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Paint Splatter Macarons for Valentine’s Day are a perfect sweet treat, and fun project all in one!

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and there is no better season for macarons. These finicky cookies are most definitely a labour of love.

There are so many ways to make them extra special.

If you’re looking for more ideas, be sure to check out this post!

Paint Splatter Macarons

But for now, let’s get back to these paint splatter macarons!

I loved creating this look!

So much fun creating the splatter look. I’ll definitely be experimenting with different colors here!

You can create unique color combinations by picking a different color for the macarons, or even leave them white, and then create complementary colors for the paint splatter!

What you’ll need

There are only a few things you’ll need to create this look!

Edible food color My favorite is Americolor gel food color, which is super concentrated, and allows you to create the look you want.

Food Safe Paintbrushes I love these ones from Wilton Brand, but really any food safe paintbrushes will do! You can get them from Amazon here

How to make the paint for the paint splatter macarons

For the food safe paint, I mixed vodka with gel food color. My favorite is Americolor gel food color, which is super concentrated, and allows you to create the look you want.

For this look, I created two different shades of pink, one with one drop of pink gel food color, and the other with 2 drops of gel food color.

You can also create a different looks with different colors, like complementary colors!

Creating the paint splatter for macarons

There were two ways that I experimented with to create the splatter look on the macarons.

First, dip the paintbrush into the “paint”.

One way to “splatter” the paint on your macarons is to hold the brush between your thumb and middle finger and tapping the brush with your second finger. You can vary the vigor of your taps to create differently sized splatters.

Another way: The messy, but in my opinion better approach was to rustle the bristles with paint onto the macarons. This gets the paint all over your hands, but it creates finer sprays, which look more delicate.

TIPS

Work Ahead

This project requires cooled macaron shells, and macarons need to be left in the fridge for at least 24 hours to mature. So make sure to work at least a couple of days ahead!

Decorate your own or store bought macarons

Macarons can definitely be finicky, and are a labour of love. This is a perfect project to experiment with using store-bought macarons!

Create multiple shades of one color

For this look, I created 2 shades of pink, since my macarons were already a teal color. Creating two shades, light and darker pink, gave the macarons a more varied look.

Or experiment with multiple colors!

The key to this look are the non-uniform splatters. To create the look, try the different methods of “splattering” the paint. Experiment with how close or far you splatter paint on the macarons. Even experiment with the strength with which you splatter!

It is definitely a messy project!

Work in an area that you don’t mind cleaning up. If working outside is an option definitely do it! This is the middle of winter for us, so working outside was not an option for me!

The paint should come off most surfaces, because it is food safe. But if you have expensive furniture or fabric, make sure to cover it all up before starting to splatter!

Enjoy your hard work!

For more ideas for how to decorate French Macarons, check out:

Follow me on Instagram @sprinklesandscribbles for more baking inspiration!

Cheers,

Paint Splatter Macarons for Valentine’s Day

Paint Splatter Macarons for Valentine's Day are a perfect sweet treat, and fun project all in one!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 1

Cook Time 1

Total Time 1 1

Course Dessert

Cuisine French

Servings 24 macarons

Equipment

Measuring scale
Sifter
Oven thermometer
Stand mixer or Hand mixer
Pastry bag
#12 round tip (optional)
2 aluminum baking sheets with silicon mats or silpat
Food safe paintbrushe

Ingredients

Macaron shells

135 grams almond flour
125 grams icing sugar
100 grams egg whites About 3 large egg whites
88 grams granulated sugar
pinch cream of tartar
teal food coloring gel

White chocolate ganache filling

* 100 g white chooclate
* 33 mL Heavy cream

Decorate Macarons

1 tbsp almond extract or vodka
pink food coloring gel

Instructions

Macarons Shells

Pre-heat oven to 300°F.
Separate the eggs from the egg whites (if using fresh eggs). Measure out 100 g (about 3 large eggs).
In a separate bowl, sift the icing sugar and almond flour together
Repeat the sifting process to ensure there are no clumps. If there are any clumps, discard them.
In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add the egg whites and a pinch cream of tartar. Beat on high until foamy.
Once the egg whites are foamy, turn mixer down to the lowest setting possible, and slowly add in the granulated sugar. Be sure to incorporate all the sugar into the egg whites.
Add in 1 drop of Americolor teal gel food colouring.
Turn up the mixer again on high, and keep beating egg whites until peaks form. DO NOT OVER BEAT.
Once done, pour all the almond flour and icing sugar mixture into the egg whites.
With a rubber spatula, fold the dry mixture into the egg whites, until the paste flows like a ribbon.
Fit a pasty bag with a #12 round tip, if using, and trim the bottom as appropriate.
Pour batter into bag.
Pipe circles onto the prepared baking sheet. You should get about 50-60 circles in total depending on the size of your macarons.
Once piped, rap the sheet on the counter to release all the air bubbles.
Rest for 30 minutes, until the shells have formed a skin, and are no longer tacky to the touch.
Bake in oven, at 300°F for 12 minutes.
Check for doneness, by wiggling the a shell. Shells are done when they don’t move from the feet. If it wiggles from the feet, then bake for another minute, and check again.
Cool the shells in the tray.

White Chocolate Ganache Filling

While the shells are cooling, make the ganache filling.
Heat the heavy cream in the microwave for one minute
Whisk in the solid white chocolate until melted and smooth
Store in fridge to cool / harden a little for about 30 minutes

Decorate

Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper. This step will get messy so make sure to lay newspaper in your work area.
Once the shells have cooled, place shells face down on baking sheet
Make 2 shades of pink "paint".
Divide the 1 tbsp of vodka or almond extract on two small dishes
Add one drop of pink gel food coloring in one dish
Add two drops of pink gel food coloring in the other dish
Dip paintbrush in the lighter shade of pink, and splatter the "paint" on the macarons. To create a unique look, splash some paint from a close distance, and some paint from a little farther away.
Repeat with the second shade of pink.
Let dry for about an hour, until the alcohol has dried off, and paint is no longer wet.

Assembly

Remove macaron shells from baking tray and pair similar sized shells together to form the cookie sandwiches.
Add in about a teaspoon of white chocolate ganache
Carefully sandwich the cookie with its pair.
Repeat to assemble all the cookies
Once all the cookies are assembled, store the macarons in the fridge for at least 24 hours to mature.
Enjoy your hard work!

Paint Splatter Macarons for Valentine’s Day