Chocolate Macarons Shells Recipe

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Chocolate Macarons Shells Recipe is based on my French Meringue recipe. Follow my tips and tricks, and you can master these perfect chocolate macarons. You wonโ€™t be disappointed. First, let’s talk about cocoa powder.

Chocolate macaron shells in the box.

Ingredients

Labeled ingredients on the table.
  • Cocoa Powder: Extra Brute Cacao Barry cocoa powder
  • Flour: Almond flour. Make sure you are using almond flour and not almond meal.
  • Sugar: powdered sugar and white granulated sugar.
  • Egg: Egg whites room temperature
Chocolate macaron shells in the box.

What are Types of Cocoa Powder

Natural cocoa powder โ€“ is acidic, and has a richer chocolate flavor. The color is light brown. This powder is the most common and you can buy it in many stores. 

Dutch processed cocoa powder is also called alkalized cocoa powder or simply Dutch cocoa. After Dutch chemist and chocolate maker Coenraad Johannes van Houten introduced the process of alkalization. That means that cocoa solids have been treated with an alkalizing agent to reduce the natural acidity of cocoa. This powder has a dark brown color, mellow in flavor, and dissolves easily into liquids. 

There are also other cocoa powders exist on the market like red cocoa (alkalized cocoa with a red hue) and black cocoa (very dark, highly alkalized cocoa). 

What Cocoa Powder to Use for Macarons?

Iโ€™ve tested many different cocoa powders with my basic recipe and sharing the one really works. I recommend Extra Brute Cacao Barry. As a result, macarons have beautiful colors, taste delicious, and have perfect feet.

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How to Make This Recipe

Follow my French meringue macaron shells recipe for detailed instructions. I also have an online video lesson on how to make macaron shells using The No rest method.

Almond flour, powdered sugar, and cocoa powder in the fine sieve.
Dry ingredients in a bowl with meringue.
  • Sift almond flour, powdered sugar, and cocoa powder. 
  • Make French meringue. 
  • Add dry ingredients into the meringue and mix until batter falls slowly off the spatula. 
  • Transfer the batter into a pipping bag with round tip and pipe shells on silicone mat. 
  • Rest the shells until nice skin forms on top or when you lightly touch with your finger, it should not stick. 
  • Bake and cool shells completely. After that pair by size and fill them with filling of your choice. 
Chocolate macaronage in the mixing bowl.
Chocolate macaron shells on the Silpat baking mat.

Expert Tips

  • Get all ingredients and tools read before baking.
  • Measure all ingredients using a kitchen scale.
  • Baking time takes a few minutes longer than regular macaron shells.
  • Use a Silpat baking mat to bake macaron shells.
Chocolate macaron shells in the box.

Recipe FAQs

Why are chocolate macaron shells so hard to make?

I find that a lot of people don’t use the right cocoa powder when they make chocolate macaron shells. Adding too much cocoa powder can also affect shells. For example, macaron shells can be oily.

Why do Macarons Need to Mature?

The mature process of macarons happens when the filled macarons are left to rest for 24 hours in the refrigerator. The macarons will absorb moisture from the filling during this process, allowing the shells to be more hydrated. This makes that iconic soft and chewy texture.ย 

How to store macaron shells?

Store in an air-tight container for 2-3 days at room temperature.

Why are my macarons cracked?

This happens if you do not rest enough macaron shells before baking.

Why are my macarons hollow?

There are many reasons for this: not stable meringue, not correct folding technique, or wrong oven temperature.

Chocolate macaron shells in the box.

If you make these Chocolate Macarons Shells Recipe, please tag me on social media and make sure to leave a rating down below. I would love to see your creations.

Recipe

Chocolate macaron shells in the box.

Chocolate Macarons Shells Recipe

Marina Voronkov
The Chocolate Macarons Shells Recipe is based on my French meringue recipe. Follow my tips and tricks and you can master these perfect chocolate macarons.
5 from 4 votes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Dessert
Cuisine French
Servings 30 macarons
Calories 55 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 stand mixer or electric hand mixer
  • 1 spatula
  • 1 pastry bag
  • 1 round pipping tip
  • 1 digital kitchen scale

Ingredients
  

Macaron shells

  • 15 gr ย (2 Tablespoon) Extra Brute Cacao Barry cocoa powder
  • 125 gr (1 1/4 cup) almond flour
  • 125 gr (1 cup) powdered sugar
  • 100 gr (1/2 cup from 3 large eggs) egg whites room temperature
  • 100 gr (1/2 cup) granulated sugar

Instructions
 

How to Make Chocolate Macaron Shells

  • Get all ingredients and equipment ready.ย ย 
  • In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer, add room-temperature egg whites and start whisking on low speed. Start adding sugar one tablespoon at a time.ย Increase speed to medium-high and whip until glossy and medium peaks. This will take 10-15 minutes.ย 
  • In another mixing bowl, sift together almond flour, powdered sugar, and cocoa powder.
  • Add dry ingredients to the French meringue and start folding the butter.ย The batter is ready when you can make a figure 8 with a spatula, or it flows โ€œlike lava.โ€ย 
  • Transfer macaron batter into a pastry bag with a round pipping tip.
  • Pipe macaron shells on the baking mats.
  • Top the baking sheet pan with pipped macaron shells a few times. Let shells rest on the countertop until no batter sticks to your finger when you touch it.ย 
  • Bake macaron shells in the preheated oven to 275oย F (134oย C) -300oF (150oC) for 12-14 minutes. Oven temperature and baking time may vary, depending on your oven.ย 
  • Remove baked macaron shells from the oven and let it cool on the baking mat with a baking sheet pan. When shells are cooled completely, remove them from the baking mat and pair them with similar sizes.ย 

Video

Notes

Egg whites must be at room temperature.
Iโ€™ve noticed that the baking time for chocolate macaron shells is longer than for basic shells. My gas oven is 16 minutes at 275oF (134oC).
ย 

Nutrition

Serving: 1macaronCalories: 55kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 1gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 0.2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.002gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.02gSodium: 6mgPotassium: 13mgFiber: 1gSugar: 8gCalcium: 10mgIron: 0.2mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @everything_marina or tag #everythingmarina!

One Comment

5 from 4 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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