Honey Macarons

Ingredients

• Almond flour (1 cup)
• Powdered sugar (1 3/4 cups)
• Granulated sugar (1/4 cup)
• Egg whites (3 large, aged at room temperature)
• Unsalted butter (1/2 cup (softened))
• Honey (1/2 cup (for buttercream) plus more for drizzling)
• Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a food processor, combine the almond flour and powdered sugar. Process until finely blended, then sift through a fine sieve to ensure there are no lumps.
3. In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add the granulated sugar while continuing to beat until stiff peaks form and the mixture is glossy.
4. Gently fold the almond flour mixture into the egg whites using a spatula, being careful not to deflate the batter. Continue folding until the batter flows smoothly and forms a ribbon when lifted.
5. Transfer the batter into a piping bag fitted with a round tip. Pipe small circles (about 1.5 inches in diameter) onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving space between each one.
6. Tap the baking sheets on the counter to remove any air bubbles. Let the macarons sit at room temperature for 30 to 60 minutes, or until a skin forms and they are no longer sticky to the touch.
7. Bake the macarons in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until they are set and can be easily lifted from the parchment paper. Let them cool completely on the baking sheets.
8. While the macarons are cooling, prepare the honey buttercream. In a small saucepan, heat the honey over medium heat until it reaches 240°F (115°C) on a candy thermometer.
9. In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter until creamy and smooth. Gradually pour in the hot honey while continuing to beat until the mixture is light, fluffy, and well combined. Add the vanilla extract and mix until fully incorporated.
10. Once the macarons have cooled completely, pipe a generous amount of honey buttercream onto the flat side of half of the macarons. Top each with the remaining macarons to create delightful sandwiches.
11. For an extra touch, drizzle a bit of honey over the finished macarons before serving.