Macarons and summer, what could be the best way to showcase the season. While making hot pepper jelly I wondered if this could be the macaron flavor I was looking for.
Hot pepper jelly is a southern summer treat. The jelly has sweetness with a subtle heat that builds as you're tasting it. It reminds me of light spring air, which transforms into the heat of summer. I thought that hot pepper jelly would be the perfect macaron flavor to embrace our hot summer days.
When I first mentioned using hot pepper jelly in a macaron, I was met with a lot of skepticism and raised eyebrows. This because you typically think of macarons as being sweet. I thought the heat from the hot peppers would give an extra flavor dimension to a macaron, sweet but a little savory. Also, I added a pinch of cayenne pepper to the macaron shell batter giving another layer of warmth. The reviews have been very positive with 'divine' being used to describe the flavor. A comment on my Instagram feed from Kobe, Japan 'There is such a macaron🌶️ as this in the world!.' So, hot pepper jelly is the perfect macaron flavor to embrace summer heat.
Hot pepper jelly haiku
Hot pepper jelly
just like a late summer day
heat envelops you
Hot pepper jelly is typically served over cream cheese spread on a cracker. Macarons are a natural platform for the jelly with the shell serving as the cracker and cream cheese buttercream as the cream cheese base.
Homemade hot pepper jelly using Lee Bailey's aunt Freddie's recipe.
Cream cheese buttercream begins with Italian meringue buttercream, recipe in the Bouchon Bakery cookbook. Then whip cream cheese until it is smooth and creamy. Slowly, while still whipping, add the buttercream to the cream cheese.
The macaron shell was made using the Italian meringue method in the Bouchon Bakery cookbook. Cayenne pepper was added to the macaron batter to give another layer of subtle heat.
Macaron shell with cayenne pepper, circle of cream cheese buttercream, and center of hot pepper jelly.
Hot pepper jelly macaron presented on a crystal stand. Sweet with a touch of heat that builds like a late summer afternoon. The perfect summer macaron.
I am always looking for new flavor combinations. If you have any suggestions, please e-mail them to me at glenn@marionmacarons.com.