Macchiato Macarons

Instructions

• Line a large baking tray with parchment paper.
• In a medium mixing bowl, beat the egg whites with an electric hand mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form. Add ⅓ of the granulated sugar and with mixer on high, continue to beat until egg whites are stiff peaks. Add another ⅓ of the sugar and beat again until egg whites are back to stiff peaks. Repeat with last ⅓ of sugar, beating until whites are shiny and fluffy.
• Using a fine mesh strainer, sift together the almond flour, confectioners sugar, and espresso powder into the bowl with the egg whites. Discard any large pieces that remain in the strainer.
• With a rubber scraper, fold the mixture into the egg whites, about 35-45 strokes, or until the batter falls on itself but a slight peak remains (Do not overmix or batter will be too thin and runny).
• Fill a piping bag fitted with a round tip. Pipe batter onto prepared baking tray into 1 ½ inch (4 cm) disks.
• Lift and drop the baking tray onto a hard surface 2-3 times to smooth out the batter and knock out any air bubbles. Allow cookies to rest at room temperature for one hour, until a skin forms on the surface of the cookies.
• Preheat oven to 285˚F (140˚C)
• To make the filling, beat the butter, confectioners sugar and vanilla extract until light and fluffy. Set aside.
• After about one hour, gently brush the top a cookie with your finger to check that a skin has formed. The batter should not stick to your finger, if it does, allow to set for an additional 15 minutes.
• Bake cookies in preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until the cookies peel away from the parchment when lifted.
• Allow the cookie shells to cool completely.
• Pipe the buttercream frosting onto the bottom side of a cooled shell and sandwich together with a similarly sized cookie.
• Dust with optional cocoa powder and serve. *Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
• Enjoy!