Mulled Wine Macarons

Ingredients

• Almond flour (1 3/4 cups)
• Powdered sugar (1 cup)
• Egg whites (3 large)
• Granulated sugar (1/4 cup)
• Red food coloring (1/2 teaspoon)
• Mulled wine (1/2 cup)
• Unsalted butter, softened (1/2 cup)
• Ground cinnamon (1/2 teaspoon)
• Ground cloves (1/4 teaspoon)
• Ground nutmeg (1/4 teaspoon)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. In a food processor, combine the almond flour and powdered sugar. Process until fine.
3. In a large bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add granulated sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Stir in the red food coloring.
4. Carefully fold the almond flour mixture into the egg whites until the batter is glossy and smooth.
5. Fill a piping bag fitted with a round tip with the batter. Pipe 1-inch circles onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving space between each macaron.
6. Bake for 15 minutes, or until set. Allow the macarons to cool on the baking sheets.
7. While the macarons cool, simmer the mulled wine in a small saucepan until reduced by half. Let it cool.
8. Beat the softened butter until creamy. Gradually add in the cooled wine reduction, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, beating until smooth.
9. Fill a second piping bag with the mulled wine buttercream. Pipe onto half of the cooled macarons, then sandwich with the remaining macarons.