Phoebe and I went to a macaroon class on Saturday. We had a good time, learned how to make them properly, and came home with boxes of beautiful, pastel macaroons that looked like something we might have bought in Paris. Today the macaroons are still looking beautiful, pastel, and Parisian on our windowsill, since nobody has eaten them. This has nothing to do with preserving their delicate appearance or me forbidding anyone to touch them. No, the simple reason is that they don't taste good.
The macaroons bear out my basic baking belief that simplest is best. The macaroon shells are totally traditional and delicious, but the fillings are too clever for their own good. As soon as we saw that we would be making lychee/white chocolate/rosewater, orange and lemon curd/cinnamon, and dark chocolate/mint fillings, we decided we would remove at least one flavour from each combination (lychee, rosewater, cinnamon, mint) to make it nice to eat. However, as we were working in groups Phoebe and I couldn't be subversive, so we filled our pretty and perfectly formed shells with stuff and goo we knew we wouldn't be eating.
Tellingly, the only macaroons that were eaten within minutes of us getting home were those with a caramel filling. Because they were simple and quite simply delicious.
I agree! Simple is best...being creative is wonderful, just not always when it comes to dessert ingredients. The macaroons do look beautiful though!
Posted by: Monica | November 29, 2010 at 16:19
A bit disappointing to not be able to enjoy eating your pretty macaroons. You will just have to make some more!
Posted by: Marie | November 29, 2010 at 16:25
They look fab though! I'd like to have a go at making those, ah yes one day. Definitely the best idea to tone down the flavourings, shame your cunning plan could not be pulled off, drat!
Hen x
Posted by: Hen | November 29, 2010 at 19:11
I finally tried making your world-renowned rock buns yesterday. Oh my gosh, they're fabulous. Truly perfect with tea. Thank you!
Posted by: Juti | November 29, 2010 at 19:27
Ha! I knew it, those fancy schmancy macaroons are too good to be true. They do look gorgeous though.
Thank you Juti for reminding me that Jane's rock cakes are so simple and so delicious. Just the things to fill the cake tins when I bake tomorrow.
Sue x
Posted by: Sue | November 29, 2010 at 19:57
I totally agree!!
Well, they can look pretty until they mold...and you can bake some more that are yummy - and simple!
Posted by: Martha | November 29, 2010 at 20:15
lol
That is sooooo true of life. Simple is best.
Posted by: Katherine | November 29, 2010 at 20:39
Well, they are quite pretty.
Posted by: Virginia | November 29, 2010 at 20:43
They are so pretty, and I love the fAct they are frilly round the edges! Do you have a recipe to share I can try for my sweet-toothed husband?!
Posted by: geraldine | November 29, 2010 at 20:56
There's a macaron shop here in Montreal that makes all sorts of wonderful flavours that are as amazing as they are delicious. But I think they keep it to one flavour to a macaron.
Posted by: Jane | November 29, 2010 at 21:49
Why do people try to improve on the original? Food that is successful, and has been for some time, does not need you (a generic you here) to come & add twenty different flavours that dont even match when written down.
Mind you, I've seen some lamington macarons that could be interesting...
Could the pretty but inedible macarons become christmas tree decorations?
Posted by: MissHeliotrope | November 29, 2010 at 22:29
I suppose you could scrape out the fillings. I wouldn't have liked those combinations either.
Posted by: Peg in Kensington, California | November 30, 2010 at 00:23
Congratulations on such beautiful macarons! I have tried a couple of times and dismally failed to get that lovely frilly foot.
However, while I relish the challenge and admire the aesthetics of the macaron, I don't like eating them!
Thanks for being the first to break the silence Jane, I feel unburdened from my terrible secret!
Posted by: Fee | November 30, 2010 at 00:48
So true! What's wrong with a simple chocolate filling or a nice buttercream?? They look beautiful though!
Posted by: jen | November 30, 2010 at 11:31
Ah the sight of them is making me dream of Paris and Laduree macaroons. Yes, I know you can get them in London now, but that always seems like cheating.
Posted by: Sophie | November 30, 2010 at 12:38
Simple is the best - I just prefer the macaroon part......
Julie xxxxxx
Posted by: Julie | November 30, 2010 at 12:44
Which bears out my preference for unfrosted cakes, when the cake itself is good. Particularly a good chocolate cake.
Posted by: Lizbon | December 01, 2010 at 05:00
they are pretty, but simplicity is best!
Posted by: penny | December 03, 2010 at 13:18