Instructions

FOR THE MACARONS:

First things first! Wipe down the mixing bowl and whisk attachment with vinegar to remove any built up residue. This will ensure that the egg whites whisk up properly!

Prep and measure all of the ingredients using a kitchen scale.

Prep a piping bag with a round tip. I use Wilton tip 10.

Line 2 baking sheets with silpat (or parchment).

Combine measured almond meal & powdered sugar together in a bowl. Sift one time to remove any lumps, discarding of them, then mix together to break up clumps.

Make a well in the center of the dry mix and pour the 41 grams of measured egg whites into the center of the dry mixture. Fold together until blended then add gel food coloring and mix well until fully incorporated. The finished mix will be paste-like. Set aside.

FOR THE SUGAR SYRUP:

To make the sugar syrup, heat granulated sugar and water in a pot on medium heat with a candy thermometer attached to the side. **Be careful to make sure the thermometer is not touching the bottom of the pot**.

Once the thermometer's temperature reaches approximately 200 degrees F, place the 45 grams of measured egg whites in the stand mixer and whisk on medium speed, to soft peaks.

Add a drop of lemon juice or dash of cream of tartar to stabilize, THEN continue whisking.

If the egg whites are at soft peaks before the syrup reaches 248 F, turn the mixer down to low speed to keep the egg whites moving.

Watch the sugar syrup closely!

As soon as the sugar syrup reaches 248 degrees F, remove from heat.

Quickly increase mixer speed to medium and begin slowly pouring the sugar syrup down the side of your mixing bowl into the meringue until thoroughly combined.

THEN increase the mixing speed to high and whisk sugar and meringue together until glossy and stiff peaks form and the meringue has cooled. (The meringue should keep its form.)

Gently transfer finished meringue into the almond/powdered sugar mixture in thirds, making sure that it's fully incorporated before adding the additional 3rd of meringue.

Continue to fold the batter in a circular motion, going around the edges of the bowl, then once through the center. Repeat these steps until smooth and thick ribbons of batter run off the spatula.

**Be careful not to over-mix**

You want the batter to be slightly thick, but not so thin that it does not hold the ribbon shape. Err on the side of caution.

Transfer batter to the prepped piping bag(s).

Pipe 1 1/2 inch rounds about one inch apart on the lined baking sheet.

Be sure to hold the piping bag about 1/2 inch directly above the baking sheet when piping the rounds. Continue to pipe until you've filled an entire baking sheet.

*Tap the macarons on the counter three times to release air bubbles.

*Pop any air bubbles that might've come to the surface, using a scribe or even a toothpick!

Before placing the macs in the oven, allow them to rest until a proper skin has formed on the outside of the shell. This can take anywhere from 20-30 minutes. Test by touching the piped rounds to make sure they're dry to touch and that no batter comes off on fingers.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

Once dry to touch, place the macarons in the middle rack of the oven.

Feet will form halfway through the baking process.

Bake for 12-14 minutes.

Remove from oven and allow 15-20 minutes to cool before attempting to remove the shells from the silpat/parchment paper.

Once macarons are completely cool, gently remove from parchment paper/silpat.

Repeat same steps to bake the remaining macaron batter.

They're ready to fill.

FOR THE SPECKLED EGG DECORATIONS:

Lay a sheet of parchment down on a solid surface.

Place macarons on the parchment.

Mix together brown food colors and vodka.

Dip the tip of a paint brush in the food coloring, then flick the tip of the paint brush with your finger tip so that food coloring drops down onto the macaron shells to form the speckles.

Allow 15 minutes to dry.

FOR THE CHOCOLATE BUNNIES:

Heat dark chocolate in a double boiler until melted.

Transfer melted chocolate to a piping bag.

Pipe chocolate into the cavity of each silicone mold.

Gently tap the filled silicone mold on the counter to evenly distribute the chocolate to each bunny cavity.

Transfer to the fridge for 15 minutes to solidify.

FOR THE FROSTING:

Combine all ingredients into the bowl of an electric mixer. Mix until incorporated and to taste. You can add a little more powdered sugar if you prefer a sweeter frosting.

Transfer the frosting to a piping bag fitted with a star tip, I use wilton 32.

ASSEMBLY:

Place one macaron shell on the a piece of parchment paper, feet side down.

Pipe 5 stars of vanilla frosting along the outer edge of the shell to form a circle.

Stack with an additional shell.

Pipe 5 more stars of vanilla frosting along the outer edge of the shell to form a circle.

Stack with a top shell.

Pipe one star of vanilla frosting in the center of the top shell.

Place a chocolate bunny on top of the top frosting star.

Dust with cocoa powder (optional).

Repeat assembly steps above to complete all Easter Bunny Macaron Stacks.

Transfer the finished macaron stacks to the fridge and allow at least two hours to mature. 12 hours or overnight preferred.

Serve the indiviudal macaron stacks on mini cakes stands or dessert plates this coming Easter Sunday!