet remain attached to parchment.
Step 9: Remove macarons from oven and cool completely before peeling off parchment.
Step 10: For the frosting, beat butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating until creamy.
Step 11: Add melted white chocolate and vanilla. Beat until thick and fluffy, then fold in sprinkles evenly.
Step 12: Match macaron shells in pairs. Pipe about two teaspoons of frosting onto the bottom shell and sandwich with the top shell.
Step 13: Refrigerate filled macarons overnight for best texture before serving.

Tips & Variations

Use a kitchen scale for precise measurement of ingredients to achieve perfect macarons every time.
Add sprinkles on top of shells just before they dry to keep them vibrant and prevent melting.
Experiment with different gel food coloring shades to customize your macarons for any party theme.
Substitute cream cheese with mascarpone for a richer frosting flavor.

Storage

Store assembled macarons in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Allow them to come to room temperature for 20 minutes before serving to enjoy the best texture. Unfilled macaron shells can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 1 month.

How to Serve

A close-up image of several light pink macarons lined up next to each other on a white marbled surface. Each macaron has three visible layers: two smooth, light pink shells with a slightly textured edge, and a creamy white filling in the middle that has small, colorful sprinkles scattered throughout. Around the macarons, there are round, flat confetti pieces in bright colors like red, orange, green, purple, and yellow scattered on the surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make macaron shells without a stand mixer?

While a stand mixer makes achieving stiff peaks easier, you can use a handheld electric mixer or whisk by hand with enough effort and time. Just ensure the egg whites are whipped to stiff peaks for the best results.

Why do my macarons crack or not develop feet?

Common causes include overmixing or undermixing the batter, insufficient drying time before baking, or incorrect oven temperature. Make sure to fold the batter gently to the right consistency, let shells rest until dry to the touch, and use an oven thermometer to confirm accuracy.