Hy-Vee Recipes and Ideas

Directions

1. Step1
   In a medium bowl, thoroughly combine powdered sugar and almond meal; set aside.
2. Step2
   In a large mixing bowl, beat egg whites and salt with whisk attachment on high speed of electric mixer until soft peaks form (tips curl). Using a rubber scraper, fold half the almond mixture into egg white mixture; fold in remaining almond mixture until smooth.
3. Step3
   Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Fit pastry bag with a 1/4-inch round decorating tip or snip one corner from a plastic sandwich bag to make a 1/4-inch opening. Fill with egg white mixture. Pipe 1-1/4-inch mounds onto parchment paper-lined baking sheet, about 1-1/2-inches apart, smoothing point of mound with the tip of the bag. To release air bubbles, lift cookie sheet about 5 inches above work surface and drop; repeat 4 times. Let stand 20 to 30 minutes or until tops are no longer sticky.
4. Step4
   Position oven rack in center of oven. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until bottoms just begin to brown. Cool 2 minutes on pan. With a spatula, lift cookies from parchment; cool thoroughly on wire rack.
5. Step5
   Spread 3/4 teaspoon frosting on flat side of one cookie; sandwich with flat side of another cookie.
6. Step6
   Store in an airtight container up to 3 days.
7. Step7
   Creamy Vanilla Frosting: In a large bowl, beat 2 tablespoons softened butter and 2 tablespoons shortening with electric mixer until smooth. Beat in 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time. Beat in 1-1/2 teaspoons milk and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract until creamy. Makes about 1/2 cup.
8. Step8
   Macaron Snowmen: Prepare untinted batter. Print snowman template; slide under parchment as guide for piping batter. Holding tip about 1/4 inch from parchment, outline snowmen first, then fill in random directions using decorating tip to create smooth surface. Bake and cool as directed above. On half the snowmen, pipe on red frosting for scarf and blue icing for cap. Use frosting to attach mini chocolate chips for buttons and red cinnamon candy for cap tassel. Use frosting to attach a plain snowman to a decorated one, flat sides together.
9. Step9
   Peppermint: Substitute peppermint extract for vanilla extract; add 5 drops red food coloring to egg white mixture after granulated sugar. Tint frosting with 2 drops red food coloring.
10. Step10
    Lemon: Substitute lemon extract for vanilla extract; add 10 drops yellow food coloring to egg white mixture after granulated sugar. Tint frosting with 3 drops yellow food coloring.
11. Step11
    Raspberry: Substitute raspberry extract for vanilla extract; add 25 drops red food coloring and 5 drops of blue food coloring to egg white mixture after granulated sugar.
12. Step12
    Mint: Substitute mint extract for vanilla extract; add 7 drops green food coloring to egg white mixture after granulated sugar. Tint frosting with 3 drops green food coloring.
13. Step13
    Cinnamon: Substitute cinnamon extract for vanilla extract; add 8 drops red food coloring, 5 drops yellow food coloring and 4 drops blue food coloring to egg white mixture after granulated sugar. Stir 1 teaspoon sifted cocoa powder into batter with almond mixture. Tint frosting with 4 drops red food coloring, 3 drops yellow food coloring, 2 drops blue food coloring and 1 teaspoon cocoa powder.