Pierre Hermé's Chocolate Macarons - French Macaroons

Ingredients

Chocolate Filling

• 3/4 cup whole milk
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

Macaroons

• 1 lb powdered sugar
• 2 cups whole blanched almonds
• 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 6 large egg whites

Directions

1. 1

   Whisk the mixture until the chocolate melts and is smooth, then transfer it to a small bowl and set aside to cool. When cool, cover and refrigerate until thick and cold, at least 1 day. (May be refrigerated for up to 3 days.).

2. 2

   To Prepare the Macaroons: Preheat the oven to 400°F/200°C Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.

3. 3

   Blend the powdered sugar and almonds in a food processor until the nuts are ground to powder, scraping the sides of the bowl often. It should take about 8 minutes. Add the cocoa and blend for about 1 minute longer.

4. 4

   Using a whisk or electric beater, beat the egg whites in a large bowl until they are stiff but not dry. Fold in the nut mixture in 4 additions, until it forms a thick batter.

5. 5

   Spoon half of the batter into a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain round tip.

6. 6

   Pipe the batter onto each paper-lined baking sheet in 12 walnut-sized mounds, spacing the mounds apart slightly, as they will spread a little as they bake.

7. 7

   Bake the cookies, 1 sheet at a time, for about 11 minutes, or until they are firm to the touch in the center and dry and cracked on top.

8. 8

   Slide the parchment paper with the cookies onto a work surface to cool.

9. 9

   Repeat with the remaining batter, cooling the cookies completely and lining the baking sheets with new paper each time.

10. 10

    To Assemble: Arrange a macaroon flat (bottom) side up on a work surface.

11. 11

    Drop about 1 tablespoon of filling onto each cookie, then top with a second cookie flat (bottom) side down (facing and pressing against the filling).

12. 12

    Repeat with remaining macaroons and filling. Arrange on a platter, cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Serve cold.