How to Make Grinch Macarons That Steal the Show

1. Preheat the oven to 140C.
2. Before you start, get all of the ingredients ready. Prepare a large piping pastry bag.
3. Line a baking tray with silicone mat, you could use a Grinch template under while piping.
4. Wipe a medium bowl with vinegar to make sure it’s clean enough.
5. Sift the powdered sugar and almond flour together. This is a crucial step for even macarons.
6. Place a bowl over a pan with barely simmering water. Add the granulated sugar and egg whites to the bowl.
7. Stir sugar and egg whites with spatula until it reaches 50C and sugar melts. Take it off the heat.
8. Using a hand blender or stand mixer with whisk attachment start whisking mixture on low for about 3 minutes, then gradually start increasing speed to medium-high. Whisk until stiff peaks are formed for like 4-5 minutes. Meringue should look glossy.
9. Pour the sifted powdered sugar and almond flour into the stiff meringue.
10. Start folding gently forming a letter J with a spatula.
11. Stop folding when the batter is glossy and has a thick and flowing consistency. You don’t want your batter to be too runny. So be careful not to over mix it.
12. Transfer half of the batter to another small bowl. Add green coloring to one of them and mix.
13. Pipe Grinch shaped macarons using the template. We will paint the Santa hat after baking to get a vibrant color.
14. Let macarons dry for up to 1 hour until they are completely dry on top. Drying time will depend on the environment.
15. Bake macarons for 15 minutes at 140C.
16. After baking, open the oven door and let them stay inside for 30 minutes before taking them out.
17. Let it cool on the baking mat. When shells are cooled completely remove them from the baking mat and pair them with similar sizes.

Between Macaron shells I used whipped white chocolate ganache which suits perfectly to this recipe.

For the Whipped White Chocolate Ganache:

1. Prepare the ganache; In a small pot, heat the cream but do not boil. Take it from the heat and add chocolate chips. Whisk it until everything is completely melted and blended. Let it stay in fridge until it’s set.
2. Using hand mixer, whisk the white chocolate ganache until it reaches stiff peak stage.
3. Pipe ganache between each macarons shells using a star piping tip and press lightly.
4. Start decorating, mix black food coloring and 1 tsp of water and with a thin painting brush draw eyes and eyebrows as in the pictures.
5. Mix red food coloring and 2 tablespoons water (you can use vodka as well), using a thicker brush, paint the Santa hats to red.
6. Using melted milk chocolate pipe the other details of Grinch.