Easy French Macaron Decorating Ideas to Elevate Your Baking Game
Macarons are all the rage right now. These dainty French cookies have swept our dessert table by storm and have invaded our Instagram and Pinterest feeds by many food and dessert enthusiasts. If you’ve ever wanted to make them, we have a basic French macaron recipe that you can use as your starting point. You can also enroll in a macaron class at The Wilton School in Darien, Illinois. The lessons will cover everything you need to know from proper batter preparation and hand piping techniques to filling your macaron shells.
Getting Started with Macarons
I attended this class and learned great tips and techniques. Now I’m macaron-obsessed and want to try every color and filling that I could possibly make! With macarons growing in popularity, I have seen a lot of enthusiasts put their own twist to the classic one-color design and give them a lovely makeover. So, if you are ready to take your macarons to a whole new level, here are some easy decorating ideas for you to try!
Add a Touch of Sparkle
Add a touch of sparkle to your macaron cookies by sprinkling gold pearl dust or gold pearlized sugar like we did for these Bleu French Macarons. This will give your macarons a luxurious and sophisticated look. You can also use Rainbow Nonpareils to make them look fun and festive like these Funfetti Macarons by Sweet and Savory by Shinee. There is also a full video tutorial that you can watch here.
Some other ideas to add a touch of sparkle include:
- Top your macarons with Gold Stars Edible Accents for a party-ready look like these Champagne Macarons by blogger Joanne of Eats Well with Others.
- Use edible glitter or lustre dust to add a sparkly finish to your macarons.
Play With Colors
For an amazing pink tie-dye effect, add a drop of pink and a drop of orange into the batter and lightly stir. Use the Color Right Performance Color System to achieve the colors you want. Check out our tutorial for Pink Marbled French Macarons. Another easy way to create a swirl effect is to use the Color Swirl Coupler to combine three colors. Indulge with Mimi used this technique to create these impressive Multi-Color Macarons. She also has a video tutorial which you can watch here.
Some other ideas to play with colors include:
- Create an ombre effect by using a Dusting Brush to apply a food dust color like Oh! Sprinkles did for these Ombre Macarons.
- Use different colors to create a marbled effect or a watercolor effect.
Step Outside The Circle
Who says macarons only need to be round? Try creating some non-circular macarons for a fun experiment like these adorable Apple Macarons by Mindy Cone of Creative Juice. Insert a pretzel stick for the stem and use Green Candy Melts to make a leaf. How genius is that?! You can also make these cute Pink Macaron Crab Cakes by piping some legs made from the Wilton Meringue Recipe and then adding Large Candy Eyeballs to the top shells.
Some other ideas to step outside the circle include:
- Create Elephant Macarons using a combination of piping and candy melts. Get the step-by-step tutorial and recipe from Loving Creations for You.
- Make animal-shaped macarons using different shapes and designs.
Say it From the Heart
Let your macarons speak for you! Use the Gold Metallic Candy Paint Brush to easily write messages on your macaron cookies to make them conversational. Macaron artist Sugar and Cloth has a good tutorial on how to make these stunning Conversation Heart Macarons. Bonus – there’s a video for this, too! And if you want to make your macaron messages more colorful, Sugar and Cloth has another awesome tutorial for how to make Gradient Message Macarons. Use Color Mist Food Color Spray to create a striking gradient effect!
Get Creative and Have Fun!
With these easy decorating ideas, you can take your macarons to a whole new level and make them truly special. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced baker, there’s something here for everyone. So, which among these projects would you like to try first? Leave us a comment below and post a photo of your creations on Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter by using the hashtag wiltoncakes. We’d love to see your work!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the basic recipe for French Macarons?
The basic French macaron recipe is available on our website, which you can use as a starting point for making macarons.
Where can I learn to make French Macarons?
You can enroll in a macaron class at The Wilton School in Darien, Illinois, to learn the techniques and tips for making French Macarons.
How can I add a touch of sparkle to my macarons?
You can add a touch of sparkle to your macarons by sprinkling gold pearl dust or gold pearlized sugar, or using edible glitter or lustre dust.
What is the Color Right Performance Color System used for?
The Color Right Performance Color System is used to achieve the desired colors for your macarons.
How can I create non-circular macarons?
You can create non-circular macarons by using different shapes and designs, such as making Apple Macarons or Elephant Macarons.
How can I write messages on my macarons?
You can use the Gold Metallic Candy Paint Brush to easily write messages on your macaron cookies.
What is the hashtag to share my macaron creations on social media?
The hashtag to share your macaron creations on social media is #wiltoncakes.
