If you’re looking for an adorable, festive treat to wow your guests this holiday season, I absolutely love sharing this Christmas Tree Macaron Recipe with friends and family. These little green beauties are as delightful to eat as they are to look at, with a light almond crunch and a creamy, luscious filling inspired by holiday flavors. Trust me, once you try this recipe, you’ll find a new favorite for festive gatherings that always gets compliments and requests for seconds!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Festive Presentation: The Christmas tree shape and colorful decorations bring holiday joy to every bite.
- Perfect Texture: Crisp on the outside with that classic chewy macaron center you’ll adore.
- Flavorful Filling: The buttery, vanilla cream combined with crumbled snack cakes adds a fun surprise inside.
- Make Ahead Friendly: They improve after resting and can be stored or frozen for easy holiday prep.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of this Christmas Tree Macaron Recipe lies in simple, high-quality ingredients that work harmoniously to create that perfect macaron texture and festive flavor. When you shop, look for finely ground almond flour and fresh eggs at room temperature to get the best results.
- Powdered Sugar: Sifted well to keep your batter smooth and prevent lumps.
- Almond Flour: Blanched and finely ground is key for those delicate shells.
- Egg Whites: Room temperature eggs whip up better and give you that stiff peak consistency.
- Granulated Sugar: Stabilizes the meringue and adds just the right sweetness to shells.
- Cream of Tartar: Helps keep your egg whites stable while you beat them.
- Green Gel Food Coloring: For that vibrant Christmas tree look without affecting texture.
- Unsalted Butter: Softened to mix easily into the creamy filling.
- Vanilla Extract: Brings warmth and depth to the buttercream.
- Heavy Cream: Adds lusciousness and smooths out the filling texture.
- Snack Cake Crumbles: Look for festive Christmas Tree Cakes or similar treats to fold right into the filling for fun texture.
- Pinch of Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances flavor in the filling.
- White Chocolate: For drizzling and decorating the finished macarons.
- Red and Green Sprinkles: To make your macarons festive and eye-catching.
- Edible Gold Stars (Optional): Because who doesn’t love a little sparkle during the holidays?
Variations
I’ve found that this Christmas Tree Macaron Recipe can be a real canvas for creativity! Feel free to swap out colors, fillings, or even add festive flavors to make it truly yours. I encourage you to experiment — you’ll be surprised how well these little macarons adapt to your personal style and holiday vibe.
- Flavor Twists: Once, I added just a touch of peppermint extract to the buttercream and it instantly felt like a winter wonderland in my mouth.
- Dairy-Free Option: Substitute the buttercream with coconut-based frosting — it works surprisingly well and is great for guests with allergies.
- Different Shapes: If you’re not into piping tree outlines, try classic round shapes and decorate with festive colors and sprinkles instead.
- Chocolate Shells: Add a bit of cocoa powder to the dry ingredients to make chocolate macarons with the same fun filling.
How to Make Christmas Tree Macaron Recipe
Step 1: Perfecting the Macaron Batter
Start by sifting the powdered sugar and almond flour together twice – this extra step might seem tedious, but it ensures your shells come out silky and smooth without any lumps. Meanwhile, beat your room-temperature egg whites until frothy, then add cream of tartar to stabilize. Slowly add granulated sugar while continuing to whip until you get stiff, glossy peaks — this is crucial because it sets the foundation for those iconic, delicate macarons. Next, mix in the green gel food coloring gently but thoroughly so the batter has that lovely, even Christmas tree hue. Fold your dry ingredients carefully into the meringue – I like to think of it as a “lava” flow, where the batter should be fluid enough but not runny; it should ribbon down slowly off your spatula.
Step 2: Piping and Resting the Shells
Transfer your batter to a piping bag fitted with a round tip, or get creative with a tree-shaped tip if you have one! Pipe into your desired shapes on parchment or silicone mats — I usually alternate between little trees and circles just for fun. Don’t forget to tap your baking trays firmly on the counter to pop air bubbles that could create holes during baking. Now for one of the most important parts: rest the shells at room temperature for 30 to 60 minutes until they develop a dry, firm skin. This rest time helps create those perfect feet during baking and prevents cracking.
Step 3: Baking to Perfection
Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C), and bake your macarons one tray at a time for about 14 to 16 minutes, rotating halfway through for even cooking. When I first tried this, the timing was everything—I learned that taking them out too soon led to sticky bottoms, and too long made them dry. Once baked, let them cool completely on the mats before gently peeling them off to avoid broken shells.
Step 4: Whipping Up the Filling
I love how this filling brings a little holiday surprise inside each macaron. Beat softened unsalted butter until fluffy, then add powdered sugar, vanilla extract, a pinch of salt, and heavy cream until smooth and creamy. The real magic here is folding in finely crumbled Christmas Tree snack cakes or similar treats, which add both texture and festive flavor notes. It’s a trick I discovered to make the filling more interesting while keeping it easy to work with.
Step 5: Assembling and Decorating
Match your shells by size and pipe a generous dollop of the filling onto one shell before sandwiching with the other. Then comes the fun part—the decoration! Drizzle white chocolate over the top, add your red and green sprinkles, and if you want to go the extra mile like I do, place an edible gold star on top of each tree-shaped macaron. It makes for such an impressive presentation that’s bound to brighten up any holiday cookie tray.
Step 6: Letting Them Mature
One secret I’ve learned is that macarons taste best after resting. Refrigerate your assembled macarons in an airtight container for at least 24 hours to let the flavors meld and textures perfect. It’s worth the wait, I promise!
Pro Tips for Making Christmas Tree Macaron Recipe
- Room Temperature Eggs: Using room-temp egg whites makes whipping easier and gives better volume for your meringue.
- Rest Time Is Key: Don’t skip the resting — it’s the secret to getting that shiny, crack-free shell and signature feet on your macarons.
- Gentle Folding: Fold your batter carefully so it flows slowly but steadily, like lava — this ensures your macarons rise perfectly without spreading too much.
- Avoid Oven Temperature Swings: I learned that opening the oven door too early dries out the shells; keep the door closed and be patient for tender, crisp shells.
How to Serve Christmas Tree Macaron Recipe
Garnishes
I love sprinkling red and green nonpareils on top — it instantly screams Christmas! The white chocolate drizzle adds a delicate sweetness and visual contrast. And if I’m feeling fancy, those edible gold stars give a festive sparkle that feels extra special when you serve them at holiday parties.
Side Dishes
These macarons are perfect alongside a warm cup of mulled cider or a rich eggnog latte. I’ve also paired them with a simple cheese board for holiday gatherings — their sweetness balances salty cheeses beautifully, making your snack spread well-rounded and impressive.
Creative Ways to Present
Once, I arranged these macarons upright on a small wooden board framed by pine branches and fairy lights — it looked like a mini winter forest! You can also stack them in decorative boxes tied with ribbon for gift-giving or line them on a festive platter with fresh cranberries for a pop of color. The creative possibilities are endless, and I love hearing how you make them uniquely yours.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftover macarons in an airtight container in the fridge — they stay fresh and delicious for up to 3 days. I always recommend bringing them to room temperature before eating so the texture and flavor shine through.
Freezing
Freezing macarons works surprisingly well. I place them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze initially, then transfer them to a sealed container or bag. When I want to enjoy them, I thaw in the fridge overnight, and they come out almost as fresh as day one.
Reheating
Because macarons are best at room temperature, I let them sit out for about 20 minutes before serving. Heating them in the oven isn’t necessary and can dry them out, so I recommend skipping reheating entirely.
FAQs
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Can I use regular food coloring instead of gel for the Christmas Tree Macaron Recipe?
Regular liquid food colorings can add too much moisture to the macaron batter, which compromises texture. I recommend using gel food coloring because it’s concentrated and doesn’t affect the batter’s consistency, helping your shells come out perfectly smooth and with a vibrant green color.
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How do I know when the macaron shells have developed a skin?
Gently touch the surface of the piped shells after resting; if they feel dry to the touch and don’t stick to your finger, they’re ready to bake. This skin formation is essential for the signature “feet” and prevents cracking during baking.
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What if my macarons crack or don’t have feet?
Cracking or missing feet often happens if the shells didn’t rest long enough or if the oven temperature is too high. Make sure to rest your shells until a skin forms and use an oven thermometer to check your temperature for accuracy.
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Can I prepare these macarons ahead of time?
Yes! Actually, I recommend assembling them a day before serving and letting them chill in the fridge to allow the flavors to mature. They taste even better after resting.
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What can I substitute for the Christmas Tree snack cakes in the filling?
If you can’t find Christmas Tree Cakes, you can use any moist, crumbled snack cake or even finely chopped holiday cookies. It adds a nice texture contrast and a bit of extra flavor to your filling.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, this Christmas Tree Macaron Recipe has become one of my go-to holiday treats because it’s not only festive and beautiful but also reliably delicious. I love seeing the smile on people’s faces when they bite into that delicate shell combined with the creamy, flavorful filling. Give it a try this season—you’ll enjoy the process as much as the outcome. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to add a handmade touch to your holiday celebrations that’s sure to impress!
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Christmas Tree Macaron Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 16 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Yield: 12-15 macarons
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Celebrate the holidays with these festive Christmas Tree Cake Macarons, featuring delicate almond flour shells tinted green and filled with a rich buttercream blended with crumbled festive snack cakes. Decorated with white chocolate drizzle, colorful sprinkles, and optional edible gold stars, these macarons bring seasonal cheer to any dessert table.
Ingredients
Macaron Shells
- 1 3/4 cups (175g) powdered sugar
- 1 cup (100g) almond flour (finely ground, blanched)
- 3 large egg whites (about 90g), room temperature
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- Green gel food coloring
Filling
- 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups (150g) powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1/2 cup (85g) finely crumbled snack cakes (Christmas Tree Cakes or similar)
- Pinch of salt
Decoration
- White chocolate drizzle
- Red and green sprinkles
- Edible gold stars (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Macaron Batter: Sift the powdered sugar and almond flour together twice to ensure a fine, lump-free mixture. In a separate bowl, beat the room temperature egg whites until foamy, add the cream of tartar, then gradually incorporate the granulated sugar. Continue beating until stiff peaks form. Add green gel food coloring to achieve the desired festive shade, then gently fold in the almond flour mixture until the batter flows like lava, indicating proper macaronage.
- Pipe the Macarons: Transfer the batter to a piping bag fitted with a round tip. Pipe tree shapes or small circles onto baking sheets lined with silicone mats or parchment paper. Tap the trays firmly on the counter to release any trapped air bubbles. Let the piped shells rest at room temperature for 30–60 minutes until a firm skin forms on the surface, which is crucial for smooth shells and feet.
- Bake the Shells: Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C). Bake the macarons one tray at a time for 14–16 minutes, rotating the tray halfway through the baking time for even cooking. Once baked, let the shells cool completely on the mats before carefully removing them to prevent cracking.
- Make the Filling: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter until fluffy and creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla extract, heavy cream, and a pinch of salt, beating until smooth and light. Gently fold in the finely crumbled Christmas Tree snack cakes to incorporate texture and flavor into the filling. Transfer this mixture to a clean piping bag.
- Assemble the Macarons: Match similar-sized macaron shells in pairs. Pipe a layer of the crumbled cake buttercream filling onto one shell and sandwich with its matching partner, gently pressing together to spread the filling evenly.
- Decorate: Drizzle melted white chocolate over the assembled macarons and sprinkle with red and green holiday sprinkles. Optionally, place edible gold stars on top for an extra festive touch.
- Mature for Best Flavor: Place the assembled macarons in an airtight container and refrigerate for 24 hours. This resting period allows the flavors to meld and the texture to perfect, resulting in the best tasting macarons.
Notes
- Ensure egg whites are at room temperature before beating to achieve better volume and stability.
- Allow macarons to rest before baking to form a skin, essential for smooth surfaces and distinct feet formation.
- Decorations can be customized to fit your preferred holiday theme or color scheme.
- Handle macarons gently post-baking to avoid cracks or breaks.
- Use a silicone baking mat or parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 macaron
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 25mg
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
