It is important to note that the Macaron is much different than the Macaroon which is a biscuit type cookie made with egg-whites, sugar and toasted almonds or coconut.
Macarons are dainty, pillow-like cookies with a crunchy outer meringue shell. One you bite into the outer shell a macaron will be chewy, with a flavourful of ganache, fruit or creamy goodness.
Macarons have been around for centuries, but their origin is to be debated. Some say France while others say it all started in Italy. After debating this for years we think www.frenchaffair.com.au sums it up best in their article https://www.frenchaffair.com.au/explore-france/history-of-macarons.
Here it is in a nutshell, you be the judge.
“Larousse Gastronomique cites the macaron as being created in 1791 in a convent near Cormery in the centre of France. Some have traced its French debut to the arrival of Catherine de Medici. Upon marrying Henry II of France in 1533, she brought her Italian pastry chefs and the early form of macarons with her.
In 1792, macarons began to gain fame when two Carmelite nuns, seeking asylum in Nancy during the French Revolution, baked and sold the macaron cookies in order to pay for their housing. These nuns became known as the “Macaron Sisters”. In these early stages, macarons were served without special flavors or fillings.
It was not until the 1830s that macarons began to be served two-by-two with the addition of jams, liqueurs, and spices. The macaron as it is known today, composed of two almond meringue discs filled with a layer of buttercream, jam, or ganache filling, was originally called the “Gerbet” or the “Paris macaron.” Pierre Desfontaines of the French pâtisserie Ladurée has sometimes been credited with its creation in the early part of the 20th century, but another baker, Claude Gerbet, also claims to have invented it.”
That sums it up. What’s your verdict? All we know for sure is that a macaron is scrumptious no matter where they originated and have been putting smiles on people of all ages for years. So, if you are feeling a sweet craving coming on or want to learn a little bit more about macarons, stop in and indulge in one at Sugar Spoon Bake Shop.
