Blood Orange Walnut Macarons
These blood orange walnut macarons are sweet, crunchy and bursting with the bright winter citrus flavors of blood oranges.
This whole losing an hour business is making me very lazy today so I am going to keep this short and sweet. Sweet being the key word for these blood orange walnut macarons. If you have been around this blog for a while you know I have a soft spot for macarons ever since I tried my hand at them almost a year ago. These French cookies are always fun to whip up and play with flavors despite their challenging temperament from time to time.
I’ve been meaning to adventure into more nontraditional macarons ever since my friend Allie shared her walnut macarons with spiced cream cheese and cranberry here with us over the Christmas time. I finally gave them a shot and was pleasantly surprised how toasty walnut macarons were.
These blood orange walnut macarons are a burst of citrus that are perfect as we are warming up in most parts of the country. The walnut macaron shells are pillowy crunchy with lovely notes of sweet citrus from the blood orange zest infused in the shells. The shells are filled with a simple vanilla buttercream full of blood orange zest.
OK, so now that I have convinced you to make some walnut macarons, my job here is done. I shall return now to being lazy, catching up on some sleep and to ensure I can rejoice in the fact that spring is almost here!! Happy Monday ๐
Blood Orange Walnut Macarons
These blood orange walnut macarons are sweet, crunchy and bursting with the bright winter citrus flavors of blood oranges.
Ingredients
- 155g powdered (confectioners) sugar
- 50g walnut pieces
- 50g almond meal/flour
- zest of one blood orange
- 3 egg whites
- ยผ teaspoon cream of tartar
- pinch of salt
- 55 grams granulated sugar
- Few drops of orange food coloring (optional)
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1ยฝ cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- zest of one blood orange
- ยฝ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons blood orange juice (optional)
Instructions
- Line two sheet pans with parchment paper. I used a 1½-inch round cookie cutter to draw circles on the parchment paper and flip over the paper (drawing side down). Prepare a pastry bag with a round tip. I used Wilton 2A.
- Using a food processor, pulse the powdered sugar, walnut pieces, almond flour and zest into fine powder. Sift several times until there is less than 2 tablespoons of almond bits left. Add these to the mixture.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer with the whisk attachment, combine the egg whites, cream of tartar, sugar and salt. Whip on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 5-7 minutes. Add the food coloring and whip for another minute.
- Add the dry ingredients to the meringue and fold with a rubber spatula. Gently fold to deflate the meringue by pressing against the side of bowl and scooping from bottom until batter is smooth and shiny; about 20-25 folds. To check consistency, drop a spoonful of batter and it should have a peak that quickly relaxes back into the batter. Start checking the batter after 20 folds.
- Transfer batter into pastry bag and pipe the batter into the pre-traced circles on the baking sheet. Tap baking sheet hard on counter to release any air bubbles trapped in the batter. Let shells sit on counter for 20-30 minutes to dry.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. When ready to bake, put macarons in heated oven and reduce temperature immediately to 325 degrees. Bake for 11-12 minutes. Remove from oven and transfer shells to a cooling rack. Remember to raise the temperature back up to 375 degrees F before baking the next batch.
- Whip the butter until light and creamy. Add in the rest of the ingredients and mix on low until combined. Increase speed to low and whip for additional 2-3 minutes.
- Fill macarons with blood orange filling. Store in refrigerator until ready to serve. Let get to room temperature before enjoying!
These macarons are beautiful, I love the pretty orange color! I need to try making them with walnuts sometime for sure.
You my friend are seriously talented! I don’t even think I’ve tried blood oranges before. I’ve seen them in markets but thought it was bitter for some reason. And as far as the time change, it’s kicking my butt today, for sure!
Thanks Connie! I hope the day got better. I told myself I would get to bed earlier to help but that didn’t happen lol!
I need to mentally prepare myself before visiting your blog Zainab! Your creations are always amazing – I can’t get over the color in these. You’ve become quite the queen of flavor combos, too. You might have just convinced me to try macarons!
hahha Mary Frances thank you! I feel the same too of your recipes. Always so creative!!
Zainab! These are stunning! The color is just gorgeous! I so need to make this – ASAP! Pinned!
Thanks Trish!! The color is my favorite here ๐
Seriously, LOOOOVE these. They’re so beautiful! I haven’t tried making any macarons myself yet (a leetle scared) but I might need to just go for it to get these babies in my life.
Thanks Stephanie!! I was just over on your blog browsing bread recipes to force myself to get over my yeast-phobia.
Seriously gorgeous! Everytime you make a macaron, you are seriously wooing me to try them. Gosh I have no idea why I am so scared but I am going to try some in April or May ……
Thanks girl!! And yes, you need to make it!! maybe we should make a macaron virtual date for next month? Spring colors and fun??
I really want to try macarons soon — they’re so melt in your mouth delicious! The color of these is SO gorgeous, and they look like they’re bursting with blood orange flavor. Beauiful job!
Thanks Marcie. I am sure they will be so easy for you. You tackle french pastries like they are chocolate chip cookies ๐
Gahhh those macarons sound divine. I love the fact that you used walnuts instead of all almonds. Pinned!
its been on my bucket list for so long but seems like it will stay that way..what a unique combination!
Ok so I am so excited about you e-cookbook. Just bought my copy and browsed quickly through and i am drooling already from the pictures. It is going to be my relaxation reading later ๐ Congrats girl!! Macarons by the way are easy peasy after what you have accomplished there!
Zainab you have really out done yourself this time! Gorgeous, just gorgeous!!
Thanks Nancy!!
You make me so jealous of your macaron skills. I want a box of these please!
I keep meaning to give these a go, but never get around to it. These look so perfect and sound utterly delicious. I’m going to make macarons soon, I really am lol.
Thanks Laura! You need to give them a try soon ๐