Decadent, Chewy, and Irresistible Chocolate Macarons

Ingredients

For Macaron Shells:

120 g almond meal
200 g powdered sugar
20 g unsweetened dark cocoa powder
100 g egg whites (room temperature)
30 g caster sugar
2 g cream of tartar
A few drops of dark red food color

For the Filling:

60 g Nutella or any chocolate spread
60 g dark chocolate
160 ml heavy cream

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 100°C. Spread the almond meal evenly on a parchment-lined baking sheet and dry it in the oven for about 30 minutes. Remove and let it cool completely.
In a food processor, pulse the cooled almond meal, powdered sugar, and cocoa powder for about 20 seconds. Sift the mixture through a fine sieve to ensure a smooth texture. Set aside.
In a clean stand mixer bowl, whisk the egg whites and cream of tartar until foamy. Gradually add 1/3 of the caster sugar and continue whisking for about 10 minutes until soft peaks form.
Add the remaining caster sugar and whisk at high speed for an additional minute. Then, add the food coloring and give it a final whisk until well combined.
Gently fold in the sifted almond meal mixture into the egg whites using a spatula until the batter is shiny and falls from the spatula in ribbons.
Transfer the batter into a pastry bag fitted with a 10 mm round tip. Pipe small circles onto a macaron baking sheet or silicone molds. Allow them to rest for 30-45 minutes to form a skin on the surface.
Preheat your oven to 150°C. Bake the macarons for 13-14 minutes. Once done, remove them from the oven and let them cool completely before taking them off the mat.
In a saucepan, heat the heavy cream until it begins to simmer. Remove from heat and stir in the Nutella and dark chocolate until fully melted and smooth. Let the mixture cool in the fridge until it thickens to a pipeable consistency.
Pipe the chocolate filling onto one macaron shell and sandwich it with another. Repeat with the remaining shells.

These chocolate macarons are the perfect blend of crisp shells and a rich, creamy filling. With their delicate texture and intense chocolate flavor, they’re a show-stopping treat for any occasion. Follow this recipe to create bakery-worthy macarons right in your own kitchen!