Cotton candy macarons of your dreams! Beautifully marbled macaron shells filled with cotton candy flavored Swiss meringue buttercream.
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Pin ItThese beautiful cotton candy macarons scream SUMMER! Maybe it’s just me, but cotton candy is always associated with summer. It’s because growing up, my mom’s friend used to sell cotton candy at a summer festival in Mongolia, the equivalent of a county fair in the U.S.
And to this day, cotton candy always brings those blissful childhood memories!
How to make cotton candy macarons:
First, bake macaron shells:
- I used my basic macaron recipe for the shells. Check that post for all the details on baking macaron shells.
- To make the fun colored effect, check out my marbled macaron tutorial, where I shared 3 methods to create the swirls.
- And watch this video on how to make multiple colors with one batch of batter.
Make Swiss meringue buttercream:
- Swiss meringue buttercream is less sweet filling, which makes it an ideal for cotton candy version!
- Here’s my ultimate Swiss meringue buttercream tutorial.
- I flavored the buttercream with actual cotton candy.
- For stronger cotton candy flavor, use a cotton candy extract (water-soluble). I recommend this one from Amoretti for better flavor. LorAnn cotton candy extract has a more bubble gum flavor than cotton candy.
Assemble the macarons:
I prefer to fill the macarons with cotton candy buttercream only.
I’ve tested leaving a small well in the middle and stuffing some cotton candy in the center. But as you can imagine, cotton candy melts and it doesn’t contribute much flavor.
Once filled, it’s important to mature the filled macarons in the fridge for at least 8 hours, or preferably 24 hours.
serving tip
Bring matured macarons to room temperature before serving. About 30 minutes on the counter, if the macarons were in the fridge.
If you love cotton candy flavor, you may also want to try these cotton candy ice cream recipe!!
Macaron 101: A Comprehensive Guide
Master the art of French macarons and create your signature flavors!
Cotton Candy Macarons
Cotton candy macarons of your dreams! Beautifully marbled macaron shells filled with cotton candy flavored Swiss meringue buttercream.
Ingredients
For shells:
- 100 g super fine almond flour Note 1
- 65 g powdered sugar/confectioners sugar Note 2
- 70 g egg whites at room temperature Note 3
- 75 g fine granulated sugar Note 4
- ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar optional, Note 5
- ¼ teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- Gel food coloring if desired
For filling:
- 3 egg whites
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- ¾ cups (170 g) unsalted butter softened and cubed, Note 6
- cotton candy
Instructions
To make macaron shells:
- Preheat the oven to 300°F (150°C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper, or teflon sheet, or silicone mat.
- To prepare dry ingredients, sift together almond flour and powdered sugar twice. Note: If you have up to 2 tablespoons of chunky dry ingredients left in the sifter, you don't have to replace it. Simply discard those chunky bits.
- To make meringue, in a clean mixing bowl with a whisk attachment, combine egg whites, granulated sugar, cream of tartar and salt and beat the mixture on medium speed until soft peaks form. (I set it to speed 4 on my KitchenAid stand mixer. It takes 30-40 minutes to whip the meringue, but it's well worth it for nice and full shells.)
- If you’re making colored shells, add gel food coloring at soft peak stage. Check out this marbled macaron tutorial.
- Continue beating the egg whites on the same medium low speed until hard peaks form. Visual cues: Meringue should ball up inside the whisk, and when you lift the whisk, the meringue should hold a pointy end and have sharp ribs.
- To make batter, sift almond flour mixture into the meringue. Using a silicone spatula, fold the dry ingredients into the meringue until fully incorporated. Then continue to fold the batter until it’s runny enough to draw a figure eight. To test, take a small amount of batter and drop it into the bowl. If the small peaks dissolve into the batter on its own in about 10 seconds, the batter is ready. If not, fold couple more times and test again. Be careful not to over-fold the batter. (TIP: Making french macarons is all about the technique. This is one of the most crucial step. Let me try to describe the folding motion as best as I can: run the spatula clockwise from the bottom, up around the sides and cut the batter in half. If you’re beginner macaron-baker, I suggest to count every fold. It takes roughly about 50 folds to reach the proper consistency. After 50 folds, start testing the batter, and continue testing after every couple folds.)
- To pipe macaron shells, transfer the batter into a pastry bag, fitted with a round tip. (I used this Wilton 2A tip.)
- Hold the pastry bag at straight 90° angle and pipe about 1.5-inch rounds about an inch apart on prepared baking sheets. (TIP: I made a perfect macaron template for you. Simply pipe the batter to fill inner circle.)
- Tap the baking sheets firmly on the counter (or using your hand) a few times to get rid of any air bubbles. You can also use a toothpick to burst some large air bubbles. This step ensures smooth tops.
- Let the macarons rest on the counter for 15 minutes before baking.
- To bake, working one baking sheet at a time, place one tray with macarons on the middle rack. (TIP: To prevent browning, place an empty baking sheet on top rack to shield the heat.) Bake for about 15-18 minutes. It’ll take longer for larger macarons. To test for doneness, touch a macaron lightly and try to move it. If it slides and wobbles, bake a minute or so longer. The cooked macarons should be firm to touch and the base shouldn’t move. (TIP: It’s always better to slightly over-bake macarons than under-bake them!)
- Cool the macarons on the sheet for 10-15 minutes, and then transfer onto a wire rack to cool completely.
To make buttercream filling:
- In a small saucepan, bring a small amount of water to a boil. Reduce the heat to simmer.
- In medium heat-proof bowl (I used my stand mixer bowl), whisk together egg whites and sugar and place it over the saucepan with simmering water. (This is a make-shift double boiler. Make sure the bottom of the top bowl doesn’t touch the water.)
- Cook the egg white mixture until sugar is completely melted and it reaches 160°F (70°C) stirring continuously, about 5 minutes. (This’s my favorite thermometer!)
- Now, remove the bowl with egg white mixture from heat. Then whisk it on medium speed for a minute, then slowly increase the speed to medium high and beat until stiff peaks form and the mixture is cool to touch, about 10 minutes. (It may take longer with a hand-mixer.)
- Once the meringue reached stiff peaks, scrape the side of the bowl with a spatula and add salt.
- Turn on the mixer on medium speed and start adding butter, one tablespoon at a time. Make sure the butter is fully incorporated before adding the next piece. (NOTE: It’s normal if buttercream starts to curlde half way. Keep adding the butter!)
- Keep whisking the buttercream until smooth, light and fluffy, about 10 minutes.
- Now, switch to a paddle attachment and add cotton candy. Beat the buttercream until well combined, about a minute.
To assemble macarons:
- Pair the macaron shells by size and arrange them on a wire rack. Line them up so that bottom shells are upside down.
- Pipe a dollop of filling on bottom shells. Place the top shell over the filling and press lightly so the filling spreads till the edges.
- Store the filled macarons in an airtight container in the fridge for at least 24 hours to mature, which allows the filling to soften and flavor the shells.
- To serve, bring the macarons out about 30 minutes prior to serving.
Tips & Notes
Note 1: It’s best to use super fine almond flour to ensure smooth tops. Weigh the ingredients before sifting.
Note 2: I don’t recommend making your own powder sugar, because commercial powdered sugar has cornstarch in it. And it helps with texture of the cookies.
Note 3: I’ve had success with carton egg whites (Bob Evans brand, #notsponsored). You’ll need 1/3 cup of egg whites for macaron shells, and about 105g for buttercream.
Note 3: It’s important to use fine granulated sugar for meringue, as it dissolves quicker. You can also use caster sugar, aka baker’s sugar.
Note 4: Cream of tartar is optional and can be omitted. However, it helps to stabilize egg whites and create sturdier meringue. It’s just an extra insurance!
Note 5: Make sure the butter isn’t too soft. When you push a finger into it, the butter should dent with some resistance.
Note 6: For stronger cotton candy flavor, use a cotton candy extract (water-soluble). I recommend this one from Amoretti for better flavor. LorAnn cotton candy extract has a more bubble gum flavor than cotton candy.
Nutrition
Servings: 1 filled macaron
Calories: 152kcal
Carbohydrates: 16g
Protein: 2g
Fat: 9g
Sugar: 15g
Sodium: 73mg
Did you make this?Share a comment or a review below!
Can I add bakery emulsion to the macaron shell and if so how much should I use?
Hi, Ashley. As long as it doesn’t have oil, you can add it to the shell.
I’m not a big fan of buttercream because of the butter taste. WOuld it work fi I added less butter?
No, it won’t be a buttercream without butter. Maybe try my white chocolate ganache instead.
Your recipes are AMAZING!!! Can’t wait to try this one. Ingredients call for cotton candy & I saw in one of reviews to use cotton candy you buy at the store. Do you use the entire tub? Another review stated to use cotton candy extract 1/8 to 1/4 tsp. I’m not sure on what to use.
Hi, Sandy! I didn’t use an entire tub of cotton candy. You can flavor the buttercream 2 ways:
1. Use actual cotton candy – I suggest adding cotton candy until you’re satisfied with the flavor.
2. Or use cotton candy extract.
It’s up to you which way you flavor the buttercream.
Do you just mix in the cotton candy, or do you grind it in food processor first?
Hi, Jeanne. Just put the cotton candy into the buttercream. I know it sounds bizarre, but it works. Cotton candy melts as soon as it gets into the mixture.
I just bought some cotton candy extract that you recommended. How much of that do you put on the buttercream?
Hi, Marie. I add about 1/4 teaspoons. You can start with 1/8 teaspoon and go from there.
Love this can’t wait to try but what cotton candy do you use ? The kind kids eat? And I don’t have a scale can you break it down for me in cups
Thanks matt
Hi, Matt! Yes, the kind of cotton candy kids eat!! I just bought a dub of cotton candy at the grocery store.