Summer Adventures- Travel Themed Royal Icing Macaroons/Macarons

It’s nearing the end of September and for a lot of us that means that the stippling work and school monotonous routine is in full swing. Over the summer we probably planned of going on adventures and seeing the world, travelling as much as we can with the aspiration of broadening our mind sets and photo albums. In late August, in September’s shadow, I thought how upsetting it was that month of exploration had come to an end, granted some of the more lack lustre days had consisted of Netflix, fluffy blankets and purring cats, but none the less the thought of college was dreary. To many people the idea of a routine, a day consisting in the same environment, surrounded with the same people, the same sounds, seems satisfying. However, although the routine is safe, familiar and comforting it has always bemused me how there are 196 countries, 7 billion people and a multitude of cuisine and cultures that we probably haven’t experienced, although schooling has the monotonous mantra of ‘you must be well versed and acclaim academic excellence’ they don’t teach you that there are tulip fields in the Netherlands so brightly coloured they’re a work of art or that there’s a hidden beach in Mexico created by bomb.

Granted not everyone has the funding to visit such elaborate places, however just exploring a town a few miles out of your way, meeting people you’ve never spoken to or walking around the countryside will fulfill you with a refreshing sense of adventure that no reality show on Netflix could provide.

People such as youtubers Jack Harries and Louis Cole have realised that the quote from  The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is true ‘“To see the world, things dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, draw closer, to find each other, and to feel. That is the purpose of life.”

So I decided to bake some macaroons – travel inspired for everyone feeling like their summer adventures had come to an end.

On to the recipe (makes around 20): 

Macarons - 

175g icing sugar

125g ground almonds

3 large egg whites

75g caster sugar

pinch of salt 

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/2 teaspoon blue food colouring (preferably gel)

piping bag 

Buttercream- 

300g sieved icing sugar

150g butter

1 tsp blue food colouring (or however much until you get the desired colour)

piping bag

Royal Icing- 

1.5 oz warm water

1.25 tablespoons meringue powder

1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

225 icing sugar (powdered sugar for all the americans)

piping bags

black food colouring

1. Preheat your oven to gas mark 3/160C

2. Line tins with parchment paper but NOT BUTTER as if will falter the macarons

3. Sieve the ground almonds and icing sugar into a large bowl (this will prevent the macaroons from being lumpy on top, add the salt and cream of tartar to the bowl

4. Whisk the egg whites until they form soft peaks

5. Add the sugar to the egg whites until they form glossy stiff peaks, do not over whisk

6. Fold in the almond mixture into the egg white until the mixture is smooth but do not over mix

7. Add blue food colouring and gently stir in - the colour always dims once cooked

8. Place into a piping bag with a 1cm nozzle (or just cut the end to 1cm)

9. Pipe 3cm rounds of the mixture on to the tray 

10. Tap the baking tray on the surface to create the foot (Little frilly edges)

11. Leave out for 30 minutes - 1 hour

12. Place into over and cook for 15 minutes

13. Leave to cool and start on the icing

14. Whisk together the icing sugar and butter until the mixture is pale and smooth and add the food colouring - place into a piping bag with a round nozzle

15. Fill generously 1 half of the macaron and sandwich the other half together

16. Get started on the royal icing, combine the meringue powder and water - whisk for 30 seconds

17. Add the cream of tartar and continue to whisk for another 30 seconds

18. Add the icing sugar and whisk for 10 minutes 

19. Place half into a piping bag with a minuscule slit in the end - so the white icing is fine

20. Colour the other half with black food colouring so the icing turns a grey shade, place into another piping bag with a small slit

21. Pipe whatever designs float your adventurous boat - whether that be a boat, or a compass, or map, or plane or Tumblr saying

There you have it, a delicious adventure inspired macaroon - enjoy x