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Chocolate Hazelnut Macarons with Vanilla Bean Buttercream

December 3, 2014 · by Ari · 4 Comments

Chocolate Hazelnut Macarons {with Vanilla Bean Buttercream}: Macarons have never been easier or more delicious!

Chocolate hazelnut macarons with vanilla bean buttercream taste like Nutella and they are so much EASIER than you think! Make this foolproof recipe to impress all your family and friends this holiday season.

Chocolate Hazelnut Macarons {with Vanilla Bean Buttercream}: Macarons have never been easier or more delicious!

Oh macarons…you tricky little things, with your harsh rep and amazing taste. A perfectly baked macaron is one of the most impressive things you can bring to any gathering, but so many people steer clear of them because they’re so intimidating. Aged egg whites, weighing ingredients…yikes. Well, I’m a rebel, and I don’t do any of that jazz. Yet I’ve still made many the successful macaron.

Chocolate Hazelnut Macarons {with Vanilla Bean Buttercream}: Macarons have never been easier or more delicious!

I promise they are so much easier than you think. Trust me, I do not have a good track record for cooking things that are difficult. If I can make them, so can you! And once you get the hang of it, it becomes so easy to change it up, and do your own creations. Or, after you make these, you might just want to keep making them over and over again. 😉

Chocolate Hazelnut Macarons {with Vanilla Bean Buttercream}: Macarons have never been easier or more delicious!

I mean, chocolate and hazelnut are pretty much made for each other. Why else is Nutella so freaking irresistible? And I have a weakness for anything vanilla bean, so the combo together is one of my favorites. I guarantee if you bring them to your next holiday gathering, they will be a hit! In fact, the last party I brought these two, someone I didn’t even know tracked me down to find out who made the macarons.

5.0 from 1 reviews
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Chocolate Hazelnut Macarons with Vanilla Bean Buttercream
Author: Ari Ziskin
Recipe type: Dessert
 
Ingredients
For the Chocolate Hazelnut Macarons:
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • ½ cup hazelnut flour
  • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Dutch process)
  • 2 egg whites
  • ¼ cup sugar
For the Vanilla Bean Buttercream:
  • 1 stick butter
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • seeds from ½ vanilla bean
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon milk
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 325. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
  2. In your food processor, combine powdered sugar, hazelnut flour and unsweetened cocoa powder. Process until very fine. Sift mixture into a large bowl. You may need to reprocess any large chunks that can't make it through the sifter.
  3. In a stand mixer, beat egg whites using the whisk on medium speed until light and frothy. Reduce speed to low and slowly add sugar. Increase speed to high and beat until stiff peaks form. Be patient, it will take a few minutes. They should look like the top photo when you take the whisk out.
  4. Add the dry ingredients to egg whites and gently fold together using a spatula. Once ingredients are combined, fold for just an other few turns of the wrist--this is where you need to be very careful! Under-mix and you will have pointy shells, over-mix and you will have a soupy mess. You want the batter to just barely stream off the spatula when you remove it. I err on the side of caution and smooth out points later if they arise.
  5. Transfer batter to a pastry bag fitted with a ½" round tip. Carefully pipe mixture into circles about 1½" in size. If tops are pointy, you may run your finger under water and gently smooth them. Let them stand for 30 minutes until tops are glossy and smooth to the touch.
  6. Bake until just set, about 10-12 minutes.Place baking sheets on wire racks and allow to cool completely.
  7. To make the buttercream, beat butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla bean seeds and beat until well combined. Add vanilla extract and milk if necessary (if the texture seems good, leave out the milk) and beat for an other minute. If you prefer a thinner buttercream, add addition milk ½ tbsp at a time until desired consistency is reached.
  8. Gently remove macarons from baking sheet and place a small spoonful of filling on half of the shells, then top with remaining halves. Store refrigerated in an airtight container for up to one week.
Notes
*If you cannot find hazelnut flour, you can make your own in the food processor or using a nut grinder, or you may buy online, or sub almond flour.
*Macarons are best the next day. Make 24 hours in advance if possible.
*Adapted from Oh Sweet Day
3.2.2885

Filed Under: Christmas, Cookies, Dessert, Gluten-free, Holiday & Seasonal · Tagged: chocolate, chocolate macarons, christmas, christmas cookie, hazelnut, hazelnut macarons, macarons, vanilla, vanilla bean

Snickers Stuffed Chocolate Brownie Cookies

October 27, 2014 · by Ari · 6 Comments

Snickers Stuffed Chocolate Brownie Cookies

Rich, fudgy, brownie-like chocolate cookies stuffed with melty mini Snickers and topped with sea salt for the perfect extra bite. These gluten-free Snickers Stuffed Chocolate Brownie Cookies are the perfect way to use up Halloween candy, a great Christmas cookie, or perfect for any occasion!

Snickers Stuffed Chocolate Brownie Cookies

Oh, hello cookie. Cookie that tastes and feels like a brownie. Cookie that is stuffed with one of my very favorite candies. Cookie with melty chocolate, caramel and nougat in every bite. Cookie with big sea salt crystals adding the perfect balance to all that candy sweetness. Just wanted to say heyyyyy.

Snickers Stuffed Chocolate Brownie Cookies

Let’s chat about candy for a second. I have really strong opinions. For example, 3 Musketeers–WHAT IS THE POINT? It’s just so fluffy, and soooo overly sweet, and there’s nothing to it. Ick. And then there’s Milky Way. That’s just like a lesser Snickers. It’s like it’s trying to be a Snickers for the poor people with nut allergies, but without the salty peanuts to add crunchy and bite, what is even the point?? Then we get to the good ones. Snickers, Butterfinger, Reese’s and Twix.  Those are the ones that, come Halloween time (okay…any time), I can’t resist grabbing a mini, or 7. In fact, the leftover Snickers from these cookies were totally bad news. I usually end up taking them into work and using them as bribery to toss at the kids that impress me in rehearsals. I know, I know…I should give them carrot sticks, probably, but I’m a terrible influence.

Snickers Stuffed Chocolate Brownie Cookies

Snickers Stuffed Chocolate Brownie Cookies

Anyway, these cookies are a bit indulgent, but they are whole grain, gluten-free, and shockingly don’t contain any butter or oil! They taste like a rich, buttery brownie, so you’ll never notice the little healthier adjustments. Of course, you are free to use real butter and white flour–they will still be great, but I honestly can’t taste the difference!

Print
Snickers Stuffed Chocolate Brownie Cookies

Prep Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 20 minutes

Yield: 2 dozen

Serving Size: 1 cookie

Snickers Stuffed Chocolate Brownie Cookies

Rich, fudgy, brownie-like chocolate cookies stuffed with melty mini Snickers and topped with sea salt for the perfect extra bite. These gluten-free Snickers Stuffed Chocolate Brownie Cookies are the perfect way to use up Halloween candy, a great Christmas cookie, or perfect for any occasion!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup gluten-free baking blend (or white whole wheat flour)
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I use Hershey's special dark or Dutch process)
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • dash salt
  • 8 ounces dark chocolate, melted and cooled
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 5 tablespoons apple butter
  • 2/3 cups brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 24 mini Snickers candies (I bought a combination bag with regular, peanut butter and dark chocolate)
  • coarse sea salt for sprinkling (optional)

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, whisk together baking blend, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, beat together melted chocolate, eggs, vanilla, apple butter, and sugars until well combined, then slowly beat in dry ingredients until just combined. Cover and chill for 30 minutes.
  3. Preheat oven to 350. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silpat. Spray hands with nonstick spray (this sounds weird, but it will prevent dough from sticking to your hands during rolling) and roll dough into about 1" balls. Press the center with your thumb to make a whole for the Snickers. Gently press 1 mini Snickers into the center and then re-roll dough around it. Make sure dough is completely covering the candy. Add more dough if necessary. Place onto prepared baking sheet and repeat with remaining dough. Sprinkle each cookie with a small pinch of coarse sea salt (if desired) just before baking.
  4. Bake for 10 minutes until just set. Cool completely on pan. Store in an airtight container for one week (these cookies stay pretty darn soft and gooey for days!).
3.1
http://www.arismenu.com/snickers-brownie-cookies/

Filed Under: Christmas, Cookies, Dessert, Gluten-free, Halloween, Holiday & Seasonal · Tagged: candy, chocolate, christmas, christmas cookie, cookie, gluten free, gluten free chocolate cookie, halloween, halloween candy, snickers, snickers cookie

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