Cranberry Citrus Macarons Recipes

CITRUS MACARONS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (or 300 degrees F for convection). Line 3 baking sheets with silicone baking mats. Sift the confectioners' sugar into a large bowl. Whisk in the almond flour.
• Beat the egg whites, cream of tartar and salt in a stand mixer with the whisk attachment on medium speed until frothy, about 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium high and gradually beat in the superfine sugar until the mixture is just stiff and shiny, 2 to 2 1/2 more minutes, adding the food coloring and extract during the last 15 seconds of mixing.
• Fold the egg white mixture into the almond flour mixture using a rubber spatula, giving the bowl a quarter turn with each fold, until incorporated. Continue folding and turning, scraping down the bowl, until the batter is smooth and falls off the spatula in a thick ribbon, no more than 2 minutes (about 60 strokes).
• Transfer the batter to a piping bag fitted with a 1/4-inch round tip. Holding the bag perpendicular to and 1/2 inch above the prepared pans, pipe 11/4-inch rounds (30 to 35 per pan). Firmly tap the baking sheets twice against the counter to release any air bubbles. Let the cookies sit at room temperature until the tops are no longer sticky to the touch, 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the humidity.
• Slip another baking sheet under one batch of macarons (a double baking sheet protects the cookies from the heat). Bake the macarons, rotating the baking sheet halfway through, until the tops of the cookies are shiny and rise 1/8 inch to form a "foot," about 20 minutes. Transfer the top pan to a rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining two batches, using a double baking sheet for each. Sandwich the cookies with citrus curd or preserves. (The cookies will be crisp on top. For a softer texture, sandwich the cookies and let sit 4 to 12 hours before serving.)

CRANBERRY LIME MACAROONS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, whisk egg whites for 1 minute. Whisk in the sugar, vanilla, lime zest and salt. Stir in coconut and cranberries., Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2-in. apart onto parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

STRAWBERRY MACARONS

Steps:

• Make the macarons: Let the egg whites sit at room temperature for at least 1 hour. Line 2 baking sheets with silicone baking mats; set aside.
• Pulse the confectioners' sugar and almonds in a food processor until very finely ground. Working in batches, sift the mixture through a medium-mesh sieve into a large bowl. If you have more than 2 tablespoons of the mixture left in the sieve, return to the food processor and grind until powdery, then sift again. Repeat this process until only about 2 tablespoons are left in the sieve; discard.
• Rub a pinch of salt around a large bowl or the bowl of a mixer to absorb any oils, then wipe clean. Add the egg whites and another pinch of salt. Whisk with a mixer on medium speed until frothy, then gradually whisk in the superfine sugar. Increase the mixer speed to medium high and whisk until very soft peaks form, 2 to 4 minutes. Add the strawberry extract and food coloring and whisk until stiff peaks form, about 1 minute. Fold about one-third of the almond mixture into the egg whites until combined, then fold in the rest. The batter should fall off the spatula in thick ribbons and look slightly shiny. If the batter seems stiff, fold once or twice more, being careful not to overmix.
• Transfer the batter to a piping bag fitted with a 1/4-inch round tip. Holding the bag vertically and close to the prepared baking sheets, squeeze the bag until the batter spreads to a 1 1/4- to 1 1/2-inch round, flicking your wrist to the side as you finish to avoid leaving a point. Repeat to make about 24 rounds per baking sheet, about 1 1/2 inches apart. Firmly tap the baking sheets against the counter to release any air bubbles. Let sit at room temperature until the tops are slightly matte and no longer sticky, at least 45 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Make the filling: Bring the strawberries, honey and lemon juice to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally and smashing the berries, until thick and jammy, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool.
• Bake the macarons, one pan at a time, until they are risen and firm, 18 to 24 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes on the pan, then carefully transfer to racks to cool completely. Sandwich a thin layer of the strawberry filling between the macarons.

CRANBERRY CITRUS DRESSING

Steps:

• Start by making a simple syrup: dissolve the sugar in the water in a medium saucepan. Add vanilla beans and bring to a simmer. Add the orange juice and cranberries, a dash of salt and some freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Simmer until cranberries begin to pop and become tender, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in Dijon mustard. Chill cranberry sauce until ready to serve. The sauce can be made up to 2 days ahead of time. Just before serving, garnish sauce with freshly grated orange zest.

CITRUS-CRANBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Remove the peel and pith from oranges with a pairing knife, cut each section into quarters.
• In a heavy saucepan over medium heat combine oranges, cranberries, sugar, water, and ground ginger. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and stir in lemon and lime juice. Cover sauce and chill before serving. Can be made up to 3 days prior to serving.

CRANBERRY-CITRUS MUFFIN TOPS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and adjust 2 oven racks to the top and bottom halves of the oven. Line 2 baking sheets with greased parchment paper.
• Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda together in a medium bowl.
• Whisk the buttermilk, orange zest, vanilla and egg together in a separate bowl. Toss the cranberries with 1 1/2 tablespoons of the sugar.
• Beat the butter and remaining 1/2 cup sugar together in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes (or in a large bowl if using a hand mixer), scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
• Adjust the speed to low and add the dry and wet mixtures in alternating batches until just combined. Add the cranberries and fold in using a spatula.
• Spray a 1/4 measuring cup lightly with pan spray. Scoop a level 1/4 cup of batter and scrape out with a rubber spatula onto the baking sheets. Repeat with the remaining batter, spacing the muffin tops about 2 inches apart. Pat the dough into rounded mounds using wet or greased hands. Chill 30 minutes.
• Bake until the muffin tops are slightly golden and can be easily lifted from the baking sheets with a spatula, 18 to 20 minutes. Be sure to keep an eye on these and rotate the baking sheets top to bottom about every 5 minutes or as needed to ensure even baking.
• Let cool in the pan 3 minutes and then transfer to a cooling rack until cool to the touch. Stir together the confectioners' sugar and orange juice and drizzle over the muffin tops.

CRANBERRY LEMON BARS

Steps:

• Start preparing the cranberry layer: Combine the cranberries, sugar and 3 tablespoons water in a medium saucepan. Zest 2 of the lemons directly into the saucepan; reserve the lemons. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Continue boiling, stirring occasionally, until the berries burst and the mixture is jammy, 7 to 9 minutes. Remove from the heat and reserve.
• Make the crust: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line the bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with one large sheet of heavy aluminum foil, making sure there are no gaps or holes, then generously coat with cooking spray.
• Whisk the flour, sugar and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk the vanilla into the butter, then pour over the flour mixture. Stir until the dough comes together in a mass. Press into an even layer in the prepared pan. Bake until golden brown around the edges and dry and golden on top, 17 to 20 minutes.
• While the crust bakes, begin preparing the lemon layer: Squeeze the juice from the 2 reserved zested lemons. You should have 1/2 cup. Squeeze the juice from another lemon, if needed.
• Whisk the sugar, flour and salt in a medium bowl. Add the eggs and whisk gently just until incorporated. Add the lemon juice and stir gently with the whisk just until smooth.
• Let the crust cool for 5 minutes, then spread the cranberry mixture evenly over the crust. Carefully and slowly pour the lemon mixture on top to create two distinct layers.
• Return the pan to the oven and bake until the filling is set, 18 to 22 minutes. Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, then refrigerate until cold and firm, at least 2 hours. Using the foil, slide the bars out of the pan and onto a cutting board. Cut into 24 squares, wiping your knife between cuts for clean slices. If desired, sift confectioners' sugar over the tops just before serving.