What is the difference between macaroons and macarons?

Separated by more than just one O, macarons and macaroons may have similar sounding names, but these two cookies couldn't be more different when it comes to taste and technique. A macaron is a sandwich-like cookie that's filled with jam, ganache, or buttercream. A macaroon is a drop cookie made using shredded coconut .

What are macaroons made of?

A macaroon is a drop cookie made with shredded coconut, egg whites, sugar, other flavorings (like vanilla extract), and sometimes ground almonds . Modern macaroons often call for sweetened condensed milk. Macaroons look more like coconut mounds than traditional cookies.

What are the 2 types of macaroons?

One of the main differences between French and Italian macarons is the method of preparation. French macarons are made by mixing the almond flour and powdered sugar with whipped egg whites, while Italian macarons are made by heating the sugar and egg whites together before adding in the almond flour.

Which is better macarons or macaroons?

No matter which cookie is your favorite, both macarons and macaroons are delicious in their own way . Macarons are camera-ready thanks to their attractive colors and even sizing, but what macaroons lack in appearance, they make up for in taste.

How unhealthy are macaroons?

That said, because macaroons are high in sugar and offer little nutrition , eating too many of them regularly could be problematic, especially if they replace more nutritious foods in your diet.

Why are macaroons so expensive?

Macarons are typically more expensive than other baked goods due to their labor-intensive preparation, high-quality ingredients, and delicate nature . How long do macarons last? Macarons typically last for 2-3 days at room temperature, or up to a week in the refrigerator.

Why are there 2 types of macaroons?

Italian macarons are very similar to the French variety. The key difference is in the initial stages of preparing the meringue where a different method is used. Italian macarons start out by whisking egg whites with a melted sugar syrup in order to cook them as the meringue is formed.

Why are macaroons now called macarons?

Macarons are the French adaptation of the Italian macaroon , and according to Food Network, they were first created in France after the King's Italian wife brought over a chef from Italy. Therefore they can be traced back to the same origin: that Italian maccarone “cake or biscuit.”

Why do chefs call macarons macaroons?

It's easier to think of both of them as a translation from the Italian maccarone . Macaron is French, macaroon is English.

Do all macaroons have coconut in them?

And now to the macaroon… These mounded cookies are most often made with sweetened shredded coconut and, if you're lucky, they're dipped in chocolate. Some recipes do feature almonds, but the nuts tend to be in larger pieces—not finely ground as they are in macarons—or in the form of paste.

Do Americans call macarons macaroons?

Americans often call macarons macaroons, but this is incorrect . The confusion is not surprising as the pronunciation of the two cookies is similar.

Haselnussmakronen - German Hazelnut Macaroons (2024)

Published: Sep 21, 2019 · Modified: Nov 29, 2022 by Heather · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 1217 words. · About 7 minutes to read this article.

Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

Haselnussmakronen are German Hazelnut Macaroons. Chewy and sweet, these German cookies are made with only egg whites, ground hazelnuts, cinnamon, and sugar. Naturally gluten free and dairy free.

Haselnussmakronen are a traditional German Christmas cookie. They are light and chewy, filled with hazelnuts, and made without any leavening agents or flour.

These cookies are dairy and gluten free, made with only egg whites, ground nuts, cinnamon, and sugar.

Lightly spiced with cinnamon, they make a fantastic addition to holiday cookie trays for Christmas.

What does haselnussmakronen mean?

Hasel = Hazel
Nuss= Nut
Makronen = Macaroon

Haselnussmakronen - German Hazelnut Macaroons (2)

Macaroon vs. macaron

What is the difference between a macaroon and a macaron? Sometimes the names are used interchangeably, or pronounced the same. But is there really a difference between a macaroon and a macaron?

Macaroons and macarons are indeed two different types of cookies.

Without getting too in depth, a macaron (mack-ah-rohn) is made with egg whites, almond flour, and sugar. They have a delicate crust, chewy interior, and are often made into sandwich cookies with a filling in the middle.

Macaroons (mack-ah-roons) are made with egg whites, sugar, and another ingredient mixed in - most commonly shredded coconut. They can also be made with ground nuts - like our hazelnut macaroons today.

For more information, check out this awesome infographic made by Shari's Berries:Macarons vs. Macaroons: What’s the Difference?

Ingredients and substitutions

Haselnussmakronen - German Hazelnut Macaroons (3)

Egg whites - For this recipe, you'll need three large (US) egg whites or three medium (Europe) egg whites. Standard egg sizes vary depending on location - a medium egg in Europe is about the same size as a large egg in the US. Canadian egg sizes are about the same as US egg sizes. For more information: Wikipedia: Chicken egg sizes
Sugar - Confectioner's sugar is recommended because it blends seamlessly into the egg whites.
Vanilla extract - Adds depth of flavor to your macaroons.
Ground hazelnuts - Ground hazelnuts can be substituted with a coarse hazelnut flour if desired. Or, make these macaroons with your favorite nut, like almonds.
Cinnamon - Adds a hint of warmth to your macaroons.
Salt - Enhances the flavor of your macaroons without making them "salty".

How to grind hazelnuts

For this recipe, you'll need ground hazelnuts. Nuts can be ground in a food processer -shown below is a mini prep food processor that I've had for years. It's been a workhorse in my kitchen and I highly recommend it.

Haselnussmakronen - German Hazelnut Macaroons (4)

Shown here, grinding almonds for myZimtsterne andVanillekipferl cookie recipes. The same process works for any nuts, like hazelnuts. Simply place the nuts in your food processor and pulse until the desired texture is achieved.

Tips for whipping egg whites

Haselnussmakronen - German Hazelnut Macaroons (5)

As you're whipping your egg whites, you'll notice when they begin to keep their shape and thicken in the bowl.
Continually check for stiff peaks by turning off your mixer, then pulling out the whisk and pointing it upward. Once the egg whites hold their shape and stand straight up on the end of your whisk, they are ready.
Take care not to overwhip your egg whites - they should look smooth, not lumpy. If your egg whites look lumpy, they've been overwhipped. Unfortunately, the protein in overwhipped egg whites begins to break down and will collapse if baked. They'll also look watery and grainy, and can't be used. If you get to this point, you'll have to start over with fresh egg whites and try again.

Forming your macaroons

You have several options for transferring the meringue to your baking sheet.

Transfer your meringue to a piping bag, or large plastic bag, cut off the tip, and pipe your meringue into small heaps.
Using two spoons, gently scoop and form mounds of meringue on your baking sheet.
Use a medium cookie scoop to perfectly portion the meringue to make 24 cookies. I feel like a broken record talking about my cookie scoops, but they really are a time and mess saver when baking!

Storing macaroons

Haselnussmakronen need time to cool completely before coming off the baking sheet. Once your cookies have baked and cooled completely, gently lift them from the parchment paper onto a cooling rack.

Note - If your cookies are sticking to the parchment - this means that they need more time in the oven, or they haven't cooled completely.

Once the macaroons have made it to the cooling rack, allow them to rest for a few more hours at room temperature, if possible. After that, they can be stored in an airtight container for up to a week.

Macaroons can also be refrigerated if you don't plan to enjoy them right away.You can also freeze your macaroons! Baked macaroons can be frozen up to a month.

📖 Recipe

Print Recipe

4.84 from 25 reviews