Name: Festive Christmas Macarons Recipe
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 1 h 45 min
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 120g almond flour (finely ground); 120g powdered sugar; 90g egg whites (about 3 large eggs, aged at room temperature); 100g granulated sugar; Gel food coloring: red, green, white; Optional: edible glitter, snowflake stencils, royal icing for decorating; 150g unsalted butter, softened; 250g powdered sugar; 2–3 tbsp heavy cream or milk; 1 tsp vanilla extract or peppermint extract (optional for holiday flavor)

If you’re looking to impress your guests this holiday season with a delightful and elegant treat, then this Festive Christmas Macarons Recipe is exactly what you need. I absolutely love how these delicate cookies come out – crunchy on the outside with that irresistible chewy center, paired with a luscious buttercream filling that’s bursting with festive flavors. Stick with me, and I’ll walk you through every step so you end up with picture-perfect macarons that’ll have everyone asking for your secret!

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Perfectly Festive Flavors: The peppermint or vanilla buttercream perfectly complements the delicate almond shells, adding that holiday sparkle.
Beautiful Presentation: With options to add edible glitter and snowflake stencils, these macarons look just as good as they taste.
Great for Gifting: They store well and make an impressive homemade gift that your friends and family will treasure.
Baking Confidence: I share my personal tricks here, so even if you’ve struggled with macarons before, you’ll nail this festive batch.

The image shows a white plate filled with colorful macarons arranged closely together on a white marbled surface. The macarons have three main colors: white with small green holly leaves and red berries on top, smooth red with a few sprinkled crumbs, and pale green with a rougher texture and some gold flakes. Some macarons are facing flat, displaying their round tops, while others show the side, revealing two smooth cookie layers sandwiching creamy filling. The overall look is festive, bright, and textured, with a mix of smooth and slightly rough surfaces. photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Festive Christmas Macarons, Christmas macarons recipe, holiday macarons, Christmas dessert ideas, festive treat recipes

Ingredients You’ll Need

Each ingredient in this Festive Christmas Macarons Recipe plays a crucial role in creating that perfect texture and flavor you love. Using freshly sifted almond flour and powdered sugar gives you smooth shells, and aged egg whites make the meringue stable – trust me, these little details make all the difference!

Flat lay of a medium white ceramic bowl filled with finely ground almond flour, a small white ceramic bowl with powdered sugar, three whole large eggs with clean shells, a small white ceramic bowl containing granulated sugar, three small white ceramic bowls each holding vivid red, green, and white gel food coloring, a medium white ceramic bowl with softened unsalted butter, a small white ceramic bowl of heavy cream, a small white ceramic bowl with vanilla extract, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997 - Festive Christmas Macarons, Christmas macarons recipe, holiday macarons, Christmas dessert ideas, festive treat recipes

Almond Flour: Make sure it’s finely ground for smooth shells and always sift before using to avoid lumps.
Powdered Sugar: Helps balance the texture of the almond flour and sweetens the shells delicately.
Egg Whites: Aged at room temperature for 24–48 hours; this trick makes your meringue bubbly and stable.
Granulated Sugar: Slowly added to egg whites to create that glossy, stiff meringue that’s key to macarons.
Gel Food Coloring: Red, green, and white are perfect for the holidays – gel colors won’t mess with the batter’s consistency.
Unsalted Butter: For a creamy buttercream; using unsalted lets you control the sweetness.
Heavy Cream or Milk: Adds smoothness to the buttercream filling.
Vanilla or Peppermint Extract: Peppermint gives a great festive kick, but vanilla works beautifully too.
Optional Decorations: Edible glitter, snowflake stencils, or royal icing to add that holiday charm.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

I love trying different twists on this Festive Christmas Macarons Recipe depending on the year or mood. Don’t hesitate to personalize it with your favorite holiday flavors or decorations—macarons are perfect for that creative touch!

Flavor Variation: Once, I swapped peppermint extract for orange zest and it added a lovely citrus brightness—perfect if you want something less traditional.
Dietary Twist: For a dairy-free option, I’ve replaced butter with coconut oil in the filling, and it still turned out silky and delicious.
Decorating Fun: Use edible gold dust or colored sugar crystals for a sparkle effect that kids especially love helping with.

How to Make Festive Christmas Macarons Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Ingredients for Success

Start by sifting your almond flour and powdered sugar together to get rid of any clumps—this ensures your shells turn out perfectly smooth. Don’t skip aging your separated egg whites in the fridge for 24 to 48 hours; I learned this trick after many failed batches, and it’s a total game changer for making a stable meringue.

Step 2: Making the Meringue

In a clean, grease-free bowl, beat your egg whites on medium speed until foamy. Then, slowly add granulated sugar one spoon at a time while beating. Once all sugar is in, crank your mixer up to high and whip until you get stiff, glossy peaks. When I first tried this, I found slow sugar addition was key—dumping it all in caused my meringue to collapse!

Step 3: The Macaronage (Folding) Technique

Gently fold the sifted almond mixture into the meringue with a silicone spatula. This is the step you’ll want to pay close attention to. Fold in slow, circular motions to deflate some air but stop when the batter flows off the spatula in a thick ribbon that smooths out within 10–15 seconds. Overmixing here is an easy mistake that’ll leave you with flat, chewy macarons instead of those pretty tall feet.

Step 4: Pipe, Rest, and Bake

Transfer your batter to a piping bag fitted with a round tip and pipe 1.5-inch rounds onto parchment-lined trays. I like to tap my trays firmly against the counter a few times to pop any air bubbles—that little trick keeps the shells smooth. Then, patience is your friend: let your shells rest for 30–60 minutes until they develop a dry “skin” that doesn’t stick to your finger when lightly touched. Bake at 300°F (150°C) for 12–15 minutes and you’ll see the magic when they lift cleanly off the parchment, perfectly firm with those signature feet.

Step 5: Whip Up the Buttercream Filling

Beat softened butter until creamy, then gradually add powdered sugar until smooth. Add cream or milk slowly until you have a luscious, pipeable consistency. I often add peppermint extract at this stage for that holiday flair, but vanilla works marvelously too. Taste as you go—this filling is where you can really customize the festive flavor!

Step 6: Assemble and Decorate

Match shells by size and pipe a small dollop of buttercream on one shell’s flat side. Gently sandwich with its pair and press lightly to spread the filling evenly. Decorating is where you can let your creativity shine: from royal icing snowflakes to edible glitter, these macarons become little holiday masterpieces. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for at least 24 hours to allow the flavors to meld beautifully before serving.

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Pro Tips for Making Festive Christmas Macarons Recipe

Aging Egg Whites: Leaving the egg whites uncovered in the fridge for a day or two removes moisture and stabilizes your meringue, leading to puffier shells.
Perfect Macaronage: Watch your batter flow carefully; if it’s too runny, your macarons will spread flat, if it’s too stiff they won’t form feet.
Resting Time is Crucial: Don’t rush the skin-forming stage—this creates the shell’s glossy exterior and prevents cracking during baking.
Bake one tray at a time: Oven heat can be uneven, so baking one tray at a time helps get that perfect texture every time.

How to Serve Festive Christmas Macarons Recipe

Festive Christmas Macarons Recipe - Serving

Garnishes

I love brushing a light coat of edible glitter on top of my macarons for that subtle holiday sparkle. Snowflake royal icing stencils also add an elegant touch, and sometimes I add tiny fondant holly leaves and berries for an extra festive look. These little details always wow guests and make the presentation feel extra special.

Side Dishes

Pair your macarons with a warm cup of peppermint tea or rich hot chocolate for a cozy vibe. I’ve also found they’re fantastic alongside a simple cheese board during holiday get-togethers, adding a sweet contrast to salty bites.

Creative Ways to Present

One year, I arranged my macarons on a tiered cake stand decorated with pine sprigs and holly berries—it instantly became the star centerpiece at the party. For gifting, wrapping them in clear boxes with red satin ribbons always makes a luxurious impression.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

After assembling, I store my macarons in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days. I never skip the resting step in the fridge because the flavors mellow and the texture becomes wonderfully soft in the center while shells stay crisp outside.

Freezing

For longer storage, these macarons freeze beautifully. I flash freeze the assembled cookies in a single layer on a tray before transferring them to a freezer-safe container. When I want to enjoy them, I let them thaw in the fridge overnight, and they taste just as fresh as day one.

Reheating

Macarons are best served at room temperature, so I just take them out of the fridge about 30 minutes before serving. If you want a slight warmth, a quick 5-10 second zap in the microwave (wrapped loosely in a paper towel) softens the buttercream without melting the shells.

FAQs

Can I skip aging the egg whites for this Festive Christmas Macarons Recipe?

You can skip aging if you’re short on time, but aging helps reduce moisture in the whites, resulting in a more stable meringue and better texture. I recommend at least letting them come to room temperature before whipping if you skip aging.
How do I know when the macaron shells have rested enough?

The shells are ready to bake when they develop a dry “skin” and don’t stick to your fingertip when you gently touch them. This usually takes 30 to 60 minutes depending on your kitchen’s humidity.
What should I do if my macarons crack or don’t develop feet?

Cracking often means the shells didn’t rest long enough or the oven temperature is too high. Not developing feet might mean your batter was overmixed or undermixed. Use an oven thermometer, rest the shells properly, and check your macaronage technique for best results.
Can I use powdered food coloring instead of gel?

Gel food coloring is preferred because it won’t affect the batter’s consistency. Powdered color can sometimes dry out the batter or cause clumping, leading to less ideal shells.
How do I store decorated macarons?

Once decorated and assembled, store macarons in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days to keep them fresh. For longer storage, they can be frozen and thawed before serving.

Final Thoughts

This Festive Christmas Macarons Recipe has become one of my favorite holiday traditions to make and share. I remember the first time I made them for my family’s Christmas party—the delighted faces and compliments made all the effort so worth it. You’ll enjoy feeling proud to serve these delicate beauties, and trust me, once you get the hang of it, you might just want to make them all year round. So grab your piping bag, get cozy, and enjoy the sweet magic of crafting your own festive macarons!