Pistachio macarons with Black sesame buttercream

Yay! I'm back with more macarons! Have I told you how much I adore these little round shaped cookies? Or maybe I haven't told you enough how much I love to look at them as much as I love to devour them. They are such a pretty sight to see and I think I more I make them, the more I got addicted to them. My husband's favorite flavor is pistachio. So to please my "customer", I made the pistachio once again, but with a twist on the buttercream filling to make it a little more interesting. 

I got a jar of this black sesame paste from a Japanese supermarket a while back without knowing what to use it on. So the thought came to me while whipping up the Swiss buttercream. Five minutes later I got myself some black sesame buttercream to dress my pistachio macarons with. I totally love how the flavors play out so nice together. The black sesame paste definitely highlights  the creamy, nutty flavors of the buttercream and the pistachio. I think this is my new favorite combination. My husband, in the other hand, is still loyal to his pistachio and the original buttercream, so I saved half of the plain buttercream for him and the other half to mix with black sesame paste for myself. And we are all happy campers!

Passion fruit macarons

These passion fruit flavored macarons is something that I have been wanting to try for the longest time. What hindered the process was the lack of the main ingredient, the passion fruit itself. We planted a passion fruit tree last summer, there was one sole fruit on the tree when I got it. This summer, I was so excited to see many beautiful passion fruit flowers blooming under the sun. But that was all that happened, just the flowers, never came the fruits! The flowers kept on coming and blooming, but that was all I can see. I was so disappointed not being able to see those beautiful little brown things hanging on my tree. 

Just when I thought I would never be able to accomplish my dream, then came the real things. Although these were not from my tree, but they are as real and as fresh as any passion fruits can be. Thanks to my mother-in-law who supplied me with these rare, precious fruits from her friend's garden. My impossible mission is finally accomplished.

I just love how the passion fruit flavor and fragrant play out in this little delightful dessert. The exquisite scent of passion fruits to me smells like a cross between guava and and strawberry.  Passion fruit itself is tarty and tangy in flavor with a subtle taste of sweetness. They are mostly use in gourmet baking or cooking to enhance the aromatic flavor of the desserts or dishes. Once being added, it will bring out a very pleasant, distinctive flavor to the dish.  Not only being well known for the aroma, it's also packed with tons of vitamin C, potassium and fiber. A very healthful fruit indeed!

Hopefully one day, my passion fruit tree will be able to bear some of these precious fruits for me. Until then I will have to depend on the generosity of others:).

Strawberry macarons with vanilla bean buttercream

My quest for macarons is on full gear now. I don't think I will ever get tired of making nor looking at them. These little circles got me "wrapped" around their little tiny "feet"! 

With the strawberry season at its highest in the summer, I just couldn't resist giving these macs a taste of this juicy summery fruit.

Rose water Macarons

 I can't say enough about the love that I have for these little round "circle" cookies. They are just too adorable to describe in word. I think, the more I make them, the more I got addicted and fall in love with them.  In this hot summer day, these pink little circles are dazzling in the sun rays and that is just so beautiful to look at.

Salted caramel pistachio Macarons

 I don't know about anyone else, but I just love...love... the look of these tiny little guys. They are just so adorable to look at! I think I'm obsessed with not just eating macarons but also making and looking at them. The feeling of excitement when I can see the feet forming from these little guys through the glass window of the oven is indescribable. Only if you have tried and failed to make these picky little cookies successfully, you won't be able to understand what kind of emotion I am talking about here.  

Even with this successful batch of macs, it could go all wrong the next time I make it. Therefore, I want to savor and enjoy the fruit of my labor as long as possible.  

At our home, we all love these little French cookies, so I make them very frequently to keep the supply from going under. This time, the recipe for the shells is the same as I have previously posted,  but instead of the usual butter cream filling, I tried to pair the pistachio shells with the salted caramel sauce.  The sweetness of the caramel combines with the saltiness and creamy taste of the heavy cream and butter make me want to dance in happiness. I think it would taste even better if I can pair this heavenly filling with the mocha flavor macarons. Maybe that will be the next task for my macaron quest.

Pistachio macarons

     These little macarons originate from France. And if you are "macaron-naive" then you should beware that these are not the same kind with the coconut macaroons, they are far from being related! 

     I fell in love with them at first sign. I mean who can resist these little cuties??? The rainbow color circles (as my little son calls them "circle") were arrayed neatly in the display at the pastry shop when they first got my attention.

    Since then I told myself I've got to learn how to make these little "circles" since I don't want to go broke trying to satisfy my palate with this decadent dessert.

    My very first batch of macaron was a total disaster. They looked more like "macawrong" because I over-mixed the batter and they turned out flat and footless. Nevertheless, they were consumed by my supportive customers (my hubby and my boys). I decided not to give up and keep on trying, the second time was a little better but still far from being called perfect. This time at least they had some protruding feet and I was really excited to see them. Since then, I have tried several more times. And each time with different results, some cracked, some hollow, some flat, some wet, some dry... but I told myself "don't give up". And with practice I got a little closer to the look that I fell in love with. 

    These were made a few days ago and since my hubby loves pistachio so I made these for him and the boys per his request. They are not perfect but it's the best that I have got so far. I made with 1/2 almond and 1/2 pistachio flours. As for the filling, I sandwiched them with pistachio buttercream. They are still hollow inside and a little crunchier than I wanted, but the size got more uniform than the most important part is the feet that I am long for! And as for the taste, they are scrumptious! My customers told me so:)

These were resting before being baked.