Lavender macarons invoke a calming scene of lavender fields. You can take your self to that place imagining spires of lavender flowers swaying in the breeze and lose oneself in the aroma, which gives a sense of peace and tranquility.
We recently had a baby shower for one of our long time, favorite employees who requested the lavender blueberry macarons I had previously made. Those macarons had dried lavender to flavor the shell and a lavender blueberry butter-cream with a bullseye of the homemade lavender blueberry jell for the filling. I wanted to please her but also add another layer of flavor. A friend suggested replacing the jell center with lemon cream, it was the perfect idea!
Sunshine surprise
sunshine peaking through
lavender clouds thick and dark
Bright yellow surprise
The lavender blueberry jell begins with a lavender infused simple syrup.
Blueberries were simmered with lemon juice, then crushed with a wooden spoon.
The lavender simple syrup is added to the macerated blueberries, then set aside in a heat proof bowl to cool. The lavender blueberry jell was then added to Italian buttercream.
The lemon cream is ready for the macaron filling.
Dried lavender flowers were ground with the almond meal and powdered sugar to flavor the macaron shells. The macaronage is ready to pipe into shells.
Piped macaron shells, dried and ready to place in the oven.
Macaron open to show the filling. First, I piped a circle of lavender blueberry buttercream and then added a center of lemon cream. The cream was a flavor surprise, the perfect compliment to the lavender blueberry macaron. The lemon cream looks like the sun shining through lavender clouds.
The lavender blueberry macarons were placed on a cake stand for the baby shower and were enjoyed by all of my staff and most importantly, the guest of honor.
The Italian meringue method was used to make the macarons shells and the buttercream. The basic recipes in the Bouchon Bakery cookbook are followed as a guide. The lemon cream recipe is from Laduree's 'Macarons the recipes' cook-book.
I am always looking for new flavor combinations. If you have any suggestions, please e-mail them to me at glenn@marionmacarons.com.