Meet Jill Colonna - Author of Mad About Macarons and French Home Cook
After 30+ years living in France, I've learned one thing: French cooking doesn't need to be complicated - it just needs flavour.
I'm a Scot who fell in love with France - married Antoine, raised a French family in Paris, and learned to cook the only way that really works: through trial, error ... and delicious slip-ups.
I'm not a trained pastry chef. I became known for macarons by getting them wrong at first - and figured out how to make them work consistently in a real home kitchen.
After being treated for thyroid cancer in 2019, I rethought how we cook at home - reducing unnecessary sugar, avoiding ultra-processed, while keeping all the flavour that makes French food so special.
Today, I help you cook simple, reliable French recipes - made lighter with easy-to-find ingredients.
I've written 3 cookbooks and have shared the stage with French pastry chefs like Christophe Felder and Mercotte - but I keep things firmly rooted in real, everyday cooking.
Alongside recipes, I share local travel tips to help you experience France as it's really lived - through its markets, kitchens, and everyday recipes.
What You'll Find Here
- Lighter French desserts
Classic recipes with less sugar - without losing flavour - Simple French meals that work
Real dishes we cook at home - Macaron expertise (made practical)
Clear, tested methods built from years of trial and error - French market & seasonal cooking Learn to cook like a local, wherever you live
- Paris & France food tips
Where to eat, shop & experience food beyond the clichés - Tested, trusted recipes
Every recipe is developed, tested & photographed by me - A balanced approach to eating well
No calorie counting - just flavour, seasonality and enjoying together around the table.
WHAT'S ALL THE FUSS?
Why I'm Mad About Macarons
While working in Paris, I first tasted the best macarons - and quickly wondered why they were so expensive and notoriously difficult to perfect at home.
So I set about cracking them myself.
After plenty of failures, I developed a step-by-step method that worked - and kept on working. That's what I shared in my first cookbook 16 yrs ago, launched at the BBC Good Food Show in the UK: it helped take the fear out of macarons for beginner bakers.
Today, I've helped thousands of readers make them successfully - many going on to bake them professionally.
FAQ
Baking Tips & Questions
Have baking questions? Start with my FAQ page - including oven temperatures and common mistakes.
In France, I weigh ingredients for accuracy. Cups are given as a guide, but grams give consistent results - especially for pastries and macarons.
Why You'll See Ads on This Site
Mad About Macarons has been online for over 15 years, sharing hundreds of French recipes and guides - all freely available.
To keep it that way, you may see ads or affiliate links. They help cover the cost of running the site and allow me to continue creating new recipes and videos.
Prefer an ad-free experience?
You'll find my recipes without ads in my e-books and video courses - a simple way to support my work if you'd like to go further.
Books by Jill Colonna
See book reviews. My first two pastry cookbooks are no longer in active print, and I don't receive royalties on any remaining copies sold from my previous publisher. So I'm now publishing my best recipes in new digital formats.
My latest e-book, Master Crème Caramel (2025) is an interactive collection of 5 Classic French desserts from Paris - using egg yolks (and keep the whites for macarons later). With step-by-step clickable visuals and tips, it's designed to give you confidence in the kitchen; it's the start of your exciting new series of e-books - and now online video courses.
To find out more, join my custard list behind-the-scenes.
Books by Jill Colonna
THE MACARON COOKBOOK (2010)
Mad About Macarons
The 1st macaron recipe book published in the UK, inspired countless now-professional bakers.
FRENCH PASTRY (2015)
Teatime in Paris
The French's favourite teatime cakes & macarons - with a guide to top Paris pâtisseries.
NEW E-BOOK (2025)
Master Crème Caramel
Secrets to 5 Classic French Desserts from Paris - Now in 2 editions!
Work with Me/Contact
Any questions about my books or about this blog? Anything you'd like to see here or in my videos?
*I DO NOT accept guest posts*.
I'd love to hear from you if you're a brand, publisher, or food & travel editor looking to reach an audience of French food lovers.
Let's talk about product features, French food & travel stories, and more.
Media file available on request.