Santa Claus Macarons: A Festive Holiday Treat

Get into the holiday spirit with these adorable Santa Claus Macarons! These sweet French confections are filled with your choice of creamy filling and decorated to look like everyone’s favorite jolly man, Santa. Not only are they delicious, but they also add a festive touch to any holiday dessert table. Perfect for gifting or sharing with loved ones, these macarons are sure to impress!

Why You’ll Love Santa Claus Macarons

• Festive and Fun: These macarons are as fun to make as they are to eat, with their cute Santa-themed decorations.
• Deliciously Sweet: Light, airy macaron shells paired with a sweet filling make this a perfect treat for the holidays.
• Great for Gifting: Pack these up in a cute box, and they make an excellent homemade holiday gift.
• Customizable Filling: Choose your favorite filling, from buttercream to ganache, to match your flavor preferences.

Ingredients for Santa Claus Macarons

• 1 ½ cups almond flour
• 1 ¾ cups powdered sugar
• 3 egg whites (room temperature)
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• Red gel food coloring (for Santa’s hat)
• Black gel food coloring (for eyes)
• White gel food coloring (for beard and details)
• Edible gold or yellow pearls (for belt buckle)
• Vanilla buttercream or ganache (for filling)

How to Make Santa Claus Macarons

1. Prepare the Dry Ingredients:
   • Sift together the almond flour and powdered sugar into a bowl. Set aside.
2. Make the Meringue:
   • In a separate mixing bowl, beat the egg whites on medium speed until foamy. Gradually add the granulated sugar while continuing to beat until stiff peaks form.
3. Combine and Color the Mixture:
   • Gently fold the sifted almond flour and powdered sugar mixture into the meringue, being careful not to deflate the egg whites.
   • Once the batter is smooth and flows like lava, divide the mixture in half.
   • Color one half red for Santa’s hat using red gel food coloring. Leave the other half white for Santa’s beard and face.
4. Pipe the Macarons:
   • Transfer each color of batter into separate piping bags.
   • On a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, pipe small round shapes for Santa’s face and larger red semi-circles for the hat. Use the white batter to add a small pom-pom and trim for the hat.
5. Rest and Bake:
   • Allow the piped macarons to rest at room temperature for 30-60 minutes until they form a skin on top.
   • Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C) and bake for 15-18 minutes. Let them cool completely before decorating.
6. Decorate Santa’s Face:
   • Once cooled, use black gel food coloring to paint on Santa’s eyes. Add white gel food coloring for his beard and trim details. Place an edible gold or yellow pearl on the belt buckle if desired.
7. Fill the Macarons:
   • Pipe your filling of choice (vanilla buttercream, chocolate ganache, or any festive flavor) onto the back of one macaron shell and sandwich it with another.
8. Serve and Enjoy:
   • Your Santa Claus macarons are now ready to be served! They make a delightful and whimsical holiday treat.

Tips for Perfect Santa Claus Macarons

• Practice Patience: Allowing the macaron shells to rest before baking is key to achieving that signature smooth, shiny surface.
• Use Gel Food Coloring: Gel coloring works best for macarons, as it doesn’t add too much liquid to the batter.
• Decorate with Care: A small, fine-tipped paintbrush or toothpick will help you create precise details on Santa’s face and hat.

Why Santa Claus Macarons Are Perfect for the Holidays

These Santa Claus Macarons are not just delicious; they’re also a holiday showstopper! They add a special, festive flair to any holiday party or gathering. Plus, their bite-sized sweetness makes them a perfect treat for both kids and adults.

Santa Claus Macarons Recipe

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 18 minutes mins

60 resting time 1 hour hr

Servings 24 macarons

Calories 110 kcal

Ingredients

  

For the Macaron Shells:

• 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 cup almond flour finely ground
• 3 large egg whites at room temperature
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• Red gel food coloring
• Black and white gel food coloring for decorating

For the Buttercream Filling:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk

For Decorating:

• Royal icing white and red or edible paint pens
• Mini marshmallows for Santa’s beard
• Edible pearls or sprinkles for eyes and hat decoration

Instructions

 

Prepare the macaron shells:

• Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.
• Sift the powdered sugar and almond flour together into a large bowl to remove any lumps.

Make the meringue:

• In a clean, dry bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until soft peaks form.
• Gradually add the granulated sugar, one tablespoon at a time, and continue beating until stiff, glossy peaks form.
• Add a few drops of red gel food coloring and mix until fully incorporated and evenly colored.

Combine and fold:

• Gently fold the sifted powdered sugar and almond flour mixture into the meringue in small batches. Use a spatula to fold, being careful not to deflate the meringue.
• The batter should be smooth and flow like “lava” when dripped from the spatula.

Pipe the macarons:

• Transfer the macaron batter into a piping bag fitted with a round tip.
• Pipe small circles (about 1.5 inches in diameter) onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving space between each macaron shell.
• Tap the baking sheets on the counter a few times to release any air bubbles.
• Let the macarons rest at room temperature for 30-60 minutes, or until a skin forms on the surface (you should be able to touch them without the batter sticking to your finger).

Bake the macarons:

• Bake the macarons for 15-18 minutes, or until the tops are set and the “feet” have formed around the edges.
• Let the macarons cool completely on the baking sheets before removing them.

Make the buttercream filling:

• In a bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy.
• Gradually add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, then add the heavy cream or milk. Beat until light and fluffy.

Assemble the macarons:

• Once the macaron shells have cooled, pair them by size.
• Pipe the buttercream filling onto the flat side of one shell and sandwich it with the other.

Decorate the macarons:

• Use white royal icing or edible white paint to create Santa’s beard and hat trim. Red icing can be used for the hat itself.
• Add mini marshmallows for a fluffy beard or to decorate Santa’s hat.
• Use black gel food coloring or edible pearls to create Santa’s eyes.
• Let the decorations set before serving.

Serve and enjoy:

• Your festive Santa Claus Macarons are ready to enjoy for the holidays!

Notes

These adorable Santa Claus Macarons are the perfect holiday treat, combining the delicate crunch of macarons with a festive design that’s sure to impress!

Ready to Bake Some Holiday Magic?

Try making these delightful Santa Claus Macarons for your next holiday event or as a fun kitchen activity to share with family. They’re sure to become a new holiday favorite!

For more christmas dessert check also

• Snowman S’mores: A Fun and Festive Treat
• Coconut Dome with Chocolate: A Decadent Delight
• Christmas Chocolate Hot Cups: A Festive and Cozy Treat