Coffee addiction is real. They say it’s the caffeine, but I love coffee everything – coffee milk, coffee ice cream, chocolate coffee beans, the list goes on and on. I jumped at the chance to make something new and coffee flavored – lucky for me, coffee extract is trendy lately and easy to find in a local grocery store

These macarons won’t give you your 2pm caffeine fix or pick-me-up, but they are delish and sure to please. Best enjoyed alongside a cup of joe!

Coffee Macarons:

• 1 3/4 c confectioners’ sugar
• 1 c almond flour
• 3 egg whites, at room temperature
• 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 1/4 c granulated sugar
• 3 drops food coloring (must be gel)
• 1/2 tsp coffee extract

Coffee Buttercream:

• 2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature (softened)
• 2 1/2 c confectioner’s sugar
• ¼ c cream
• 2 tsp coffee extract
• 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 300 and get a baking sheet ready with a SilMat.
2. In a medium-sized bowl, sift together flour and confectioner’s sugar.
3. In your mixer with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites on medium speed until frothy texture.
4. Increase the mixer’s to medium-high and add the granulated sugar – beat until they form stiff peaks and are shiny (which should not move when you lift the whisk).
5. Using a rubber spatula, hand fold in the meringue to the flour/sugar mixture, turning the bowl 180 degrees with each fold. Once combined, add extract and food coloring.
6. Spoon batter into piping bag and make 1 1/2 inch circles. Each cookie will need a match, so make sure your sizing is consistent.
7. Let them rest for at least 45 minutes until they form a skin. You should be able to gently touch the top and not get batter on your finger.
8. Bake for about 20 minutes, or until they are set, but not browned.
9. Let cool completely before peeling them off the parchment paper. If your feet are sticking to the paper, it means they are undercooked, so let them cool completely and set.

Coffee Buttercream

In the mixer with the whisk attachment, cream the butter. Add confectioner’s sugar, salt and extract. Mix until light and fluffy. Spoon into piping bag and put a small dollop on a cookie, and then sandwich it with a matching pair. Sift cocoa powder over finished macarons for added effect.