French macarons: two almond shells and a filling

Useful to know

French macarons pair two almond-based shells with a filling. King Arthur’s method treats mixing, portioning and baking the shells as separate steps before assembly. [1]

Their appearance should not be confused with coconut macaroons, which use a different mixture. Follow the consistency and preparation described by the chosen recipe rather than relying only on a round outline. Shell size and filling affect the finished dessert. Identical names in a loose translation do not make the methods interchangeable.