French macarons and Italian macarons are two variations of thesame sweet treat, but they are made using slightly different methods. Here is abreakdown of the key differences between the two:
French Macarons
French macarons are made with almond flour, egg whites, andsugar, and are known for their delicate, smooth texture and wide range offlavors. The process of making French macarons involveswhipping egg whites and sugar and mixing until the mixture forms stiff peaks. Thewhipped meringue is then mixed with the almond flour and powdered sugar until the perfect batter texture is reached. The mixture is then piped ontoa baking sheet and baked until the shells are crisp on the outside and chewy onthe inside.
Italian Macarons
Italian macarons are also made with almond flour, egg whites,and sugar, but they are made using a slightly different method. The process ofmaking Italian macarons involves heating up a sugar syrup. What the eggs are whipping, the sugar mixture is added. The Italian meringue is then added to the almondflour and mixed until the batter is smooth. The mixture is then piped onto abaking sheet and baked until the shells are crisp on the outside and chewy onthe inside.
Key Differences
One of the main differences between French and Italian macaronsis the method of preparation. French macarons are made by mixing the almondflour and powdered sugar with whipped egg whites, while Italian macarons aremade by heating the sugar and egg whites together before adding in the almondflour. This difference in preparation can result in slightly different texturesand flavors for the two types of macarons.
Overall, both French and Italian macarons are delicious, but thechoice between the two will ultimately come down to personal preference. Somepeople prefer the delicate, smooth texture of French macarons, while othersprefer the slightly denser, chewy texture of Italian macarons. Both types ofmacarons are widely available at bakeries and specialty stores, so it's worthtrying both to see which one you prefer.
At Nikkolette's Macarons, we utilize the French method!!
