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Macarons with Honey & White Chocolate Ganache

macarons with honey, white chocolate ganache recipe

I remember having this conversation with a colleague at work about Valentine’s Day.   He was quite stressed about making sure he picked up the right card, flowers, candy…the works for his wife. Not so odd, right?   However, it was the severity in which he professed it, as if he was in confession.   According to him, there was no way, shape or form could he walk through the door at home without bearing these tokens of his undying affections.   Do significant others really place such high expectations for the commercial items of cards, flowers, chocolates, jewelry, etc?     Shouldn’t it really be about the loving things you do all the time for each other…not just on February 14th?

In the loving spirit of what Valentine’s is about, I’ve made pastel pink macarons adorned with three pearly sugar beads on the top shells. But wait…the best is yet to come!    In between those delicate macaron shells is a creamy, honey and white chocolate ganache filling. I’ve modified a white chocolate ganache recipe from Macarons: Authentic French Cookie Recipes from the Macaron Cafe by Cecile Cannone. See my Chocolate French Macaron post for the macaron shell recipe. The ganache recipe will actually make much more than you’re going to need if you follow the Tartelette’s recipe.

The flavor of the ganache really comes through after you’ve refrigerated them. Set out 10-15 minutes at room temperature before serving.

macarons with honey, white chocolate ganache recipe

macarons with honey, white chocolate ganache

Teenie Notes
  • Used about 2 drops of pastel pink food coloring paste.
  • Added 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract to the filling.
  • After beating the ganache and adding all the butter, I filled a pastry bag with it and refrigerated for about 1-2 hours. Give it some time to set before piping.
  • Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
  • After piping and assembling your macarons, refrigerate them in an airtight container until they are cold.
  • To serve, set out at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes before serving.
Follow my Macaron inspiration board on Pinterest!
Follow Teenie Cakes Macaron board on Pinterest!
Honey & White Chocolate Ganache
source modified from Macarons: Authentic French Cookie Recipes from the Macaron Cafe by Cecile Cannone
Ingredients

7 ounces white chocolate, cut into small pieces
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon honey

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, slightly cold

Directions

In a saucepan over low heat, melt and blend the white chocolate, cream and honey, consistently, gently stirring with a wooden spoon.

Pour the white chocolate mixture into the bowl of your stand mixer and let it cool to room temperature. Add the vanilla extract to the cooled mixture in the mixing bowl and with the wire whip attachment, beat at a high speed. Add butter in small pieces and continue beating until the ganache is light and fluffy.

Teenie Notes
  • Used about 2 drops of pastel pink food coloring paste.
  • Added 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract to the filling.
  • After beating the ganache and adding all the butter, I filled a pastry bag with it and refrigerated for about 1-2 hours. Give it some time to set before piping.
  • Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
  • After piping and assembling your macarons, refrigerate them in an airtight container until they are cold.
  • To serve, set out at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes before serving.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    • Cristina says

      Hi Cathy: After you pipe the macaron shells and before they start drying/forming a skin on the outside, set the garnish (in this case, the small candy pearls) on top. As the shell start to dry the candy will attach – you may have to slightly push them in just to make sure it attaches. 😉

  3. Amber says

    I made this filling, and it was absolutely delicious. It was very runny though. I whipped it after several hours in the refrigerator so that it would at least hold its shape. It then looked great, but ran out of the macarons very easily. Is it supposed to be thicker? I’m not sure if it was the quality of my chocolate or what. The only other thing I could think was that maybe the butter amount was a typo? I thought 3 1/2 teaspoons was an odd amount of butter. Well regardless, it was a big hit. My toddler lapped it up like a cat.

    • Cristina - Teenie Cakes says

      Hi Amber: Macarons usually taste better after being a day in the refrigerator. This gives the macaron shells and the filling time to flavor meld and the filling sets.

      I did modify the amount of butter used from the original recipe, but I must apologize to you that I mis-typed the amount. It should be 3 1/2 tablespoons vs. the 3 1/2 teaspoons. So in addition to allowing the filling have time to set, the amount of butter to bind it may have been a factor. My apologies for my oversight.

      It sounds like you made some tasty macarons and that you’ve mastered the shells. Thank you for taking the time to share about your macs!

  7. briarrose says

    The pink is just adorable. Love the honey flavor in the ganache….pure yummy.

    I can’t imagine being that stressed over picking out the perfect thing for Valentine’s Day. It should be about the things you do all year round that’s most important. Valentine’s Day is honestly just an excuse for me to create super cute goodies. 😉

  8. Susi says

    Macarons are one of the “monsters” I’m looking forward to tackling this year. So far I have always just admired them on blogs like yours. Your macarons are simply stunning and I have bookmarked this post for inspiration when I do tackle them :o) Beautiful!

  9. Karen says

    Cristina, these look so exquisite and delicate! The addition of honey in the ganache is lovely. These little beauties make any day Valentine’s Day!

  11. denise @ bread expectations says

    Beautiful post Cristina and breathtaking macarons – can’t get enough of those dainty sugar pearls! You know, if men treated their lady loves better throughout the year, we wouldn’t need Valentine’s Day 😉 You sound like you have found the love of your life, you lucky, lucky girl 🙂

  14. Monet says

    Hi sweet thing! It is so sad to see how commercialized Valentine’s can be. I know that Ry and I try to celebrate our love each day of the year! But I must say that these macarons would be perfect treats for V-day. They look and sound delectable. I love the though of that ganache! Thank you for sharing with me tonight. Hugs and well wishes from Austin!

  16. Pudding Pie Lane says

    I really don’t think you need massive gestures for Valentine’s – I think the more personal effort you put in is more heartfelt. Like making these macaroons, now that really shows you love that special person 🙂

  23. Felice says

    Your macarons I so pretty and I love how you stacked them in the baking case. It is such a marketing ploy to put a huge emphasis on this one day. I would rather be more loving on every day that put it all into one day.

  32. Roxan says

    Beautiful macarons! I need to get back on the macaron horse and go for my second attempt with them. They’re just so intimidating though, although it doesn’t look like you have any problem with them at all!

    • Cristina - Teenie Cakes says

      LOL! Hi Roxan: I do have macaron failures – I think everyone does that makes them. There are good days and sometimes things can be off. I do hate wasting ingredients, but sometimes it happens when trying to perfect these finicky cookies. Don’t give up if you enjoy eating them. =)

  33. Sara says

    We do not celebrate V day. No flowers, no romantic extreme gestures. We go out for a concert together or we stay home like we did last year. I really don’t like that people put so many high expectation on this day. I would be totally happy if my hubby came back home with these macarons though 🙂 they look so pretty and the white chocolate ganache is my favorite filling

    • Cristina - Teenie Cakes says

      Hi Sara:
      I’m totally in agreement w/you about the expectations of the day.

      Some years there will be chocolates and cards…some homemade and some bought. I’m tickled and melt when Hubby does buy flowers, but I don’t expect it – which makes it even more meaningful to me. I’m practical and maybe a stick-in-the-mud about this – but I’d rather save the money for those types of things for other things. It’s about acknowledging the ones you love…not about the price tag & qty attached to the tokens – In my own opinion. 🙂

  38. Christine @ Fresh Local and Best says

    These macarons are so delicate and feminine looking! I just love it! I’m intimidated with the idea of making macarons, one of these days when I have the courage I will try macaron making.

    I feel badly for your coworker. It seems like something that happened in the past is causing him to lose sight of the significance of this holiday.

    • Cristina - Teenie Cakes says

      Hi Christine: If you like macarons, it’s fun and challenging. I won’t say it’s not frustrating, as I’ve had my big flops – macarons with no feet and macarons that don’t look anything like a macaron. I luv ’em, though.

      My coworker was more afraid of his wife. She put so much pressure on high expectations of “things” that he became a cowardly lion of sorts, terrified that she wouldn’t be happy with what he walked in the door with. I felt sad for him.

  40. redkathy says

    Oh my Christina I think these are your best macarons yet! I too wonder why partners get so caught up in the commercial aspect. I would much rather give those flowers on a rainy day.

    Have a happy valentines day!

    • Cristina - Teenie Cakes says

      Thanks Kathy…it’s turned into a very commercial day. While the idea is sweet, it does place pressure on tokens of love that I truly believe is what you do the other 364 days of the years vs just that one day. It’s a touchy subject for some who truly feel otherwise. I hope you have a fantastic day too! 🙂

  43. Barbara | VinoLuciStyle says

    These are so pretty. I have to get back on the horse as it were…I’ve tried macarons a couple of times and neither the look nor the flavor stellar enough for me to care about attempting again. Add high altitude to any other variables and it’s a crap shoot each time; not the normal odds I prefer when spending this amount of time or money for a cookie!

    However, you filling sounds divine…so I’ll have a spoon handy in the event I get another macaron #FAIL! 🙂

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