How to Make Macaron Shells

• Get all ingredients and tools ready before making this recipe.
• Line two baking sheet pans with a baking mat. Place the piping tip into a piping bag. I use a tall pitcher to hold the bag; this also helps with the transferring macaronage.
• In the mixing bowl, sift together almond flour and powdered sugar. Sometimes, I sift 2 or 3 times, depending on the almond flour.
• Mix powdered food coloring with white granulated sugar before adding it to egg whites.
• Add egg whites to a clean and dry mixing bowl of a stand mixer. Whisk on low speed. Start adding the sugar mixture in a few parts.
• Set times for 5 minutes and whip meringues. After that, change the speed in the mixer to medium and whip for 5 more minutes. Then change the speed again to a higher speed for 5 minutes. The total time for making French meringue is 15 minutes. I am using a classic Kitchen Aid stand mixer, and the speed is 4-6-8.
• Add sifted dry ingredients to the French meringue and fold the batter using a spatula. Do not overfold! Check the batter every 5 folds. The batter is ready when it flows fast from the spatula. 
• Transfer the batter to the piping bag with a round tip. 
• Pipe macaron shells on the prepared baking mats. Hold the piping bag straight and apply pressure when you start piping, then stop when you reach the desired size of the macaron shell. 
• Lightly tap the baking tray to remove air bubbles. Use a toothpick or baking needle to remove the bobbles from the piped macaron shells. 
• Let macaron shells rest (dry) on the countertop until no batter sticks to your finger when you touch it. This takes about 15 minutes, maybe longer or shorter, depending on your environment.  
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 300°F (150 °C).
• Bake macaron shells in a preheated oven for 14-16 minutes. Baking time and temperature may be different, depending on your oven. 
• Remove the baking tray from the oven and let the macaron shells cool to room temperature before removing them from the mat. 
• Pair macaron shells of similar sizes before filling them.