What is French Macarons for Beginners about?
French Macarons for Beginners is a step-by-step baking guide to making French macarons from scratch. It covers the basics, common mistakes, 30 shell recipes, and 30 filling recipes you can mix and match.
Who wrote French Macarons for Beginners?
French Macarons for Beginners was written by Natalie Wong. She is a self-taught macaron baker and the author of the blog Love and Macarons.
Is this book good for beginners who have never made macarons before?
Yes, this book is designed for beginners. It explains the process in simple stages, includes a Macarons 101 section, and has a full troubleshooting chapter for common problems.
What does this book help you do?
This book helps you make macarons with smooth shells, feet, and flavorful fillings at home. It also helps you avoid common issues like cracking, hollows, browning, and sticky shells.
Does the book explain why macarons fail?
Yes, it includes a dedicated troubleshooting chapter. It walks through common shell and filling problems, likely causes, and what to change on your next batch.
Does French Macarons for Beginners include both shells and fillings?
Yes, it includes both. The book has 30 shell recipes and 30 filling recipes, including buttercreams, ganaches, and salted caramel.
What kinds of macaron flavors are in the book?
The book includes classic and creative flavors such as vanilla bean, chocolate, pistachio, lemon, strawberry, matcha green tea, tiramisu, lavender, cotton candy, and s'mores. The recipes are meant to be mixed and matched for many combinations.
Does the book use the French or Italian macaron method?
This book uses the French method. Natalie Wong explains that the French method is simpler, while noting that both French and Italian methods can work well.
Are the recipes measured by weight or cups?
The book provides both weight and volume measurements. It strongly recommends using a kitchen scale because macarons are sensitive to small changes in ingredient ratios.
What equipment do I need to make the recipes in this book?
The book recommends basic tools such as a sifter, mixer, sheet pans, liners, a pastry bag with a round tip, and a spatula. It also explains lower-cost alternatives, like using a sandwich bag if you do not have a piping bag.
Does the book tell you how long macarons need to rest and bake?
Yes, it gives practical timing guidance. Piped shells usually rest 30 to 60 minutes with a fan or up to 2 hours without one, and many shell recipes bake at 300°F for about 14 minutes.
How many macarons does a typical recipe make?
Most shell recipes make 24 shells, which equals 12 finished macarons. Most filling recipes are also written to fill 12 macarons.
Does the book include storage instructions?
Yes, it explains how to store finished macarons. The book recommends refrigerating filled macarons overnight for best texture and flavor, and says they can be kept in the fridge for up to five days or frozen for up to three months.
Can I use store-bought fillings with these macaron shells?
Yes, the book says you can use simple store-bought fillings like jam, Nutella, or lemon curd. It also includes homemade filling recipes if you want more variety.
Is this book more of a recipe collection or a how-to guide?
It is both, but it leans heavily practical. Along with the recipes, it teaches technique, explains each stage of the process, and gives troubleshooting advice for shells and fillings.
If I want foolproof macarons, will this book help?
Yes, that is the book's main focus. It is built to help beginners make reliable macarons by using clear steps, exact measurements, and detailed troubleshooting.
