Orange Blossom Macarons

Ingredients

Orange juice

2 tablespoons

Orange zest

2 tablespoons

Butter

1/2 cup, softened

Orange blossom water

1 teaspoon

Orange food coloring

2-3 drops

Granulated sugar

3/4 cup

Egg whites

3 large

Powdered sugar

2 cups

Almond flour

1 cup

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 the mixture is finely ground.
3. In a separate, large bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add the granulated sugar, beating continuously until the mixture is glossy and forms stiff peaks.
4. Gently fold in the almond flour mixture, orange food coloring, and orange blossom water into the egg white mixture. Continue to fold until the batter is smooth and shiny.
5. Transfer the batter to a piping bag fitted with a round tip. Pipe small circles onto the prepared baking sheets.
6. Let the macarons sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to develop a skin. This will give them their characteristic crisp shell.
7. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the macarons are firm and crisp on the outside. Allow them to cool completely on the baking sheets.
8. While the macarons are cooling, prepare the orange buttercream filling. Beat the butter until creamy, then add in the orange zest and juice. Beat until well combined.
9. Once the macarons have cooled, pipe or spread a small amount of the orange buttercream filling onto one macaron shell. Place another shell on top to create a sandwich. Repeat this step until all macarons are filled.