Imagine the surprise: a tray of cracked macarons on opening the oven door. Don't despair - it can happen and there are easy reasons why (read on below). In the meantime, make these deliciously easy Black Forest Creams using the cracked macaron shells.
They're so good you'll want to make macaron shells just for this recipe - either with cherries or raspberries.
They're so good, you'll want to make a batch of macaron shells (perfect or otherwise) just for this gluten-free dessert!
Why are My Macarons Cracking?
It can happen at times - even with a good macaron recipe. On opening the oven, there are a few cracked macarons - or even a whole tray of cracked macarons. Why did they crack? It's not the end of the world. Jings, even in some expensive Parisian patisseries, I've seen them sell a few cracked macarons and they still taste amazing!
In my first book, Mad About Macarons, I have a whole section on troubleshooting all sorts of macaron problems using my French macaron recipe. Cracked macarons are probably because either:
- Your batter is too runny (making the shell weak);
- The egg whites weren't initially beaten enough;
- Too much final mixing of the batter (macaronnage);
- Too much humidity in the oven.
In our case recently, I made a whole batch and much of this lot cracked simply because I hadn't cleaned the oven. Lingering oil on the oven base creates humidity and so the chocolate macarons just cracked up in there. However, they still tasted wonderful. I have a neighbour who chucked a whole batch of Italian-meringued macarons in disgust and I never forgave him - perfectionist or not. Please don't waste perfectly good macaron shells! This gluten free dessert below is the answer before your next batch.
Why Don't My Macarons have Feet?
AN EXAMPLE: Another case something went wrong was when Lucie and I made chocolate macarons side-by-side together, preparing them for school. It was a wonderful time in the kitchen together with her Japanese rock at full blast - but I didn't think to check over her weighing out exactly all the ingredients.
As you can see from the above photo with both our macarons on the same baking tray, her macarons (using the same ingredients, same oven, same baking sheet) didn't produce feet. Why? She realised afterwards that she hadn't measured out the ingredients properly using digital scales: instead of 250g icing (powdered) sugar, she only measured out 100g - that's a whopping difference!
So, measure out your ingredients exactly as in the recipe. However, the ingredients used were still so good and they were perfect candidates for the base of this chocolate cherry boozy dessert.
Cracked Macaron Black Forest Creams
If you've made these gluten free Macaron Tiramisu desserts, you'll remember that we left the macaron shells to soak in coffee and Amaretto. In this case, we're doing the same but using a Kirsch syrup. Either pour on the syrup on a filtered tray on top of another tray or simply pour over the macarons in a shallow dish and turn the macarons over, ensuring that each shell is fully coated in the lush boozy syrup and leave overnight or for at least an hour.
Make it with Cherries or Raspberries
Cracked Macaron Black Forest Creams are not just great with boozy cherries but also delicious with raspberries too! Just replace the Kirsch with Chambord raspberry liqueur.
Love Chocolate and Cherries?
Try these Black Forest Chocolate Cream Desserts, as part of the egg yolk recipe collection and save the whites for making macarons. It's a never-ending delicious cycle! It's a great recipe using fresh cherries when in season or using Griottine® cherries, preserved in alcohol - or even just good quality tinned cherries.
Make this chocolate cherry macaron ganache to make chocolate cherry macarons.
Cracked Macaron Black Forest Creams
Ingredients
- 125 g (4.5oz) macaron shells (ready made: 36 needed) macaron recipe in either of my 2 books
- 50 ml (2 fl oz) water
- 50 g (2oz) sugar (+ 1 tablespoon for roasting cherries)
- 60 ml (2.5 fl oz) Kirsch liqueur
- 36 cherries (fresh or jarred such as Griottines*) (6 per person)
- 300 g (10.5oz) whipping cream (chilled) (30% fat)
- 1 tablespoon icing (powdered) sugar
- 2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 25 g (1oz) dark chocolate, grated (optional for decor)
Instructions
- Make the Kirsch syrup: in a saucepan gently heat the water, sugar and 40ml (1.5fl oz) Kirsch together and stir until a thicker syrup forms. Set aside to cool. Chill a bowl for preparing the Chantilly cream.
- Using a shallow dish filled with the macaron shells, pour over the syrup. Turn over now and again until all the macarons are fully steeped in the juices then leave for at least an hour to soak.
- Roast the cherries in 190°C fan/210°C/410°F/Gas 6: place the cherries in a roasting tin, sprinkle with sugar and splash with the rest of the Kirsch. Roast until the juices are released (about 10mins) then cool.
- Make the Chantilly Kirsch cream: using an electric whisk, beat the chilled whipping cream in the chilled bowl with 1 tablespoon icing (powered) sugar until soft peaks form. Add 1 tablespoon Kirsch or the roasted cherry juice and beat again until the peaks hold.
- Place the soaked macarons at the bottom of 6 serving dishes, sprinkle with chocolate powder, top with 6 cherries and top with Kirsch Chantilly cream. Either sprinkle on more cocoa powder or good quality grated dark chocolate.
ostemeda
Very interesting, thanks for sharing!
Jill Colonna
It's a pleasure - happy macaron-making!
Liz
This yummy dessert almost makes me want to mess up a batch of macarons!! Perfect for summer!!! xo
Jill Colonna
That's too funny, Liz. Yes, macaron desserts are great for summer too with all that seasonal fresh fruit. Have a delicious week x
Janice
What a brilliant way to use those less than perfect macarons. I love the flavours of Black Forest Gateau, this is a lush dessert.
Jill Colonna
Thanks, Janice. I love the flavours of Black Forest too and this ends up being a slightly lighter, gluten free version of it.
Camilla Hawkins
This dessert sounds and looks like total bliss, I'll have my macarons, cracked or not cracked, who cares as you say they still taste amazing!
Jill Colonna
You said it, Camilla. The taste is still good, even when cracked and it's all gluten free too!
Nico @ yumsome
I'd make cracked macarons deliberately, just so that I could have this dessert! It looks so delicious! I was shocked that your neighbour threw away all that food... what a waste!
Also, the tip about grease in the oven raising humidity was very interesting, thank you for sharing that. 🙂 xx
Jill Colonna
Glad you like it, Nico, and pleasure to share. Happy macaron-making x
Christina
I hate to hear about perfectly good food being thrown in the bin! I actually unfollowed a huge couple (bloggers) simply because they binned a rhubarb thing they'd baked which didn't turn out (and with the comment, "Who likes rhubarb anyway!" Reminded me of the Fox and the Grapes and truly disgusted me as they influence so many people.
LOVE that you repurposed your cracked macarons and how you did it, Jill! Thanks for reiterating the tips from your book on things going wrong with macaron baking.
Jill Colonna
Great pleasure, Christina. Yes, we're very alike on this and it's a no-brainer in France - no waste! So happy you like the recipe - thanks so much!
Betty
Seriously, Jill, these are the kind of recipes I love to read (and keep in mind for making later)! I'm so glad that you have given tips for turning some less-than-perfect macaron shells into a very elegant dessert. Thank you for reminding your readers not to throw away cooking results that might be saved in some way. And of course, as I had mentioned to you before, I love Black Forest desserts so much! So much creativity in this recipe, but also lots of practical advice as well!
Jill Colonna
I am thrilled you like this, Betty. Thank you for your kind words. Cheers to a boozy Black Forest dessert - I'm sure Victor will like it too!
David
I love that this is a seasonal recipe with cherries but can be adapted for winter too. Griottines are great but also fresh cherries - so the best of macarons with a touch of peps. Thanks for the macaron tips too Jill!
Jill Colonna
It's a pleasure, David. Glad you're also a cherry, chocolate and macaron fan like us.