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Matcha Macarons

This week we’re making matcha macarons!

They’re made with matcha macaron shells and are filled with the most luscious matcha white chocolate ganache.

image of matcha macarons stacked and filled with matcha white chocolate ganache

Making These Matcha Macarons with the French Method

There are a few different ways macarons are made. French macarons are considered easier to make while the Italian and Swiss methods use a few more steps but are more structurally sound.

French macarons also require less equipment. While I love Italian macarons, I like to keep things simple and used the French method for this recipe.

image of matcha macaron shells that have been paired together and are ready to be filled.

Equipment You’ll Need to Make These Matcha Macarons

I’ve made quite a few batches of macarons, and they definitely turn out best when the ingredients are weighed, and the macarons are baked on a silpat mat.

These are the tools I like to use when I make these macarons:

How to Make These Matcha Macarons: Step-by-Step Process

While the recipe below is quite detailed, I find visual cues to be super helpful!

Below are some photos of the process to help guide you through this recipe.

Step #1: Make the Matcha Ganache Filling

This matcha white chocolate ganache filling needs about 2 hours to set, so I recommend making it first! It can also be made up to a week in advance. I usually make it the night before!

After heating up the cream and pouring it over the white chocolate, let the mixture sit for a couple minutes.

image of white chocolate ganache being blended with an immersion blender to make it super smooth before adding in matcha powder

Mix the ganache together with either an immersion blender or a spoon. Once it’s smooth, mix in the matcha powder.

Press a piece of plastic wrap flush against the ganache to prevent a skin from forming and place the bowl in the fridge to chill.

image of matcha white chocolate ganache macaron filling that's been made and is ready to be chilled in the fridge to set.

Step #2: Make the French Meringue

Next, it’s time to make the French meringue!

Whisk the room temperature egg whites on a medium-low speed until the surface is covered in small bubbles.

image of egg whites that have been whipped to make small bubbles on the top before adding in the sugar to make french meringue

Add in a pinch of cream of tartar and continue to mix until the whisk begins to leave tracks.

Gradually add the granulated sugar and mix on a medium speed for 30 seconds. Increase the mixing speed to a medium high speed.

Mix until stiff peaks form like in the photo below. Keep a close eye on your mixer to avoid over mixing the meringue.

image of meringue that's shiny and has reached stiff peak stage for making macarons

Step #3: Sift and Fold the Dry Ingredients into the Meringue

I don’t use any food coloring in this recipe, but if you want to add some to the shells, add green gel food coloring in during this stage. It will get mixed in as you fold the ingredients together.

Sift the superfine almond flour, powdered sugar, and matcha powder into the meringue, then fold the ingredients together with a rubber spatula.

image of dry ingredients being sifted into meringue to make macaron batter

Use a circular motion that sweeps around the edge of the bowl and then pull through the bottom of the bowl to make sure everything is getting mixed together.

Fold until a thick ribbon of batter runs off the spatula when it is lifted.

You should be able to draw a few figure 8’s with the batter running off your spatula in a continuous stream once it is the right consistency.

image of macaron batter that's been mixed perfectly and has passed the figure 8 test

If the stream of batter breaks before you’re able to this, you may need to stir it a bit more.

Step #4: Pipe the Macaron Shells

Fill a large piping bag with macaron batter and pipe 1 3/4-inch rounds onto 2 silpat lined baking sheets. Space them about 1-inch apart.

Firmly bang or drop your pans on the counter a few times.

This brings any trapped air bubbles to the surface, which can then be popped with a toothpick or scribe.

image of matcha macaron shells that have been piped and are having any bubbles be popped with a scribe

Popping these little bubbles can help you avoid hollow or cracked shells.

Step #5: Rest the Matcha Macaron Shells

Let the macarons rest for about 30 minutes, or until they form a skin. On rainy days this can take up to an hour where I live!

They should be mostly dry to the touch and look matte once they’re ready to be baked. While the shells rest, preheat your oven.

Step #6: Bake the Macaron Shells

Bake one tray of macarons at a time and place the tray in the middle rack of your oven.

Rotate the pan halfway through to help them bake evenly.

image of matcha macaron shells that have been baked and are cooling on the mat

Let the macarons cool fully on the pan, then gently remove them from the silpat mat.

If they’re properly baked, they should peel off the mat cleanly.

image of matcha macaron shells that have been properly baked and cleanly peel off the mat

Step #7: Assemble the Matcha Macarons

While the macaron shells bake and cool, place the matcha ganache in a piping bag fit with a large round piping tip.

Pair up the macaron shells then pipe a thick dollop of ganache on one macaron shell.

image of matcha ganache being piped on to a matcha macaron shells

Gently press a second shell on top of the ganache to create a sandwich.

I chose to drizzle a little melted white chocolate over the top of the macarons and dust on a bit of matcha powder for a little flair, but this is optional.

Place the finished matcha macarons in an airtight container and store in the fridge to let them mature overnight.

image of a matcha macaron being filled with matcha ganache and sandwiched together with a second shell

Letting the filled macarons rest overnight softens them (in a good way) and allows the flavor to develop.

Troubleshooting These Matcha White Chocolate Macarons

While I’d love to think everyone’s first batch of these macarons will turn out perfectly, my own experience has taught me that’s not how things usually go.

Macarons are incredibly temperamental, and it might take a few tries to get them just right. If you run into any issues, check out my macaron troubleshooting guide!

Choosing the Right Filling for These Macarons

While we put tons of energy into the shell of a macaron, almost all the flavor in a macaron comes from its filling.

The shell gives macarons an incredible texture, but the filling is what determines its flavor.

I think this ganache is absolutely incredible, but you could also use a 1/4 batch of my matcha buttercream.

image of matcha macaron that's been cut open to show it's full shells and matcha ganache filling

How Many Macarons Does This Recipe Make?

This recipe makes about 36 large macaron shells, which can be used to make 18 macarons.

You can double or halve this recipe as needed.

The yield and bake time will vary based on the size of macarons you pipe. I piped these shells with a diameter of 1 3/4-inches.

image of matcha macarons stacked and filled with matcha white chocolate ganache

Tips for Making the Best Matcha Macarons

  • Wipe your mixing bowl and whisk with lemon juice or vinegar to remove any traces of grease before making the meringue. It will help your egg whites whip up better!
  • Separate your own eggs and age them if possible. Do not use egg whites from a carton.
  • Measure your ingredients in grams with a kitchen scale. You really need to be precise with this recipe. Your macarons will turn out best if the ingredients are weighed.
  • Use a macaron mat or print out a template to help you pipe consistently sized macarons.
  • Use good quality white chocolate for the filling! I like to use Guittard or Ghirardelli white chocolate chips.
  • If possible, use an immersion blender to make sure your ganache turns out silky smooth!
  • Let your baked and filled macarons mature! This softens them (in a good way) and allows the flavors to develop.
  • If your macarons don’t turn out, check out my macaron troubleshooting guide!

Making These Matcha Macarons in Advance & Storage Tips

  • These macarons need to mature for a few hours or overnight in the fridge before being eaten. This gives them time to develop the best texture and flavor.
  • Refrigerate these filled macarons for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
  • Freeze filled macarons for up to a month in an airtight container.
  • Unfilled macaron shells can be frozen for up to a month in an airtight container.
  • Make the filling ahead of time too or save any leftover filling! Store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for up to a month.

Let Me Know What You Think!

If you try this recipe for matcha macarons, I’d love to hear what you think! Please leave a rating and comment below.

And don’t forget to tag me @chelsweets and use #chelsweets on social media so that I can see your amazing creations!

Other Recipes You Might Like:

Yield: 18 macarons

Matcha Macarons

image of matcha macarons stacked and filled with matcha white chocolate ganache

Learn how to make these delicious matcha macarons! They're filled with a silky-smooth matcha white chocolate ganache and are such a treat!

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Additional Time 5 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 6 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

Matcha Ganache Filling

  • 170g white chocolate chips or finely chopped white chocolate (1 cup)
  • 105g heavy cream (1/3 cup + 2 Tbsp)
  • 9g matcha powder (1 Tbsp)

Matcha Macaron Shells

Equipment

Instructions

Matcha White Chocolate Ganache

  1. The matcha white chocolate ganache filling needs about 2 hours to set, so I recommend making it first! It can also be made up to a week in advance. I usually make it the night before.
  2. Place 170g of white chocolate in a medium-sized bowl and set aside.
  3. Pour 105g heavy cream into a heat-proof bowl and heat in 15 second intervals in the microwave until it just begins to bubble (this usually takes me about a minute). If you don't have a microwave, heat the cream over a medium-high heat in a saucepan until it starts to bubble and steam.
  4. Pour the heavy cream over the white chocolate. Make sure all the white chocolate is submerged beneath the cream. Let the mixture sit for a couple minutes.
  5. Use an immersion blender or a spoon to mix the ganache until the mixture has come together and is smooth. Mix in 9g or 1 Tbsp of matcha powder and stir until combined.
  6. Press a piece of plastic wrap flush against the ganache to prevent a skin from forming and place the bowl in the fridge to chill.

Matcha Macaron Shells

  1. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicon mats. Set aside.
  2. Pour 110g of aged egg whites into the bowl of a stand mixer with a whisk and mix on a medium speed until the surface of the egg whites is covered in small bubbles. Add in a pinch of cream of tartar and continue to mix until it reaches the soft peak stage where you can see the whisk leaving faint tracks in the egg whites.
  3. Gradually add 110g of granulated sugar into the eggs and mix on a medium speed for 30 seconds. Increase the mixing speed to a medium high speed. Keep mixing until stiff, glossy peaks form.
  4. I don't use any food coloring in this recipe, but if you want to add some to the shells, add green gel food coloring at this point. It will get mixed in as you fold the dry ingredient in during the next step.
  5. Sift 140g superfine almond flour, 125g powdered sugar, and 9g of matcha powder into the meringue, then fold the ingredients together with a rubber spatula. Use a circular motion that sweeps around the edge of the bowl and then pull through the bottom of the bowl to make sure everything is getting mixed together.
  6. Fold until a thick ribbon of batter runs off the spatula when it is lifted. You should be able to draw a couple figure 8's with the batter running off your spatula when it is the right consistency. If the stream of batter breaks before you're able to this, you may need to stir it a bit more.
  7. Pour the batter into a large piping bag fit with a medium-sized round piping tip and pipe 1 3/4-inch rounds on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 1-inch apart.
  8. Pipe one pan at a time and bang the pan firmly on the counter a few times to release air bubbles, then pop any remaining air bubbles that come to the surface with a toothpick.
  9. Let the macarons rest for 30 minutes, or until they develop a skin. The macarons should look matte once the skin has formed. While the macarons rest, preheat the oven to 315 F / 157 C.
  10. Bake one tray of macarons at a time on the middle rack of your oven for 17-21 minutes and rotate the pan halfway through to help them bake evenly. If you notice the shells are browning when you rotate them, place a foil tent over the top of the macarons (you may need to bake them a minute or two longer if you do this).
  11. Remove the pan from the oven and let the macarons cool on the pan (about 15 minutes), then gently remove them from the silpat mat.

Assembling These Matcha Macarons

  1. While the matcha macaron shells bake and cool, place the matcha ganache in a piping bag fit with a large round piping tip. It should be thick enough to scoop into the piping bag and hold its shape. If the ganache feels too firm, heat it in the microwave in 10 second intervals, stirring between until it's a pipe-able consistency.
  2. Pair up the macaron shells then pipe a thick dollop of matcha white chocolate ganache on one macaron shell. Gently press a second shell on top of the ganache to create a sandwich.
  3. I chose to drizzle a little melted white chocolate over the top of the macarons and dust on a bit of matcha powder, but this is optional.
  4. Place the finished macarons in an airtight container and chill in the fridge overnight, then enjoy! Remove the macarons from the fridge about 15 minutes before you want to eat them to let them come to room temperature. Store any leftover macarons in the fridge.

Notes

Recipe Yield:

This recipe makes about 36 macaron shells, which can be used to make 18 macarons. You can double or triple this recipe to make more macarons if needed.

The yield and bake time can vary based on how large you pipe your shells. I piped these shells with a diameter of 1 3/4 inches, so they're about the size of a standard macaron.

Tips for Making the Best Matcha Macarons

  • Use good quality white chocolate for the filling! I like to use Guittard or Ghirardelli white chocolate chips.
  • Measure your ingredients in grams with a kitchen scale!. You really need to be precise with this recipe. Your macarons will turn out best if the ingredients are weighed.
  • If possible, use an immersion blender to make sure your ganache turns out silky smooth!
  • Separate your own eggs and age them if possible! Do not use egg whites from a carton.
  • Carefully read through the directions before making these macarons. There are quite a few steps and it's good to know your game plan before you start!
  • Use gel food coloring to color these macarons. If you try to use liquid food coloring it can throw off the consistency of the batter.
  • Use a macaron mat or print out a template to help you pipe consistently sized macarons.
  • FIRMLY bang your pans on your counter after piping your macarons. This helps release any air bubbles that may be trapped and prevent cracked or hollow shells.
  • Rest the macarons for 30 minutes before they're baked to allow them to develop a skin.
  • Pipe a small number of macarons on a mat to test your oven for hot spots and see if it bakes accurately. This way you won't waste a whole tray of macs if your oven runs hot or cold.
  • Let your filled macarons mature in the fridge overnight! This softens them (in a good way) and allows the flavors to develop.
  • If your macarons don't turn out, please check out my macaron troubleshooting guide for help!

Making These Matcha Macarons in Advance & Storage Tips

  • French macarons need to mature overnight (or ideally 24 hours) in the fridge before being eaten! They taste best 24 hours after being made.
  • Filled macarons can be refrigerated for up to 5 days in an airtight container.
  • Filled macarons can be frozen for up to a month, but the length can vary based on the filling.
  • Unfilled macaron shells can be frozen for up to a month in an airtight container.
  • The filling can be made ahead of time too or you can save any leftover filling! It can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or in the freezer for up to a month.

Nutrition Information

Yield

18

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 201Total Fat 11gSaturated Fat 5gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 51mgSodium 40mgCarbohydrates 23gFiber 1gSugar 22gProtein 4g

Nathalie

Wednesday 9th of November 2022

This is for your matcha macarons. I thought that the almond flour to powdered sugar was supposed to be 1:1 ratio.

Do you take into consideration the amount of matcha powder for the shells? In the recipe, you have 145 grams of almond flour, 125 grams of powdered sugar, and 9 grams of matcha powder. We still do not have a 1:1 ratio.

I would love to try this recipe but I am accustomed to the 1:1 ratio and I am afraid that not respecting that will end up ruined.

Also, what kind of powdered matcha do you use? Sweetened, unsweetened?

Thank you for your answer.

New to your channel.

Chelsweets

Saturday 12th of November 2022

Hi Nathalie,

My usual ratio is to have slightly more almond meal than powdered sugar, and equal parts egg whites and granulated sugar. This is based off the ratio that Laduree uses to make their French macarons.

The measurements in the recipe are in line with this and I find this recipe bakes up great :) I use unsweetened matcha powder. Hope that helps, happy baking!

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