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Green Peppermint Macaroons

Hand Painted Green Peppermint Macarons

This is a great addition to the Chocolate Stout cupcakes that I made for St. Patricks day. Macarons are a delicate cookie made from almonds and whipped egg whites. They are one of my favorite types of desserts and can be created in so many difference flavor profiles! 
Here are some recipes that you may like filling these macarons with:

Whiskey Chocolate Ganache

Cream cheese frosting

White Chocolate Buttercream frosting

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Green Peppermint Macarons
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10-15 minutes
Passive Time 30 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10-15 minutes
Passive Time 30 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Place the ground almonds and confectioners' sugar in a food processor and process for 15 seconds. Sift the mixture into a bowl. Line a cookie sheet with your silicone mat or use parchment paper.
  2. Place the egg whites in a large bowl and whip until holding soft peaks. Gradually beat in the superfine sugar to make a firm, glossy meringue. Beat in the peppermint extract and enough green food coloring for your desired color.
  3. Using a spatula, fold in the almond mixture into the meringue one-third at a time. When all the dry ingredients are thoroughly in corporate, continue to cut and fold the mixture until it forms a shiny batter with a thick, ribbon like consistency.
  4. Pour the batter into a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2 inch tip. Pipe 32-36 small circles onto the prepared baking sheet or the silicone mat. Tap the baking sheets firmly onto a work surface to remove air bubbles. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. This helps the meringue form a crust that will keep it's shape when baked and give it it's pretty legs. Preheat oven to 325 F./160 C.
  5. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes and carefully peel the macarons off the parchment or silicon mat, let cool completely before filling.
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Chocolate Stout Cupcakes

Chocolate Stout Cupcakes with Whiskey Ganache Filling and Cream Cheese frosting

Chocolate Stout cupcakes with Whiskey Ganache filling and cream cheese frosting are so yummy, and they are great on an Irish St Patricks day! The Green Peppermint Macarons with chocolate ganache filling are my personal favorite flavor!

 

I just wanted to share the recipe for the Chocolate Stout Cupcakes that I made for St. Patricks day. They were so scrumptious and delicious. I was so pleased at the rise that I got out of the recipe and the chocolate ganache centers made them so full of chocolate deliciousness!

 

The macarons were so fun to paint! I really enjoy painting on macarons. I will post more painted macarons in the future. Click here to get the recipe for green peppermint macarons.

I am a chocolaholic, so anything with chocolate makes me drool! This Chocolate ganache recipe can be used for any recipe calling for ganache. you can omit the whiskey if you choose too, you can add other flavors instead if you like. Just have a clean dry bowl to work with. Ganache doesn’t like water.

To Fill the Cupcakes: Using a 1-inch round cookie cutter (or the bottom of a large decorating tip), cut the centers out of the cooled cupcakes, going about two-thirds of the way down. Transfer the ganache to a piping back with a wide tip and fill the holes in each cupcake to the top.

Using your favorite decorating tip, or an offset spatula, frost the cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and decorate with sprinkles, if desired. Top with the chocolate mint macaron. Store the cupcakes in an airtight container.

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Chocolate Stout Cupcakes
Chocolate cupcakes made with a good Stout beer is the perfect combination for your St. Patricks day celebration.
Course Cupcakes, dessert
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 17 minutes
Servings
cupcakes
Ingredients
Course Cupcakes, dessert
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 17 minutes
Servings
cupcakes
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Line 24 cupcake cups with liners. Bring the Stout beer and butter to a simmer in a heavy, medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the cocoa powder and whisk until the mixture is smooth. Then cool slightly.
  3. Whisk in the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in a large bowl to combine. Using an electric mixer, beat the eggs and sour cream on medium speed until combined. Add the Guinness-chocolate mixture to the egg mixture and beat just to combine. Reduce the speed to low, add the flour mixture and beat briefly. Using a rubber spatula, fold the batter together until completely combined. Divide the batter among the cupcake liners using an ice-cream scoop. I find that I can get a more equal amount by using this method. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 17 minutes. Cool the cupcakes on a rack.
  4. Top with chocolate ganache and cream cheese frosting! Enjoy!!!
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White Chocolate Buttercream

White Chocolate Buttercream

In a microwave safe bowl melt the white chocolate melts in the microwave, warming at 30 second intervals until smooth and creamy. In a separate bowl, beat pasteurized egg whites with sifted powdered sugar. Scraping sides of bowl often. Beat in vanilla, lemon extract and salt. Gradually add butter and beat well. Make a well in the center of the buttercream and pour in the melted white chocolate being careful not to get any on the sides of the bowl. Whip on high for 1-2 minutes or until white and fluffy. Mix on low to eliminate any air bubbles.

This can be stored in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks or frozen for up to two months. Always bring to room temperature before using and whip up to reach original consistency. Makes about 3 lbs of buttercream.

You can watch my YouTube video on how to make this icing here:

I use this icing all my cakes. It is a good versatile icing for sculpting to your basic cake shape. It is very smooth and works well in a piping bag. It also taste so amazing!

Thanks to Christy Duffell-Seguin of Cake Rocks in Austin, Texas for this great recipe!!!

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White Chocolate Buttercream
White Chocolate Buttercream my Ultimate Favorite!
Course Icings
Cuisine Icings
Servings
Ingredients
Course Icings
Cuisine Icings
Servings
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. In a microwave safe bowl melt the white chocolate melts in the microwave, warming at 30 second intervals until smooth and creamy. In a separate bowl, beat pasteurized egg whites with sifted powdered sugar. Scraping sides of bowl often. Beat in vanilla, lemon extract and salt. Gradually add butter and beat well. Make a well in the center of the buttercream and pour in the melted white chocolate being careful not to get any on the sides of the bowl. Whip on high for 1-2 minutes or until white and fluffy. Mix on low to eliminate any air bubbles. This can be stored in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks or frozen for up to two months. Always bring to room temperature before using and whip up to reach original consistency. Makes about 3 lbs of buttercream.
Recipe Notes

I use this icing all my cakes. It is a good versatile icing for sculpting to your basic cake shape. It is very smooth and works well in a piping bag. It also taste so amazing!

Thanks to Christy Duffell-Seguin of Cake Rocks in Austin, Texas for this great recipe!!!

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Guinness Stout Cupcakes with Peppermint Macaroons



I just wanted to share the recipe that I found for the Guinness Stout Cupcakes that I made for St. Patricks day. They were so scrumptious and delicious. I was so pleased at the rise that I got out of the recipe and the chocolate ganache centers made them so full of chocolate deliciousness! 


I created these for kid friendly folks, by taking out the liquor in the ganache and buttercream. The Guinness in the cupcakes are baked so there is no alcohol left after it has been cooked. 



I made a half recipe and got the perfect dozen cupcakes. I used the left over ganache to make my fillings for the mint chocolate macaroons. 


The cupcake recipe is adapted from the Brown Eyed Baker. Her site is well worth looking at. There are many yummy recipes there. 

http://www.browneyedbaker.com/irish-car-bomb-cupcakes/?m





Guinness, Whiskey & Irish Cream Cupcakes

Ingredients:

For the Cupcakes:
1 cup Guinness stout
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup Dutch-process cocoa powder
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1½ teaspoons baking soda
¾ teaspoons salt
2 eggs
2/3 cup sour cream

For the Whiskey Ganache Filling:
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate chips
2/3 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
2 teaspoons Irish whiskey

For the Baileys Frosting:
2 cups unsalted butter, at room temperature
5 cups powdered sugar
6 tablespoons Bailey’s Irish Cream

Directions:

1. To Make the Cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 24 cupcake cups with liners. Bring the Guinness and butter to a simmer in a heavy, medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the cocoa powder and whisk until the mixture is smooth. Then cool slightly.

2. Whisk in the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in a large bowl to combine. Using an electric mixer, beat the eggs and sour cream on medium speed until combined. Add the Guinness-chocolate mixture to the egg mixture and beat just to combine. Reduce the speed to low, add the flour mixture and beat briefly. Using a rubber spatula, fold the batter together until completely combined. Divide the batter among the cupcake liners using an ice-cream scoop. I find that I can get a more equal amount by using this method. Bake until a thin knife inserted into the center comes out clean, about 17 minutes. Cool the cupcakes on a rack.

3. To Make the Whiskey Ganache Filling: Put chocolate chips into a heatproof bowl. Heat the cream in microwave for a minute, then for 30 second intervals until warm. Pour it over the chocolate. Let it sit for a couple minutes and then, using a rubber spatula, stir it from the center outward until smooth. Add the butter and whiskey (or vanilla) and stir until combined. Let the ganache cool until thick but still soft enough to be piped.

4. To Fill the Cupcakes: Using a 1-inch round cookie cutter (or the bottom of a large decorating tip), cut the centers out of the cooled cupcakes, going about two-thirds of the way down. Transfer the ganache to a piping back with a wide tip and fill the holes in each cupcake to the top.

5. To Make the Baileys Frosting: Using the whisk attachment of a stand mixer, whip the butter on medium-high speed for 5 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl occasionally. Reduce the speed to medium-low and gradually add the powdered sugar until all of it is incorporated. Add the Baileys, (or vanilla) and increase the speed to medium-high and whip for another 2 to 3 minutes, until it is light and fluffy.

6. Using your favorite decorating tip, or an offset spatula, frost the cupcakes and decorate with sprinkles, if desired. Top with the chocolate mint macaroon. Store the cupcakes in an airtight container.


The chocolate mint macaroons recipe was inspired from “macaroons” by Paragon Books.



I also bought a macaron silicone mat to help keep a consistent size with the macaroons

Peppermint Macaroons

Ingredients:

3/4 cup ground almonds

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

2 extra large egg whites (room temperature)

1/4 cup superfine sugar

1 tsp pepperment extract

green food dye

Directions:

Place the ground almonds and confectioners’ sugar in a food processor and process for 15 seconds. Sift the mixture into a bowl. Line a cookie sheet with your silicone mat or use parchment paper.


Place the egg whites in a large bowl and whip until holding soft peaks. Gradually beat in the superfine sugar to make a firm, glossy meringue. Beat in the peppermint extract and enough green food  coloring for your desired color.


Using a spatula, fold in the almond mixture into the meringue  one-third at a time. When all the dry ingredients are thoroughly in corporate, continue to cut and fold the mixture until it forms a shiny batter with a thick, ribbon like consistency.


Pour the batter into a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2 inch tip. Pipe 32-36 small circles onto the prepared baking sheet or the silicone mat. Tap the baking sheets firmly onto a work surface to remove air bubbles. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. This helps the meringue form a crust that will keep it’s shape when baked and give it it’s pretty legs. Preheat oven to 325 F./160 C.


Bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes and carefully peel the macaroons off the parchment or silicon mat, let cool completely before filling.



Yummy!