Yes it’s true, I am becoming a little braver. After cracking the secret to nearly no-fail macarons (thanks to Stella, aka The Brave Tart), I branched out with some peanut shells last month. I wasn’t able to master the 100% peanut shell and ended up using some almond flour as well but I was pretty happy with the results. Then a couple of weeks ago, I received a message from my friend Shulie at Food Wanderings, wondering if I might like to try my hand at some tree nut-free macarons. There’s an allergy in her family to tree-nuts (I had to look this up…) and she’s on the hunt for macaron recipes sans almonds. Ok then. Never one to shy away from a challenge, I retrieved my giant bag of cocoa nibs and got to work. And finally a number of batches later, I managed to produce some semblance of macaron…
But don’t be fooled – for the complete story, head on over to Shulie’s to read how these just about did my head in…
And even though these are not “fruit” themed, I am submitting them to this month’s Mactweets because you know, the cocoa pod IS the fruit of the cocoa bean tree, right?
*Don’t forget to enter my Peko Peko Charity Cookbook giveaway! Details here.
This is a really cool experiment series you are up to – first no fail macarons, then no tree nuts. And nibs! I love it – and agree that this counts as fruit.
Cheers Victoria! Appreciate the cheerleading!
Good Morning Mardi, Thanks for going on the tree nut free macaron journey and being my fab guest! Your cocoa nib macarons are spectacular I wish I could have some!! Loved the entertaining way you documented your tireless work in all stages! & yeah def a fruit! 🙂
Thanks for asking me!
Ah, Shulie asks me this too and I have to read what you did! It is kind of scary. But I love these cocoa peanut shells and is that peanut butter filling? Wow delicious! And Mardi your shells are perfect!
Come ON Jamie – if I can do them, you can too!
Alas, a great experiment but a substandard result, it has to be said. Outer shell cracks and crumbles in a most disappointing fashion; the ganache is nice, though.
But let’s be clear: my macaron expecations are mighty high, after the 93 batches our home has had to endure these last two years. 😉
Wash this down – and you’ll need to – with a nice dessert wine. Personally, I’d veer slightly off the norm and go for an Olorosso Sherry with this – ever-so-slightly chilled.
Heading over to Shulie’s now and wishing I had a few of these to take with me 🙂
One day Paula we will enjoy some macarons together!
Your macarons seduced me! I loved this idea!!
Glad you like them!
I have never tried a macaron. I should make some and see how it taste. Yours are lovely.
You would LOVE them!
Bucket list for 2011: make macarons! Thank you for always inspiring me with your mac posts.
Go Brian, go!
Mardi you are inspiring me to get past my macaron-phobia. These look delicious! You make them seem so effortless. Thanks for inspiring! 🙂
Heather
Geez if me and my 50 batches looks effortless, go for it!! LOL!
Looks like a great effort to me!! Would love to try them!
Aw thanks Jenn!
Wow! You did some real work to get those so beautiful! Congrats….they look amazing!
Yes a lot of work indeed!
Saw these already on Food Wanderings, they look wonderful! Great job.
Thanks Carolyn!
These look great!! Wish I was as brave as you!!
Or as silly! LOL!
Great Macarons!! So cute!
Thanks – a labour of love, for sure!
Oh God, these sound DELICIOUS. I thought it couldn’t get any better than cacao nibs, until I saw the peanut butter, too.
It is a great combo!
Love peanut butter, love cocoa, love these macarons!
Nothing better than when you combine the two!
I am always looking for ways to use cacao nibs, and this sounds perfect! Your macaroons are lovely, and they sound like they taste even better!
Saw your post over at Shulie’s blog and got excited to see “cocoa nibs” in the recipe because I have a BIG packet I got from BlogHer Food 🙂
Only wish I was an expert at making macarons!
Well at least you know that the failed ones are delicious!
As someone who tried these cocoa nib macarons at Mardi’s, I have to admit that while it looks like a macarons, as Mr. Neil says, it doesn’t taste like one. It is very chocolatey and the peanut butter ganache is decadent (2 wonderful things), but it’s tough to overlook the fact that you either have to pop the whole thing in your mouth or have to deal with your spare hand under your mouth to catch the broken pieces as you bite into it.
Geez, thanks for the votes of confidence, guys 😉 If you go to Shulie’s blog and read the entire story, you will see that I have not called these proper French macarons at all. And they are, indeed, a work in progress. The sugar and sweetness in the nibs will always make them a little crunchier than a regular macaron and in fact you guys were eating them quite a number of days after they had been made when they are not at their prime. Oh well, at least the flavour was there, right?
Ethan and I are just pushing you to greater heights.
That’s all. 🙂
of course, the taste was there! chocolatey and decadent are reserved for only good tasting things.
No Macs for you Ethan! Spank! (Seinfeld) LOL Ok. ok. I didn’t say that. Still #teamsnl buddies? Say, YES!
Oh come on, they weren’t that good. They *looked* pretty, but definitely a work in progress….
As the title of the post states. 😉
Love this!
What perfect Mac shells! Love the cocoa nibs..now thats what is something very exciting to know. Lovely clicks, read the post at Shulie’s blog too.
Thanks so much. The taste is really delicious!
Mardi, these may not be the ‘perfect’ French macarons, but your photos are amazing! It seems like you and your camera have reached a new level of comfort with each other, and it shows in your photos 🙂
Danielle, you have no idea how much your sweet comment means to me!
Definitely want to nibble on these!
🙂
Mardi,
Bravo for taking on such a challenge. They look delicious. Isn’t it great fun experimenting with them? Love the colour and the filling sounds addictive.
Thanks Jill – it’s high praise coming from you indeed!
Your macarons look so pretty! I’ve tried making them once and my kitchen ended up in a mess. I’ve been wanting to try again but I’m not looking forward to cleaning up. lol
I have it down to a fine art so the mess is not that bad.
Nice challenge. Can’t wait to see what else you come up with 🙂
Oh Penny, it’s a constant work in progress!
Of course these count! And they look so amazingly delicious! I still have not figured out how to do chocolate shells, maybe i should try cacao nibs!
Thank you so much!
Gorgeous Mardi…just ever so gorgeous. Shulies inspired to to try my hand at some too, and I did fnd some success. Yet to post though. Love how beautifully yours have turned out. Thanks for joining us at MacTweets!
These are beautiful and so wonderful of you to try a nut-free recipe! You are braver than I am. I bow down to you!
Yeah, why can’t cocoa count as fruit for this month’s MacTweets theme? 😉 Interesting to learn about your experiment. They do look like the regular almond macarons. And I bet they are just as yummy.