Valentine's Macarons: Rose Petal, Sea Salt, and Champagne Buttercream




Hello Bakers,

There are only four days left to Valentine's Day. Here is a lovely romantic macaron to bake for your Valentine - Rose petal and Sea Salt with Champagne Buttercream.

A few weeks ago, I taught this macaron at Great News Cooking School in sunny San Diego.
For those of you who don't know Great News, it is located in Pacific Beach.
Please check it out at www.great-news.com. I love teaching there. They offer classes and their
shop is stocked with great kitchen equipment.
This recipe was a particular hit with the class and I thought that you all might enjoy it too.
Especially, if you are looking for a handmade and delicious Valentine gift.

For those of you who have taken any of my on ground macaron classes at Sur La Table www.surlatable.com or my Craftsy class,  French  Miniature Desserts www.craftsy.com/ext/ColetteChristian_4898_F, the techniques are the same.

The Rose Petals and Sea Salt were a great find.
Usually when I make rose petal macarons, I use Tampico rose petals from the spice section at the grocery store or a rose tea from Teavana or Bird Pick.
The rose petals are ground up with the almond meal and confectioner's sugar so either works well.
But I had a feeling that there was something better out there....
Running through the Farmer's Market looking for more rose petals - I had a flash of insight - maybe Dragunura, (the spice shop) would have rose petals - well they did - blended with sea salt no less.
 www.DRAGUNARA.com
A rose petal/sea salt blend is also available at Spice Station in Silverlake http://spicestationsilverlake.com/ and at other Spice Station locations as well.

These rose petals were food grade, had a beautiful color and were the perfect size. The only problem was that I wasn't quite sure if the salt would effect the shell.
You all know how worried we are about adding anything to the shell.
Long story long - they turned out great - nothing bad happened. I was thrilled.
To keep the feeling of romance strong, I paired this with a lovely Champagne buttercream.
Amoretti flavorings makes a delicious Champagne extract - there are also directions for reducing Champagne or Sparkling Wine to get the same effect - Please do not use the good Champagne in this buttercream - drink it with the macarons.

Here is the recipe. I hope you add this recipe to your macaron repertoire. They are delicious.
If you stay up all night baking them, it's ok - your Valentine will love you all that much more for your efforts.
Please let me know if you have questions - I am here to help.
Happy Valentine's Day Bakers!
It's your day to show off and show your loved ones how much you care>
Happy Baking!
Colette

Rose Petal  Macarons (French Meringue)
Makes 30-35 macaron sandwiches 
Note: recipe may be cut in half

Equipment:
Stand or Hand held mixer
Large bowl
Flat rubber spatula
Food processor
Piping bag
#12 Wilton tip or Ateco #803 or any plain round tip with a 3/8” diameter opening

Ingredients: 
198g sugar
113g  almond meal
113g egg whites
Pinch cream of tartar
2 teaspoon pulverized edible, dried rose petals
100g granulated sugar
2 drops of vanilla extract
3 drops of rose extract or rose water

Food coloring – gel colors Wilton or Americolor
Preheat oven to 330 degrees

1.   Pulse the powdered sugar, almond meal and the rose petals in a food processor until it looks like fine meal – about 15 seconds.

2.   Whip the egg with the cream of tartar until the look like light foam.
3.   Rain in sugar – whip on medium high speed until soft peaks form.
The meringue should resemble still be soft and shiny
 Add color if desired and vanilla extract.
4.   Whip until the meringue is at medium stiff peaks.

5.   Transfer to a medium sized bowl.
6.   Fold in the almond meal and powdered sugar in three increments.
7.   Macaronnage until the mixture slides slowly down the bowl.

8.   Pipe.

9.   Let dry until they form a skin. ( 15 - 20 minutes)
10.                Bake at 330 degrees. Check in 10 minutes
11.                If their tops slide then bake for 2 more minutes.
12.                Do not try to remove from parchment or silpat until completely cool

Champagne Buttercream

Storage: Five days refrigerated
Freezer: One month

Equipment:
Mixer
Whisk attachment
Saucepan –
Whisk
Instant read thermometer

Ingredients:
2 ounces Egg whites
5 ounces granulated sugar

8 ounces butter – cubed and chilled
1 teaspoons vanilla bean paste or ½ vanilla bean scraped + ½  teaspoon vanilla extract
1-2 Tablespoons reduced sparkling wine or Champagne
Or 1 teaspoon champagne extract  (available through Amoretti http://www.amorettistore.com/
Pink and Red Wilton Gel Color

Method:

1.   Place egg whites and sugar in mixer bowl.
2.   Set bowl over a medium saucepan filled 1/3rd of the way with simmering water. ( The bottom of the mixer bowl should not touch the water)
3.   Whisk on medium heat for 3-4 minutes or until the mixture registers 156 degrees on an instant read thermometer.
4.   Remove the bowl from the heat and attach it the stand mixer. If using a hand mixer – make sure the bowl is stable.
5.   Whisk on medium high speed until the mixture is at room temperature.
This can take 4-6 minutes.
6.   Add the butter one piece at a time – adding each additional piece as the previous one disappears.
7.   When all the butter is added and the mixture looks fluffy and well emulsified – change to the paddle attachment.

8.   On low speed add in the vanilla and Champagne extract.

Leftover assembled macarons should be refrigerated.

Rose Macaron assembly
Rose Petal and Sea Salt Shells
Champagne Buttercream