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I never really intended to be that food blogger who shoves red velvet everything into your face not only days, but weeks before the-day-that-shall-not-be-named.

But life takes funny turns sometimes.  And when red velvet macs are put in front of us the second-to-last week in January (with the promise of more buttermilk/cocoa/vinegar/red food coloring-infused treats to come)…we just have to sigh with some kind of exaggerated exasperation.  And,

{begrudgingly},

make room in our hearts bellies.

Yes, I know. What a rough life we lead.

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I came this.close to not even posting these because, well, my mac shells were a little flat and many were slightly deformed because for some reason, even though I am totally proficient at making frosted cupcake swirls, lord knows I can’t pipe a circle on a piece of parchment paper to save my life.  (The three that I’ve shown here are anomalies, to say the least.)

But then I tasted the cinnamon cream cheese frosting.

And it made me wonder just how many things in my life are frost-able. Because…I kind of want to eat it at every meal. Forever.

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You get a lot of weird stares when you insist on pulling out your piping bag and making rosettes on your food before every meal, though.

Um, so I’ve heard.

So…just save yourself some uncomfortable ogles and make these macs. They may take a little extra effort than just spooning frosting from a bowl into your mouth.  But they’re so cute and perfectly bite-sized delicious..that they’re worth it.

PS – The winner of my Brookside chocolates giveaway is sarah!  I’ll be emailing you today to get your contact information!

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One year ago…Creamy Carrot and Parsnip Soup, Zucchini “Meatballs” and Curry-Tomato Sauce over Polenta
Two years ago…Roasted Pumpkin, Wild Rice and White Bean Salad with a Ginger-Sunflower Seed Dressing
Three years ago…Keftedes over Greek Cinnamon-Scented Tomato Sauce with Pasta
Four years ago…Spaghetti with a Creamy Tomato and Sausage Sauce

Red Velvet Macarons with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
Makes 20-25, adapted from Tri 2 Cook

Ingredients
For the macaron shells

  • 110 grams aged egg whites, room temperature
  • pinch of salt
  • 25 grams sugar
  • 100 grams sifted almond flour
  • 200 grams powdered sugar
  • 1 1/2 tbsp cocoa powder
  • red gel food coloring

For the frosting

  • 4 tbsp butter, room temperature
  • 4 oz low fat cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 8 oz powdered sugar
  • 3/4 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, sift together the powdered sugar and cocoa powder. Add the sifted almond flour and whisk together.
  2. Using a stand mixer, whip the egg whites and salt on medium speed until foamy.  Add in the granulated sugar and continue beating on medium high until you have glossy, medium-stiff peaks. If you pick up the beater, the egg whites shouldn’t drip off.
  3. Add the almond flour/sugar mixture to the egg whites. Add the gel food coloring to the tip of a rubber spatula (not much, just dunk it in the gel coloring) and use it to fold the almond flour mix into the egg whites. Fold vigorously at first, but then slower to evaluate the batter consistency. The batter should form a smooth dome if you plop a bit of it onto a plate, and not spread out into a puddle.
  4. Spoon the batter into a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch tip. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper and pipe batter into 1-inch circles, leaving an inch between them.
  5. Let the macaron shells rest at room temperature for an hour. The shells should become dry to the touch.
  6. Preheat the oven to 300. Bake the macarons for 15-20 minutes or until the shells can be pulled cleanly from the parchment paper. Let cool on the baking sheets.
  7. To make the buttercream, whisk together the powdered sugar and cinnamon. Cream together the butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and mix until combined. Add the sugar mixture and blend until smoothed.
  8. To assemble the macarons, match the shells by size. Pipe or spoon filling onto the bottom of one macaron, then place another on top. Store in the fridge for at least 24 hours before serving.

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You are reading this post on Eats Well With Others at https://joanne-eatswellwithothers.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author and or owner of Eats Well With Others. All rights reserved by Joanne Bruno.
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89 Responses to Red Velvet Macarons with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

  1. Ok… it’s official. I’m the last person to make macarons. Sad sad face over here. These look so good (despite what you say about them being flat).

  2. Danielle says:

    I think they look amazing and that frosting sounds great. Right now I’m thinking it would be good floating in my coffee. hmmm…

  3. Ummm, wow. That frosting sounds like perfection. Seriously.
    I’m with you – how many things in our lives are frost-able?!

  4. These look and sound delicious – the feet on your macarons look perfect!

  5. I so don’t care if all of them are perfect or not, they sound amaaaazing. That frosting? omg!

  6. bellini says:

    Sigh…some day I will be brave and try to make macaroons. If only that French bakery in town would add macaroon classes to their repertoire.

  7. Patsy K says:

    I haven’t attempted these before… and am still a bit hesitant because if I do make them, then I will eat them and likely not bother to take a photo to share on the blog! 😉 yours look amazing… I’m seriously impressed… and piping frosting on everything in sight sounds like a good plan to me!

  8. I made macarons twice. Like you, not all were perfect, but they tasted great.. even teh flatter ones.. or the ones that were too high… With all the stress of sifting but not forcing the grounds almonds and sugar, I decided to call it quits while I was ahead. No use doing that again!! 🙂 Besides, I think people prefer baklava which looks hard but so much easier! 🙂

  9. Well, I think they look fantastic! And cinnamon cream cheese frosting…swoon

  10. Even if you made funky circles on parchment, they still would taste good and I bet look great! The ones you posted look mighty delish!! I have yet to make macarons!! tehy seem so intimidating!

  11. SallyBR says:

    You do not fool me for a second. You are hopelessly in love and hit (badly) by the Red Velvet Bug

    Who could imagine THAT? 😉

    Loved your post, I am not brave enough to try to make macarons, and I think yours look perfect

  12. Um, yes, it would be SO rough bregrudgingly making room in my belly for all the red velvet macarons I plan to shovel into my mouth hole. 🙂 These look amazing, truly!

  13. Danielle says:

    Now you’re speaking my language! Although I’m not a huge macaroon fan, I do love me some red velvet and, oh, that cream cheese filling looks divine!

  14. Debbie says:

    I have never made macarons before. I just have a feeling I would get very frustrated because I’ve heard they can be difficult to make. When I get frustrated when food doesn’t turn out the way it should things get slammed into the trash very fast! Anyhow I think yours look great and the cream cheese frosting puts them over the top!!!!

  15. Sarah says:

    i’ve never made macrons either! you make it look so easy- just like all your recipes. 🙂 yum!

  16. It took me until last year to have my first macaroon. When I bit into it, I couldn’t believe I had waited until my thirties to discover something so purely wonderful! These look great, too!

  17. Amy says:

    Oh right. Valentine’s Day. There is no rest for a food blogger! Maybe I’ll just send everyone your way… imperfect macarons, my ass.

  18. Chris says:

    Wow, those are just GORGEOUS, Joanne! Spectacular presentation.

  19. oh yes, that frosting. really did make these! really need to try out that annie’s eats method- saw her post too 🙂 you have to try the lavender ones next… even better flavor combo!

  20. Gloria says:

    Wow! OMY! oh dear these are georgeous and fantastic (and love your pictures , beautiful) I never make macarons but if I will, I would like like these:))))xo

  21. They’re beautiful! And I’m impressed that there’s no white flour and lowfat cream cheese. Wow, that means I get seconds. Or thirds 🙂

  22. sandra says:

    these are just gorgeous. not flat! and you’ve certainly mastered the art of frosting swirls. i am jealous.

  23. I would eat an entire bowl of that cinnamon cream cheese frosting!

  24. marie says:

    If you can believe I just had my first macaroon in Vegas. It was a pistachio macaroon from Bouchon Bakery and it was delicious. I am used to American macaroons, you know the coconut kind which I love as well.

  25. Pam says:

    I think they look great! The cinnamon cream cheese frosting has me drooling.

  26. Lynn says:

    I wish I had one of those right now! Yum.

  27. I’m totally ok with red velvet posts! Yum! And those feet are so freaking cute – you rocked the macaron!

  28. They look fantastic–and don’t apologize for more red velvet. The cinnamon cream cheese makes them special, and I bet it would be great on carrot cake and in other applications, too!

  29. grace says:

    those are some happy, happy innards, joanne. cinnamon cream cheese is something i find myself using again and again.

  30. Peggy G. says:

    I’ve yet to tackle the task of making macarons at home – I’m just a chicken in that sense. But I could definitely see myself making that frosting over and over and over again =)

  31. Maria D says:

    J,

    What kind of almond flour do you use? The one I have right now feels very heavy and doesn’t bake well…

    • Joanne says:

      Hi maria! I use the almond flour/meal made by Bob’s Red Mill! Alternatively you can grind up your own almonds but I find that the texture is finer/less lumpy when I use meal that’s been already ground.

  32. Well, the three you picked out are definitely beautiful. I’m sure the others taste just as delicious, at least!

  33. Eileen says:

    OKAY. I need some of these, and I’m normally not even that into macarons. But you definitely had me at that frosting! 🙂 I think I’d have a hard time not just making a batch and slathering it all over bagels for breakfast…

  34. Beth says:

    The cinnamon cream cheese frosting does sound terrific. I’m thinking about ideas for where else I could use it!

  35. I may be morally opposed to food coloring (I’m also a hypocrite b/c I make red velvet cakes when asked), but these are adorable and I bet they’d taste wonderful even without the evil red. Or maybe I’ll just make the frosting and be a closet frosting piper, using it on all my food at home.

  36. OohLookBel says:

    Very pretty! I like how the cream is swirled onto the base rather than just plopped.

  37. Katie says:

    These have FABULOUS feet. Yum! I wish I had some right now.

  38. Well, I still haven’t worked up the courage to even give macarons a go, so I say bravo – they look amazing! (And sound even better.)

  39. Jessie says:

    Pshaw, I think your red velvet macarons are perfectly piped, and if someone says they look wonky, he or she doesn’t get one (you should waft the glorious cinnamon cream cheese fragrance toward them as you say this). I think it should be socially acceptable to pipe whatever you want over your food – perhaps you can start the next trend? 😉

  40. I would be jealous if we were eating together and you pulled out a pastry bag filled with that frosting!

  41. teresa says:

    i want i want! i have got to try my hand at macarons, they look so fun!

  42. We didn’t we talk about these today!? I am obsessed with making macs but have had so many failures. These look great! And I love the cinnamon and red velvet combo- never thought of that before but it’s brilliant!

  43. That Girl says:

    I like red velvet anything – any time of year.

  44. Tandy says:

    I think they look perfect!

  45. These macarons look beyond delicious, esp. the cinnamon cream filing!

  46. That cinnamon cream cheese frosting looks like it is to die for!! And I love the bright color of the macarons, so pretty.

  47. Guru Uru says:

    These are so perfectly pretty and delish for valentines day 🙂

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

  48. Love the cinnamon frosting! These aren’t flat at all. They look fab!

  49. Kari says:

    Do you think it’s acceptable to just make the frosting? Not that I don’t want the whole combination, but, well, the macarons look a bit tricky. And the frosting looks like it could be made in 5 minutes!

  50. Johanna GGG says:

    I really want to learn to pipe buttercream but it just isn’t my forte – probably isn’t helped by not liking to have too much on cakes but one day – and then maybe after that I will feel fortified to master macarons – they look gorgeous

  51. Love these for Valentine’s Day (and they’ve been pinned of course haha). I’ve never made macarons, but they’re so cute!

  52. These are gorgeous! I still need to try my hand at macs!

  53. Jenn Kendall says:

    these look fantastic! i’m totally in love with that frosting….i have absolutely zero patience/ability to make the macarons but i’m dying to try that frosting out on a cupcake!

  54. So, that’s twice you’ve posted macarons, and I have yet to make them. I must get past that fear of failure. You got the “feet”, girlfriend, and that’s all that matters. Pretty colors, and yes, I love piping frosting. Frosting on my morning toast?

  55. Saguna says:

    I love the pretty frosting in these cute little macarons- I am a klutz when it comes to piping but I would still enjoy practising on, like, mashed sweet potatoes and veggie shepherd’s pie at dinner… because it would be, er, kind of fun. It may possibly attract a few weird looks, though… 🙂

  56. P says:

    I seriously need to try a macaroon. The colors that they come in are just so pretty! Yours look so professional :)!

  57. Candace says:

    That cinnamon cream cheese is killing me over here. Yuuuummm!

  58. Reeni Pisano says:

    These are so cute! Just say cinnamon and I’m there. You have mad crazy piping skills! A department I need major help in. Making my first macs next week – can’t wait! Hope they turn out half as good as yours.

  59. Lora says:

    Yay for these red velvet macs! And I love the cinnamon crem cheese frosting.

  60. You have some serious piping skills! I definitely would have just smeared some frosting between my macarons (and considering I’ve never made them, I’m pretty sure they would have turned out nowhere near as nice as yours), but I love the way your piped yours so prettily in between!

  61. daphne says:

    Joanne! Those are gorgeous looking macarons. AND that pipping.. You have the patience dear! I would have pop a few in my mouth after admiring them.

  62. Karis says:

    I need to get over my fear and attempt to make macarons. In the past, when I’ve gotten the itch to make them, I’ve taken the lazy approach and purchased them at my favorite French bakery instead 🙂

  63. Barbara says:

    I am all over that cinnamon cream cheese frosting, Joanne. Triple delicious!

  64. marla says:

    Such beautiful sweet treats Joanne!

  65. kellypea says:

    I have made macarons exactly one time and they turned out so well I decided not to tempt fate knowing I’d not have the same luck. But these? I just may be convinced I should try. I’ll blame it on that frosting. 🙂

  66. I keep thinking it’s about time I attempt macs again. One of these days. And, that frosting. That’s something I need to try right away!

  67. I still have not made macarons.
    I know I know.
    But I’m certain they would not come out at all looking like what they are supposed.
    I mean isn’t the weather supposed to be perfect, the oven right temp, the humidity at the right range, and the eggs raised in such a manner that are deemed only humane?
    lol
    Hey, yours came out great. Far better than mine ever will.

  68. Would you believe that I have never had red velvet cake but your macarons sound like a nice treat for Valentines Day.

  69. This is the best of all worlds. Love their dainty feet, too Jo. Hope you and the boy had a great weekend!

  70. Wow, they turned out great! It’s such a thrill when you see those ‘feet’!

  71. Julie says:

    These look beautiful and delicious!!!

  72. Natalie G says:

    These look perfect! I am obsessed with macarons, but have never made my own yet!

  73. I definitely need to try that cinnamon cream cheese frosting! And the macarons are such a vibrant red — love them!

  74. Hannah says:

    I’m not a fan of Valentine’s Day, not at all, but I could put up with hearing about it for weeks on end if it involved these macarons. They’re so beautiful, and so enticing! The cream cheese frosting is definitely the best part, which means your ratios of filling to cookie look just perfect.

  75. I’m super jealous at your macaron success! They’re notoriously fickle creatures to bake but I definitely want to tackle them someday! Congrats on yours coming out beautiful (and most likely tasty!) 🙂

  76. Thanks for shoving this in my face! I definitely have to make these for Jason. That frosting sounds AH-MAZING!

  77. Hotly Spiced says:

    I think your macarons look very good and that frosting sounds amazing. I’ve had many macaron failures so you can be very proud of how these look – they sure are tricky little buggers! xx

  78. Karly says:

    Girl, we need to go hang out together, because I would not even blink an eye if you started piping frosting on your main dish. In fact, I’d just wait patiently for you to hand the bag over to me. Seriously…cinnamon cream cheese frosting?!

    Your macaroons are gorgeous. I’ve never attempted them! You’re much braver than I am!

  79. These macs look very delicious! This will be a nice treat for Valentines day.

  80. Oh wow!! These look like the most delicious macarons I have ever seen!!!! I love anything with cinnamon, and the red velvet macaron cases are beautifully crimson. Thanks for sharing your inspiration with us!

  81. I love macarons, especially fun red velvet ones! I actually just made a batch this week to share soon. The filling in yours sounds amazing, and I love that you piped it so beautifully! I usually just smoosh it all in there 🙂

  82. Looks like you’ve given me 5 reasons to actually make macarons now! I love red velvet anything!

  83. I’ve been keeping this post unread for a while so I could comment properly – because these are gorgeous sounding and looking! Shannon’s macaroons were also beautiful!

  84. Elizabeth says:

    These are beautiful and I bet they’re delicious – I had the most amazing red velvet macaroons in San Francisco and have been dying for more!

  85. Macaronstore says:

    This is a really cool flavor combination. We’ve never seen this one before. Bet they are delicious.

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