Dreamy Peppermint Bark Macarons Recipe: Holiday Magic in Bites

Sweet whispers of peppermint bark dance through these delicate macarons, promising a festive culinary adventure.

Crisp almond shells cradle a rich chocolate ganache center.

Delicate meringue-like cookies melt softly on your tongue.

Candy cane crumbles add a delightful crunch to each elegant bite.

Winter’s most beloved flavor combination comes alive in this sophisticated dessert.

Magical French pastry skills merge with classic holiday charm.

These little treats will absolutely steal the spotlight at any celebration.

Why Peppermint Bark Macarons Feel Like Christmas

• Craft Delicate Desserts: Master the art of creating professional-grade French macarons with this festive peppermint bark variation that looks and tastes like a bakery-level treat.
• Impress Your Guests: Elevate your holiday baking with a sophisticated dessert that combines elegant French technique with classic Christmas flavor, guaranteed to wow friends and family.
• Holiday Showstopper: Transform traditional peppermint bark into an elegant macaron that brings gourmet bakery magic right to your kitchen, blending rich chocolate, cool peppermint, and delicate almond shells.
• Customizable Creativity: Experiment with food coloring, decorative toppings, and flavor intensities to personalize these macarons, making each batch uniquely yours while maintaining professional presentation.

What You’ll Need For Peppermint Bark Macarons

• Almond Flour: A fine ground nut flour that provides the signature texture and flavor of macarons.
• Powdered Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create the smooth, delicate macaron shell.
• Egg Whites: The foundation of the meringue that gives macarons their light and airy structure.
• Granulated Sugar: Stabilizes the egg whites and adds sweetness to the macaron shells.
• Peppermint Extract: Infuses a cool, refreshing mint flavor into the macaron shells.
• Red Food Coloring: Optional ingredient that creates a festive holiday appearance.

• White Chocolate Chips: Forms the base of the creamy ganache filling with a rich, sweet flavor.
• Heavy Cream: Helps create a smooth, luxurious ganache for the macaron filling.
• Dark Chocolate Chips: Provides a rich chocolate drizzle for decoration and added flavor.
• Candy Canes: Crushed to add a crunchy, minty garnish that enhances the holiday theme.
• Sea Salt: A small pinch that balances and intensifies the sweet flavors of the macarons.

• Parchment Paper: Ensures macarons do not stick and helps create even, smooth shells.

How To Make Peppermint Bark Macarons Easily

Step 1: Sift Dry Ingredients

Grab a fine-mesh sieve and combine almond flour and powdered sugar. Gently sift the mixture into a clean bowl, breaking up any stubborn lumps and creating a silky, uniform powder.

Step 2: Whip Egg Whites

Using a spotless mixer bowl, begin whipping egg whites until soft, cloudlike peaks emerge. Gradually shower in granulated sugar while continuing to whip, transforming the mixture into a glossy, stiff meringue that holds dramatic peaks.

Step 3: Create Macaron Batter

Delicately fold the dry ingredients into the meringue using a spatula. Add peppermint extract and optional red food coloring. Mix until the batter flows like warm lava and creates beautiful ribbons when lifted.

Step 4: Pipe Macaron Shells

Transfer the batter to a piping bag with a round tip. Pipe perfect 1.5-inch circles onto parchment-lined baking sheets, leaving generous space between each shell.

Step 5: Rest Macaron Shells

Firmly tap the baking sheets against the counter to eliminate air bubbles. Let the shells rest at room temperature for 30-45 minutes until a delicate skin forms on the surface.

Step 6: Bake Macaron Shells

Preheat the oven to 300°F. Bake the macarons for 12-15 minutes, rotating the tray midway to ensure even, golden coloring.

Step 7: Cool Macaron Shells

Allow the shells to cool completely on the baking sheet before gently peeling them off the parchment paper.

Step 8: Prepare White Chocolate Ganache

Warm heavy cream and pour over white chocolate chips. Stir until smooth and glossy. Mix in peppermint extract for an extra burst of flavor.

Step 9: Assemble Macarons

Once the ganache reaches room temperature, pipe the filling onto one macaron shell. Sandwich with a matching shell, creating a delightful flavor pocket.

Step 10: Decorate Macarons

• Crushed candy canes
• Pinch of sea salt

Step 11: Develop Flavors

Refrigerate the macarons for at least 24 hours, allowing the flavors to harmonize and the texture to soften into a melt-in-your-mouth experience.

Tips To Perfect Peppermint Bark Macarons

• Sift with Precision: Use a fine-mesh sieve to guarantee an ultra-smooth almond flour and powdered sugar blend, preventing any lumps that could ruin your macaron texture.
• Meringue Mastery: Ensure your mixing bowl is completely grease-free and use room temperature egg whites for the most stable, glossy meringue that provides perfect macaron structure.
• Rest and Develop: Let piped macarons sit at room temperature to form a crucial skin, which creates those signature smooth, crisp tops and prevents cracking during baking.
• Chocolate Drizzle Trick: Melt chocolate slowly and carefully, using a double boiler or short microwave bursts to prevent burning, ensuring a smooth, glossy drizzle over your finished macarons.

Creative Twists On Peppermint Bark Macarons

• Chocolate Mint Macaron Madness: Replace white chocolate ganache with dark chocolate mint filling, using dark chocolate chips and extra peppermint extract for intense flavor.
• Candy Cane Crunch Macaron: Add crushed candy canes directly into the macaron batter for extra texture and festive crunch throughout the shell.
• Holiday Spice Macaron: Incorporate ground cinnamon and nutmeg into the dry ingredients, creating a warm winter spice profile that complements the peppermint.
• Chocolate Mint Swirl Macaron: Create a marbled effect by separating a portion of the macaron batter, adding red food coloring to one half, and gently swirling together before piping.

What Goes Well With Peppermint Bark Macarons

• Chocolate Companion: Pair with a rich, dark hot chocolate that echoes the dark chocolate drizzle and complements the peppermint bark's festive flavor profile.
• Winter Wine Delight: Select a sweet Moscato d'Asti or late harvest Riesling, whose light sweetness and subtle effervescence balance the macaron's delicate texture and minty notes.
• Espresso Elegance: Serve alongside a shot of espresso or cappuccino, allowing the coffee's robust intensity to contrast beautifully with the macaron's creamy white chocolate and crisp peppermint undertones.
• Holiday Cocktail Match: Mix a peppermint martini or white chocolate liqueur cocktail that amplifies the dessert's seasonal spirit and provides a sophisticated adult beverage pairing.

How To Keep Peppermint Bark Macarons Fresh

• Store peppermint bark macarons in an airtight container within the refrigerator for up to 5 days, maintaining their delicate texture and flavor profile.
• Wrap individual macarons carefully in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container to preserve for 2-3 months, ensuring minimal moisture exposure.
• Keep macarons in a cool, dry place inside a sealed container for 1-2 days, away from direct sunlight or heat sources to prevent softening.
• Separate each macaron with parchment paper when storing to prevent sticking and maintain their delicate structure during storage.

FAQ For Peppermint Bark Macarons

• What makes macarons challenging to bake?

Macarons require precise techniques like properly whipping egg whites, creating the right batter consistency, and allowing a skin to form before baking. Humidity, ingredient temperature, and folding technique significantly impact their success.

• How do I know if my macaron batter is mixed correctly?

The batter should flow like lava when lifted, forming a ribbon that slowly dissolves back into the mixture within 30 seconds. Overmixing leads to flat, cracked shells, while undermixing results in bumpy, lumpy surfaces.

• Why are my macaron shells cracking?

Cracking typically occurs from overmixed batter, too high oven temperature, or not allowing the macarons to rest and form a skin before baking.

Peppermint Bark Macarons Recipe

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4.8 from 22 reviews

• Total Time: 24 hours 1 hour
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Delicate French macarons infused with peppermint bark bring festive holiday cheer to classic pastry. Crisp almond shells sandwich rich chocolate ganache, delivering a perfect balance of mint and chocolate that enchants dessert enthusiasts.

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Ingredients

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Macarons Shells:

• 100 g almond flour
• 100 g powdered sugar
• 2 egg whites
• 50 g granulated sugar
• 1/4 tsp peppermint extract
• Red food coloring (optional)

Filling:

• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
• 2 tbsp crushed candy canes

Decoration:

• 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
• 2 tbsp crushed candy canes
• Pinch of sea salt

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Instructions

1. Sift almond flour and powdered sugar together in a bowl, ensuring a fine, lump-free mixture.
2. Whip egg whites in a clean, dry mixer bowl until soft peaks form, gradually adding granulated sugar while continuing to whip until stiff, glossy peaks develop.
3. Gently fold dry ingredients into the meringue, adding peppermint extract and optional red food coloring, creating a smooth, flowing batter that ribbons when lifted.
4. Transfer batter to a piping bag fitted with a round tip, and pipe uniform 1.5-inch circles onto parchment-lined baking sheets, leaving space between each macaron.
5. Tap baking sheets firmly on the counter to release air bubbles, then let macarons rest at room temperature for 30-45 minutes until a skin forms on the surface.
6. Preheat oven to 300°F (150°C) and bake macarons for 12-15 minutes, rotating halfway through for even cooking.
7. Allow shells to cool completely on the baking sheet before carefully removing.
8. Prepare white chocolate ganache by heating heavy cream and pouring over white chocolate chips, stirring until smooth, then mix in peppermint extract.
9. Once ganache reaches room temperature, pipe filling onto one macaron shell, then sandwich with a matching shell.
10. Melt dark chocolate chips and drizzle over assembled macarons, immediately sprinkle with crushed candy canes and a pinch of sea salt.
11. Refrigerate for at least 24 hours to allow flavors to meld and texture to soften.

Notes

• Sift dry ingredients thoroughly to prevent lumps and ensure a smooth, delicate macaron texture.
• Create a stable meringue by whipping egg whites at medium-high speed, watching for glossy, stiff peaks that hold their shape.
• Allow macarons to form a skin before baking, which helps develop the classic crisp shell and ruffled “feet” during baking.
• Use room temperature ingredients for better incorporation and consistent macaron performance.
• Store macarons in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain their delicate texture and enhance flavor development.
• Experiment with different food colorings or extracts to customize the festive peppermint bark theme.
• For gluten-free diets, this recipe is naturally gluten-free; use dairy-free white chocolate for a vegan alternative.

• Prep Time: 45 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 220
• Sugar: 15 g
• Sodium: 30 mg
• Fat: 10 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 29 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 20 mg