Let's make a Macaron Christmas Tree with Jyoti of The Purple Cupcake! Jyoti will teach us how to use Master Elite Food Colors (click here) in coloring the macaron batter! She also provides some instructions on building a Macaron Christmas Tree! A Macaron Christmas tree will dazzle all of your friends and family at all the holiday gatherings! I can serve as the most beautiful centerpiece of your dessert table, too!
You do not want to miss this tutorial!
COLORING MACARON BATTER FOR YOUR MACARON CHRISTMAS TREE
Products Used Are Linked At The End: Blue Spruce and Lilac Master Elites
Our food colors, The Master Elite Collection, are MOST popular among macaron makers! The reason? Well, when you add gel colors in excess it can ruin the integrity of your macaron batter. And let's be honest, macaron batter is HARD ENOUGH without ruining the consistency! That's why MASTER ELITES are often the answer! You can add as much (but we don't recommend TOO much ;)) Master Elite Color as you want, and because they are a dry colorant - they WILL NOT AFFECT THE BATTER!
However - you need to first ACTIVATE the color! You can either add it straight into your macaron batter, like Jyoti does here, or you can activate it in your egg whites FIRST! I will post some additional macaron tutorials HERE!
Master Elites also intensify during your bake! They will not fade, if anything they get much more vibrant!
Master Elite Food Colors are INCREDIBLE for almost any sugar art medium! See our FULL TUTORIAL on Master Elites HERE. As you may have noticed, Master Elites are raw pigment food colors and the color you see in the jar is not ultimately the color you will get when using inside of your confection! They must be activated by moisture. The Master Elite will bloom instantly when in contact with moisture!
EDIBLE GLITTER DUST
DiamonDust is an original creation that began in 2019! It is 100% Edible Food Colors that GLITTER! The glitter found in DiamonDust is synthetic mica which is FDA Approved for consumption! All of our products are also Kosher Certified by Dallas Kosher.
To learn more about our Edible Glitter, visit THIS LINK (click here)! You can use it on any confection and once you try DiamonDust, you will NEVER go back! They are the perfect glitter finish (& 100% food-grade / edible) for your macarons, cakes, cookies and chocolate treats!
Tips for Perfect Macarons
Macarons can be a bit tricky to master, but with a few expert tips, you’ll be well on your way to creating flawless, festive treats for your macaron Christmas tree. Here are some key things to keep in mind:
Weigh Your Ingredients While many recipes allow for volume measurements, when it comes to macarons, precision is everything. Use a kitchen scale to weigh your ingredients, especially the almond flour and powdered sugar. This ensures consistency, which is key to making perfect macarons every time.
Age Your Egg Whites If you're new to macaron making, you may not realize that aged egg whites give your macarons a much better texture. Separating your egg whites and letting them sit out for at least 24 hours (and up to 72 hours) allows them to dry out slightly, which improves the macaron's stability when baking. The aged egg whites help form those perfect macaron "feet" at the base.
Sift, Sift, Sift Sifting your almond flour and powdered sugar together is crucial for that smooth, shiny macaron shell. Don’t skip this step! You want to avoid any lumps or clumps that could affect the texture. For extra smoothness, you can even sift the mixture twice.
Fold with Care When folding the dry ingredients into your whipped egg whites, be gentle yet intentional. Over-mixing can result in flat, spread-out macarons, while under-mixing can make them puff up unevenly. Look for the "lava-like" consistency, where the batter flows smoothly off your spatula in thick ribbons. This technique is known as macaronage and is crucial to achieving the right texture.
Let Them Rest After piping the macarons onto your baking sheet, let them rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes, or until they form a slight skin. This will help prevent cracks in the shells and ensure a smooth, glossy surface.
Monitor Oven Temperature Macarons are sensitive to temperature, so it’s important to use an oven thermometer to ensure your oven is at the right temperature, typically around 300°F. If the oven is too hot, the macarons may brown too quickly; if too cool, they might not develop the signature “feet.”
Customize Your Macaron Christmas Tree
A macaron Christmas tree is not only a beautiful centerpiece, but it can also be customized to match your unique holiday style. Here are some fun ways to make your tree stand out:
Flavor Variety Don’t limit yourself to just one macaron flavor. You can mix and match several different flavors to create a festive variety. Some popular Christmas macaron flavors include:
- Peppermint: A classic holiday flavor that pairs well with a white or pink macaron shell.
- Gingerbread: Add warm spices like cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg to your filling for a cozy, wintery bite.
- Eggnog: A rich, creamy eggnog-flavored filling is perfect for bringing that extra festive touch.
- Cranberry-Orange: This bright, zesty combination brings a refreshing contrast to the sweet macaron shell.
- Chocolate-Hazelnut: A decadent flavor perfect for satisfying your holiday chocolate cravings.
Festive Colors Play around with Sugar Art's Master Elite OR Gel Colors to create the perfect Christmas palette for your macarons. For a traditional look, use colors like red, green, white, and gold. You can also experiment with non-traditional Christmas colors, such as icy blues, deep purples, or shimmery metallics using our Edible Luster Dust.
To learn how our Gel Colors faire in Macarons - CLICK HERE (full tutorial).
Decorative Elements Once your macarons are assembled, take the decoration a step further by adding extra holiday details. Here are a few ideas:
- Edible Glitter: Sprinkle your macarons with Sugar Art Edible Glitter for an extra touch of sparkle. This is especially effective on white or metallic-colored macarons for a wintery, frosted look.
- Luster Dust: Use edible Luster Dust to add a subtle sheen to your macarons, giving them a more elegant appearance.
- Festive Sprinkles: Add a dusting of festive sprinkles in holiday shapes, like stars, snowflakes, or Christmas trees, to some of your macaron shells before baking for added flair.
- Fondant Decorations: If you’re feeling extra creative, consider adding small fondant decorations, such as snowflakes or holly berries, to the top of your macarons.
Displaying Your Macaron Christmas Tree
Presentation is everything when it comes to your macaron Christmas tree. Once you’ve baked and decorated your macarons, it’s time to assemble your show-stopping centerpiece.
Macaron Tower A macaron tower or cone is the traditional way to create your Christmas tree. You can purchase a styrofoam or plastic cone and attach your macarons using toothpicks or food-safe adhesive. Start from the bottom and work your way up, making sure to cover the entire surface with macarons. For an even more stunning look, alternate colors as you go up the tree or create an ombre effect.
Cake Stand If you don’t have a macaron tower, you can still display your macarons in a beautiful way by stacking them on a tiered cake stand. Use different colored macarons to create layers of festive color. Add some greenery or fairy lights around the stand for an extra festive touch.
Edible Christmas Tree To really take your macaron tree to the next level, you can decorate it with additional edible elements like mini candy canes, sugared cranberries, or small pieces of chocolate bark shaped like tree branches. This not only makes your tree look more festive but also adds even more delicious flavors to enjoy.
Storing and Serving
Macarons are best when they’ve had time to mature, which means making your macaron Christmas tree ahead of time is a smart idea. Store your macarons in an airtight container in the fridge for 24-48 hours before assembling the tree. This allows the flavors to meld together, making the macarons even more delicious when served.
If you’re not planning to serve the tree right away, store the macarons separately in the fridge and assemble them just before your event. This ensures the macarons stay fresh and don’t absorb moisture from the environment.
Creating a macaron Christmas tree is a fun, festive way to celebrate the holiday season with a touch of elegance. Using The Sugar Art Gel Colors and edible decorations, you can make this project your own and impress everyone with your baking skills. Happy baking, and enjoy crafting your beautiful and delicious macaron Christmas tree!
THANK YOU!
Be sure to follow Jyoti Nanra @thepurplecupcake_ for allllll of the macaron tips! We appreciate your support so much and hope you enjoyed this demonstration on how to make a macaron Christmas tree! Linking all products used in this demonstration below!
Be sure to tag us if you try any of our confections in all of your social media posts too! Click all links below to follow!
PRODUCTS USED:
Blue Spruce Food Color
$6.00
THIS VIBRANT BLUE-GREEN FOOD COLOR IS INCREDIBLE! THE DARKEST TONE REMINDS US OF A BLUE SPRUCE TREE, BUT YOU CAN ALSO ACHIEVE AN AMAZING MINT GREEN ICING AS WELL! MASTER ELITES ARE POWDER FOOD COLORS, INTENDED TO COLOR ROYAL ICING,… read more
Lilac Food Color
$6.00
MASTER ELITES ARE HIGHLY INTENSE POWDER FOOD COLORS. INTENDED TO COLOR ROYAL ICING, FONDANT, BUTTERCREAM, MACARON BATTER, CAKE BATTER AND MORE! KEEP IN MIND, MASTER ELITES ARE NOT FAT SOLUBLE AND CANNOT COLOR CHOCOLATE. NET WEIGHT: 4 GRAMS CHECK OUT THE ORIGINAL SMALL… read more
Gold Edible Glitter
$9.00
GOLD EDIBLE GLITTER, DIAMONDUST, IS STUNNING! USE THIS EDIBLE GOLD DUST FOR CAKES, COOKIES, CANDY, DRINKS OR FOOD! IT IS A VERY RICH GOLD GLITTER THAT LOOKS ESPECIALLY LUXE ON CHOCOLATE! THIS VERY FINE EDIBLE GOLD GLITTER DUST IS TASTELESS… read more
