This month’s Mactweets theme is “Macinspirational” and Jamie and Deeba challenged us to “combine or integrate macarons into any dessert, making it a new part of an old favorite, or turn our macarons into our favorite dessert, inspired in flavor, texture, color.”
Well right now, pretty much the only thing on my mind is: “Where the heck did my vacation go?” Along with “Do I really need to make a dessert after the heady holiday season in December?”. So my macs this month are pure and simple, inspired by the flavours of my all-too-short vacation: Vacarons, if you like… Last month’s macs were a sloppy, tipsy mess and I wanted to keep things simple with a plain macaron shell which I coloured with “champagne” coloured powdered food colouring (who could resist that, right?) and filled, first with lime buttercream, because in Mexico, limes are served with everything. And, in fact, go with everything!
Look – shiny tops and feet! I did the happy dance! (actually coming out of the oven, they had kind of wet looking tops even though they were baked enough. I have found that letting them sit a couple of days and dry out helps their appearance a lot)
The second third of the batch, I filled with a coconut buttercream into which I mixed a little coconut for texture. Because coconut always screams “vacation” to me…
VERY pleased with how these ones came out. Smooth, shiny tops, feet, filling that stayed put and not drippy – what more can you ask for. Of course, the only month when it probably wouldn’t have mattered if they didn’t turn out because, as we all know, failed macs are perfect to combine in all sorts of desserts… Sigh. Next month, I might get it right!
And the final third of the batch? Well stay tuned. I piped them in different shapes and they will appear here soon…
Oh, you are back on a roll, baby! Beautiful macs and I love the vacation flavors. I’m inspired!!! So glad you MacBake with us every month!
I am so pleased to have you all to bake with!
Vacarons! I love it! “You put the lime in the coconut, you drink them both together…” 🙂
LOL! I was wondering how many comments it would take before someone said that!
Vacaroons- cute! These look wonderful- LOVE the colors.
Sylvie said it all. =) That’s fantastic (and beautiful!)
I want so badly to make macarons, but I just don’t think I have the patience. These are some of the best I’ve seen in the blogosphere! Every time I see one of these mactweets posts I get closer and closer to trying to make them. Maybe I’m just going to have to breakdown and give it a try. Worst that happens is they suck, right?
Yup, and I have had MANY batches fail. Many. But then they work out and it’s all good!
Nothing scream vacarons like lime and coconut. Really lovely macarons!
I love my new word!
I can see why you are very pleased with these results. They are beautiful!
Thanks!
I need to give up my fear of making these and just get to it! Yours look incredible!
Yes you do! We’re all here at Mactweets to support you!
OK… I’ve got to get on the Mac bandwagon. There is no excuse. Look how beautifully yours came out. I’m going to convince my girls to try it this weekend!
Oh Lael – if *I* can make them, so can you!
I love your inspiration, I could go for a vacation as well! I have a batch of vanilla shells sitting around, maybe they could use a coconut filling?
Coconut filling goes with almost anything!
So what do you do with all these macaron batches? Your friends must be very happy people.
I make very small batches of macarons, usually it makes between 10-12 each time.
That damned vacation comes and goes too quick thing again. I hate that!
Jason
I know, eh? Grrr…
Lovely! Lime is one of my favorite flavors… And, yes, it goes with almost everything!
Yup – sweet and savoury!
So vacarons will be! I think the coconut buttercream is calling me…. hummm, but I love lime too. Give me one of each and the dilemma would be solved 😉
Actually I was considering mixing the two fillings in a swirl…
I can’t help myself….’She put the Lime in the Coconut’ is now playing in my head so it’s only fair you should have the same!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA9OqUuA6a0
Nice looking macs; I suppose one day I should get back on this horse…my tush is about over the last foray I took and fell on it, hard. 🙂
Yeah Barb – you get back on the mac horse and I will find another song to but in your head… 😉
Coconut may scream vacation to you, but it screams “EAT ME, EAT ME ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT YOU CRAZY FOOL!” to me.
Ahem.
Riiiiiight. Now I know why you love coconut M&Ms so much!
I’d love a big basket of those coconut buttercream macs. I have no doubt that I’d fall for those hard. Great post, Mardi!
Yes, coconut buttercream is dangerous….
Boy your macarons are always so darn cute! Great job Mardi
Well, not *always*…
These sound so good, the lime flavor one sounds delicious! I just made macarons for the first time, and they actually turned out, YAY ME:) Now I can’t wait to make different flavors of them, this blog is very inspiring for me:)
Take care,
Terra
Congrats on your mac success! Warning: It’s highly addictive!
Loved your vacation inspired macarons! It’s so true… it just feels like something is missing when you sit down for a meal in Mexico and there aren’t any limes around. 🙂
Absolutely! I need to start serving limes with everything. Or move to Mexico!
Beautiful mac’s – a skill I have yet to master!!! I am with you – I miss the limes !!! I think we need to go to Mexico, don’t you? I mean, it’s possible that they are no longer serving limes with everything and I think we should go back and check.. you know, just to make sure????
Oh I totally think a trip back to Mexico is in order 😉 LOL!
your macarons are getting better and better…. I need private lessons
Well maybe you might just have some in April!
Love the vacarons! Found another macaronivore, yeh!
Oh there are many of us. Many!
What a great idea, having just been on vacation I’ve got to admit its hard to walk past places that tempt the taste buds with richly coloured Macs 🙂 These look pretty tempting 🙂
Well they’re very small, right… 😉
Yum – lime macarons! What could be better with the texture of the macaron and the tanginess of the lime. They look beautiful and nice touch with the name!!
Thanks! I love lime in everything!
Doing the happy feet dance for you too Mardi…WOOT! Those are some inspired macarons, and PRETTY too! I love the idea of VACARONS! Just brilliant.
Oh yeah, the happy dance was being done, my friend!
Macarons are such a challenge to make, aren’t they?!?! But your “vacarons” turned out nice. You are right about limes being in most Mexican dishes! Love the vibrant lime green buttercream and the colors you chose in your inspired desserts.
Lime is officially one of my favourite flavours for sweet or savoury dishes!
Ohhh just love your vacarons! I’ve never tried lime, they look so delicious!
The tart lime works really well in macs!