Macaron Baking Problems Solved
Having problems with baking French macarons? Here's a macaron troubleshooting guide to help you bake perfect macarons that are round, smooth, have nice feet and are not dry, hollow, overbaked, browned or have sticky bottoms. Before we begin delving into what went wrong with your macarons, make sure you are using a reputable macaron recipe with proper macaron making techniques. Here's my Best Macaron Recipe, this guide is most suited for troubleshooting macarons baked with my French Macaron recipe.
Why Didn't My Macarons Develop Feet?
Macarons may not develop feet due to a "wet" batter, shells were not rested, baking temperature too low or a poorly beaten/broken meringue. See fixes on how to bake macaron with feet below.
| Macarons Did Not Develop Feet: |
| - Macaron shell is too "wet" due to humidity or ingredients themselves had too much moisture FIX: turn on range-hood fan while letting macarons dry, turn on dehumidifier, use "aged" egg whites, avoid use of liquid colouring, use gel colouring instead. |
| - A skin did not develop before shells were put into the oven FIX: wait at least 30 minutes AND until a "skin" has developed before placing macarons in the oven. It should have a dull matte finish. |
| - Baking Temperature Too Low FIX: Increase temperature to allow shell to develop properly. |
| - Poorly Beaten or Broken Meringue FIX: Use some cream of tartar or vinegar to stabilize meringue while beating. Use a clean oil-free bowl and ensure egg whites are free of any yolks. Make sure you achieve stiff peaks but stop beating egg whites once it reaches that stage. |
Why Did My Macaron Feet Spread Outwards?
Macaron feet may spread outwards if the oven temperature is too high or if the batter is overmixed. See how to stop macaron feet from spreading below.
| Macaron Feet Develops Quickly and Outwards Past Its Shape |
| - Baking Temperature Too High FIX: Turn down oven temperature, increase bake time. |
| - Flat Pancake like Shells from Over-mixed Batter FIX: learn when to stop folding during macaronage |
Why Did Macaron Feet Get So Tall?
Macaron feet may become too tall or rise too quickly if the baking temperature is too high, the meringue is over whipped or if improper macaronage techniques were used. See how to fix tall macaron feet below.
| Macaron Feet Rises Quickly and Upwards, Feet is Way Taller than its Rise: |
| - Baking Temperature Too High FIX: Turn down oven temperature, increase bake time. |
| - Over Whipped Egg WhitesFIX: Stop whipping egg whites once it reaches stiff peaks in the French method. Stop whipping egg whites once it returns to returns to room temperature in the Italian method |
| - Improper Macaronage Techniques FIX: Deflate some of the air in the batter by using proper folding techniques, should flow like molten lava, do the "Figure 8" test to test consistency |
What Are My Macarons Hollow?
Hollow macarons with big gaps inside the shell are caused by a poorly prepared, broken meringue, under baked shells or use of improper macaronage techniques when folding. See how to fix hollow macaron shells below.
FURTHER READING: HOW TO PREVENT HOLLOW MACARON SHELLS
| Macarons have Hollow Shells: |
| - Under Whipping of Egg whites FIX: Make sure you beat the egg whites until stiff peaks before stopping. This will "dry up" the meringue. It should clump into a ball inside the whisk. |
| - Broken Meringue Due to Over Whipping of Egg whites FIX: Stop mixing egg whites once the white cling onto the bowl and a small clump of meringue is stiff. Stop beating whites as soon as whites have returned to room temperature for Italian method. It should look very thick, glossy and flow off the whisk like a bird's beak. Try whipping the meringue by hand instead with this tutorial. |
| - Under Baked Shell FIX: increase oven temperature to allow the body to rise fully, French method macarons bake well at degrees of at least 300F+, break open a sacrificial shell to check if it has fully set before pulling out the whole tray, bake until fully set. Make sure your macarons are getting enough heat by using high quality rimless pans. Parchment paper and Teflon baking sheets conduct heat a bit better than silicone mats. |
| - Improper Macaronage Techniques FIX: Deflate some of the air in the batter by using proper folding techniques. Should flow like slow molten lava. Do the "Figure 8" test to check consistency. |
Why are the Tops of My Macarons Brown?
Tops of macaron shells can become browned if the baking temperature is too high or it's too close to the heat source. It's very important to control the oven temperature properly to achieve the desired results. Read how to fix browned macarons shells below:
FURTHER READING: HOW TO USE YOUR OVEN PROPERLY FOR BAKING MACARONS.
| Top of Macaron Shells are Browning |
| - Baking Temperature is Too High FIX: Decrease temperature, increase bake time. |
| - Too Close to Heat Source (assuming the heat source is from the top) FIX: Move further away from heat source while baking. Place an empty tray on the rack above it to shield it from the heat. |
Why are the Bottom of My Macaron Shells Brown?
The bottom of macaron shells can become browned due to high oven temperatures and the baking tray being too close to the heat source. See how to prevent browned macarons below.
FURTHER READING: HOW TO USE YOUR OVEN PROPERLY FOR BAKING MACARONS.
| Bottom of Macaron Shells are Browning |
| - Baking Temperature Too High FIX: Decrease temperature, increase bake time. |
| - Too Close to Heat Source (assuming the heat source is from the bottom) FIX: Add an extra pan on the bottom of the current tray or move the tray up to a higher rack. |
Why are My Macarons Lopsided?
Macarons can become lopsided from improper piping techniques, use of an overly strong fan to dry the macarons, oven's convection fan is too strong, use of a warped baking pan, shells were rested for too long, baking temperature too high or improper macaronage techniques. See how to prevent lopsided macarons below.
| Macaron Shells are Lopsided |
| - Improper Piping Techniques FIX: Make sure you are piping the batter straight down onto the paper or mat while holding the bag perfectly vertically. Dab a little bit of batter on the bottom of all four corners of the parchment paper so it will act as a "glue" to keep the paper in place while you pipe. |
| - Using Too Strong of a Fan FIX: Avoid using strong fans. Turn on fan in range hood as the air direction will be vertical and more uniformed. Dab a little bit of batter on the bottom of all four corners of the parchment paper so it will act as a "glue" to keep the paper in place. |
| - Oven's Convection Fan is Too Strong FIX: Avoid using convection fan. You may need to increase time and decrease temperature since your oven may not be as hot without the convection fan. Dab a little bit of batter on the bottom of all four corners of the parchment paper so it will act as a "glue" to keep the paper in place. |
| - Warped Baking Pan FIX: Use a good quality pan that won't buckle in high temperatures. This is a sturdy, rimless baking pan that conducts heat well for macarons. Throw out old warped pans. |
| - Shells Rested for Too Long FIX: Place shells in oven once it has developed a "skin" |
| - Baking Temperature Too High FIX: Decrease temperature, increase bake time. |
| - Improper Macaronage Techniques FIX: Make sure you are folding the batter properly and the wet/dry ingredients are homogenous before piping. Deflate some of the air in the batter by using proper folding techniques, should flow like molten lava, do the "Figure 8" test to test consistency |
Why Do My Macarons Have Nipples or Points?
Macaron shells can have unsightly nipples or points due to an under-mixed batter. See how to prevent baking macarons with points or nipples below.
| Macaron Shells have "Nipples" |
| - Batter is Under-Mixed FIX: Add a few more folds next time. Learn to judge when to stop folding macaron batter. Rap the tray of piped macarons on the counter a few times, this will smooth out nipples from a properly mixed batter. |
Why are My Macaron Shells Bumpy?
Macaron shells can be bumpy if the batter is not mixed properly and the almond flour/powdered sugar mixture is not sufficiently sifted. Learn how to prevent bumpy macaron shells below.
FURTHER READING: HOW TO BAKE SMOOTH AND ROUND MACARON SHELLS
| Macaron Shells are Lumpy and Bumpy |
| - Batter Not Mixed Properly FIX: Make sure you are folding the batter properly and the wet/dry ingredients are homogenous before piping. |
| - Almond Flour and Powdered Sugar Not Sifted FIX: Throw both ingredients into the food processor, sift and discard bits that cannot be sifted. A simple small food processor like this one is sufficient. |
Why are My Macaron Shells Not Round?
Macaron shells can become irregularly shaped due to improper piping techniques, use of clogged piping tips, batter not properly incorporated, use of low quality parchment paper or an over-mixed batter. See how to fix macaron shells that are not round below.
FURTHER READING: HOW TO BAKE SMOOTH AND ROUND MACARON SHELLS
| Macaron Shells are Not Round |
| - Improper Piping Techniques FIX: Make sure to use proper piping techniques along with a sturdy piping bag that won't buckle as you pipe, Ziplock bags are not very good for piping macaron batter. Hold the bag vertically while piping, squeeze an equal amount on all sides. |
| - Clogged Pipe Tip FIX: Clean debris out of the tip before piping. |
| - Batter is not incorporated properly FIX: Use proper folding techniques to create a homogenous batter. Non homogenous batter creates "bumps" while piping. |
| - Use of and/or low quality parchment paper FIX: Use high quality parchment that won't curl easily when it comes into contact with the batter. Dab a little bit of batter on the bottom of all four corners of the parchment paper so it will act as a "glue" to keep the paper in place. Use a silpat mat instead, it will create beautiful round macarons every time. |
| - Over-mixed batter FIX: Learn to judge when to stop folding macaron batter. Immediately, as soon as the batter looks homogenous, pick some up with the spatula, drop it back into the bowl and observe how it falls back into itself. It should not look like a "PLOP". Rather, it should look like slow moving molten lava. It should fold into itself a few times like a ribbon but not like runny pancake batter. |
Why Do My Macarons Have a Concave or Inverted Bottom?
Sometimes macarons will have an inverted bottom like a contact lens and it doesn't stick to the baking mat. This can be caused by an over-mixed batter coupled with the use of a silicone baking mat. See how to prevent concave macarons below.
| Macaron Shells are Concave like a "Contact Lens", Bottom does not Stick to Mat |
| - Over-mixed Batter PLUS use of Silat Mat- Batter is too runny PLUS use of Silpat Mat FIX: This is one of the least discussed troubleshoots out there. If the batter is too runny, the shells will not develop properly. When piped onto a silpat mat, this problem is exacerbated by the fact that it will not stick onto the mat at all once baked. The feets will not stick to the silpat and breaks away. The body also rises to the top without touching the mat so it never full cooks on the bottom. If you find that your batter is already over mixed and unsalvageable, pipe them onto parchment paper instead. It will develop on the parchment paper but it will be runny and therefore, not round. A little more heat during baking helps fix this already broken batter. Preemptive measures include ensuring that you're using aged egg whites and whipping it to stiff peaks. This makes a big difference! |
Why are My Macaron Shells Flat?
Macaron shells may come out flat due to over-mixed batter or a poorly prepared "wet" batter. See fixes below.
| Macaron Shells are as Flat as Pancakes/They Spread Quickly Once Piped |
| - Over-mixed Batter FIX: There is no way to salvage batter that is over-mixed. Once you deflate all the air in the meringue, the shells will not develop properly once placed in the oven. Start again. If you do want to bake them anyway, make sure you do not use a silpat mat as they will not stick to the mat and you will end up with concave shells that cannot be filled. |
| - Wet Batter FIX: Ensure your egg whites are aged and you are have reached stiff peaks before folding. Do not overfold as mentioned above. |
Why Did My Macaron Shells Crack?
Macaron shells can be cracked due to excess air that is trapped inside the macaron shell, oven baking temperature that is too high or a weak meringue. See how to fix cracked macaron shells below.
| Macaron Shell has Cracked |
| - Did not rap the tray against the counter after piping FIX: rap the tray firmly against the counter after piping. Flip the tray around and do it again in case you missed certain spots. |
| - Hot spots in the oven FIX: make sure you are getting good circulation in your oven by only baking one tray at a time. |
| - Meringue not stiff enough FIX: beat until stiff peaks form. |
Why are My Macaron Shells Hard and Dry?
Macaron shells can be hard and dry to to over-baking. See fix below.
| Macaron is Hard and Dry: |
| -Over baked shells FIX: this is an easy fix! Fill the macaron with the filling and allow it to "mature" for 24-48 hours. It will soften up. You can always brush the bottom of the shell with milk or a syrup in the same flavor as your filling to help soften the shell.- Turn down temperature or decrease baking time on your next try |
Why are My Macaron Shells Sticky and Sticking to the Pan?
Macarons that don't release easily, sticking to the pan may be caused by under-baking, a "wet" batter or use of improper macaronage techniques. See how to prevent sticky shells below.
| Macaron is Wet and Sticks to Pan after Baking: |
| - Under baked macarons FIX: Increase temperature or bake time |
| - Macaron shell is too "wet" due to humidity or ingredients themselves had too much moisture FIX: turn on range-hood fan while letting macarons dry, turn on dehumidifier, use "aged" egg whites, avoid use of liquid colouring, ensure meringue reaches stiff peaks before folding. |
| - Improper Macaronage Techniques FIX: Deflate some of the air in the batter by using proper folding techniques, should flow like molten lava, do the "Figure 8" test to test consistency. Do not overfold. |
Why Do Macarons From the Same Batch Yield Different Results?
Macarons that yield different results within the same batch can be due to poor oven circulation, improper macaronage techniques, inadequate or different resting times or under beaten egg whites.
| Macaron has Inconsistent Results within the Same Batch: |
| - Poor Circulation in Oven FIX: Use convection setting, only bake one tray at a time. |
| - Poor Macaronage Technique FIX: Make sure batter is fully incorporated and you use the right folding techniques to deflate some of the air in the meringue |
| - Inadequate Resting Time or different resting times FIX: Make sure shells have developed a "skin" and looks dull and matte before placing in the oven. Don't forget, if batter from the same batch yields inconsistent results when piped onto different trays and baked at different times, this might be due to changes in oven temperature or too little or too much resting time. |
| - Under Beaten Egg Whites FIX: Make sure meringue reaches stiff peaks in the French method |
Why are My Macaron Shells Wrinkly and Blotchy?
Wrinkly macaron shells are caused by oven temperatures that are too low, over beaten meringues, over-mixed batter, incorrect ingredient ratios or use of "oily"/old/wet ingredients. See how to fix wrinkly and blotchy macarons below.
| Macaron are wrinkly and/or blotchy: |
| - Temperature too low FIX: try increasing your temperature by 25-50 degrees |
| - Overbeaten meringue FIX: Stop beating once the egg whites have clumped in the whisk and reached stiff peaks |
| - Overmixed Batter FIX: Fold only until the Figure 8 stage. Add colour in the meringue stage and not the folding stage as it's easy to overmix batter |
| - Incorrect ratios of ingredients FIX: if adding other ingredients to the shells such as cocoa powder or matcha powder, ensure that you're adding an amount that won't compromise the integrity of the make up. |
| - "Oily" ingredients FIX: over-processed almonds or addition of other ingredients that comprimise integrity of the shells. Always grind almonds with icing sugar. Check that your gel colours have not become runny. Always use gel colours instead of liquid, certain brands are more concentrated than others and requires less, recommended gel colour for macarons. Check the expiry date and composition of dry ingredients added to shells (cocoa powder, match etc.). Almond flour can be baked in the oven prior to use to "dry it out". Better yet, make your own almond flour for the most consistent and stable results. Here's how to make your own almond flour. |
Why Are My Macaron Shells Porous with Little Holes on Top?
Porous macarons with holes on top are caused by a meringue that is too soft or a wet batter. See how to fix porous macarons below.
| Macarons are porous with holes: |
| - Meringue too soft or broken FIX: Beat meringue until stiff peaks and stop immediately once stiff peaks has been reached. |
| - Batter too wet FIX: Watch out for addition of ingredients with too much moisture like extracts, water-based food color or expired gel colours. Do not use extracts in the batter if you don't have a reliable recipe for this. Recommended gel colour for macarons. |
| Note: porous macarons are not due to oven temperatures. |
Why is My Meringue Not Stiffening Up?
The meringue may take a long time to reach stiff peaks (or never reach that stage) because of cold egg whites, foreign substances in the meringue, improper whipping speed or its already over-whipped.
FURTHER READING: HOW TO WHIP PERFECT MERINGUE FOR MACARONS
| Meringue doesn't get stiff |
| - Egg whites are too cold FIX: cold egg whites are harder to whip and takes longer to increase in volume. Let the egg whites come to room temperature naturally or by placing the egg whites in a cup surrounded by warm water. |
| - Foreign substances in the meringue FIX: make sure the bowls and whips are completely clean, dry and free of oils. To remove oils, use lemon juice or vinegar to wipe down equipment before whipping. Use stainless steel or glass bowls instead of plastic. Use caution when adding extracts into the meringue as using too much can deflate it. |
| - Improper whipping speed FIX: Avoid whipping on high in the beginning. Start whipping on low speed and gradually increase to medium and then to medium-high. While whipping can be done by hand, it is recommended to use a hand-held mixer or Kitchenaid. |
| - Meringue is already over-beaten FIX: over-beaten meringues will become grainy and flat. Start again and next time, test the meringue occasionally to see if it has reached stiff peaks. Stop mixer, pull the whisk out and see if the peak left in the meringue points upwards without drooping. The bowl can be turned upside down and the meringue won't slide. |
| Note: adding cream or tartar or another acid into the meringue can help stabilize it. |
Why Does My Macaron Batter Get Thicker While I Am Folding?
Sometimes, macaron batter actually gets thicker while folding. This can be due to incorrect measurement of ingredients, incorrect division of batter if making multiple batches, meringue is too try or gel colors are corrupted. See how to prevent macaron batters that get thicker while folding.
| Macaron batter gets thicker while folding: |
| - Incorrect measurements of ingredients FIX: a kitchen scale is a must when making macarons. If you use cups to measure your ingredients, you might end up with too much almond flour or too little egg whites leading to a thick dry batter that never thins out no matter how much you fold. |
| - Incorrect measurements when splitting the batter to make multiple colors. FIX: Use a kitchen scale to carefully weigh out ingredients. Make one batter at a time for each color. Completed batters can be kept inside a piping bag for up to 2 hours. |
| - Meringue too dry FIX: Make sure the sugar is added into the egg whites at the correct time, when the beater starts leave tracks in the egg whites, add the sugar and do not overbeat. Stop whipping once the meringue does not slip in the bowl when turned upside down. |
| - Gel colours are corrupted FIX: Shake bottles before using and add the colour during the meringue stage instead of the folding stage. Make sure they are not expired. |
Why is My Macaron Batter So Runny?
Runny macaron batters that fall off the spatula quickly like pancake batter are caused by a poorly prepared meringue, introduction of foreign ingredients into the batter or from over-folding during the macaronage stage. The ideal macaron batter should be thick and slow-flowing like honey.
| Macaron Batter is Runny: |
| - Poorly prepared meringue FIX: Beat meringue to the stiff peak stage before folding. |
| - Introduction of foreign ingredients into the batter FIX: Be cautious when adding extracts into the meringue, this can easily deflate it. It's better to flavour the macaron with the filling instead. Be careful when adding other foreign substances into the batter which can cause it to become "wetter". |
| - Over-folding during macaronage FIX: Constantly check the batter consistency while folding. Stop folding immediately when the batter flows slowly like honey and a figure-8 pattern can be drawn when the batter is picked up and dropped. See video on How to Fold Macaron Batter in real time. |
Here are some other posts which will help you fix your macaron problems once you have pinpointed what the problem is after reading this Troubleshooting guide:
Samantha says
Hi again.
So I tried your recipe for the macarons, the batter looked great, it made the "8" I initially put the oven to 320 under convection and placed them in when they had a crust. As I watched them there was no feet, 7 mins in some tops began to crack. Then they all fracked and exploded. There was little feet and the end result was full shells, the bottom also didn't set, I could see the sponge. I'm not sure what I did wrong. I wrapped the pans on the surface
Multiple times and no bubbles surfaced no matter how much I wrapped it. Any ideas of the errors?
Ty says
Hi mimi
Love your videos please can I ask a question
I've tried making macarons using your recipe but I never get feet ....I whip my meringue till stiff and even baked at lower temperatures but all batches are the same
Please help
Mimi says
If your batter is at the correct consistency, then upping the heat will help you gain feet. The lower the temperature, the less likely you will have feet. Make sure your shells are completely dry before baking this will help the shells rise upwards.
XOXO
Mimi
Jm says
Hi Mimi, it's me again. I forgot to ask one more question. How does an overbeaten egg whites look like? So i can know if it's game over or i have not reached the peak yet. Thanks a lot. Looking forward to hear and learn again from you. You inspire me! 🙂
Jm says
Hi Mimi,
How can I test my oven till I get it right? I ALWAYS have brown top and bottom. I have a few questions:
1. Does the quantity affects the temp or time? I'm thinking, can I bake in sets of 4 each with varying temp and time?
2. Is it ok to simply turn it off if I see it already turning brown? Is there a way to salvage such situation? :/
I have another question, sorry off this topic.
How can I have the macarons less sweeter? Cos I understand I have to follow the measurements accurately. Your recipe is too sweet for me. But the appearance is almost perfect! Hope you can help. Thanks a lot!
Jm
mm930 says
hi Mimi, if I want my macaroons are tall but feet are normal, is that I should bake with low temperature please? thanks
Mimi says
Hi,
Lower temperatures will allow the feets to rise more gradually and "taller". However, I do find most macarons with disproportionately tall feet tend to be hollow so I'm not sure if that is something anyone should strive for 🙂
XOXO, Mimi
Wanda says
Hi mimi!
Can you help me with my problem?
My macaron used to be hollow, but i do research and increased my oven temp. Now they are full and no hollow, however the feet become shorter (they were higher and prettier feet when they were hollow).
They are ruffled but i really love macaron with higher feet, i don't know if you can help me?
I tried to contact you on insta but haven't receive reply (i know you r busy)
Thanks before!! (I can send you picture if you have time ;A; )
Mimi says
Hi Wanda,
I love hearing that you are able to get a non hollow shell now. I think it's much harder to force your macarons to get a "certain" kind of feet. As long as they are fully set with smooth tops, any kind of feet will is good in my book. I know of one baker who was unable to attain her "usual" feet due to using another oven. Most importantly, as you look into more macaron accounts, you will find that most bakers prefer smaller compact feets. That's usually a sign that the macarons are not hollow 🙂
XOXO
Mimi
Shaakira says
I'm upset at da results of da Silpats as my Macarons from the first attempt was awesome so if u could plz advise wats da best way to use Silpats for Macarons to get total success many thanx enjoyed ur blog
Shaakira says
Hi I've had success on baking on parchment howeva when I made macararons on silpat they rose beautiful and after I took them out the shell had wet spots and da feet collapsed totally around da macaronz which was really weird and under was concave
Mimi says
Hi Shaakira,
I do believe your batter is too wet. You can read more on how to fix the concave issue under the macaron troubleshooting guide above. Silpats do tend to reveal more of your macaron problems than parchment.
XOXO
Mimi
Mimi says
The heat doesn't conduct as well on silpats, you'll need to find the best way to use your oven in conjunction with the silpat. Try increasing the heat and buy better heat conducting pans.
XOXO
Mimi
Carrie says
Hi Mimi, I have been baking macarons for about a year now. I have used the troubleshooting guide quite often, the problem I am running into is my shells aren't as smooth as I would like. I food process and double sift my almond flour and powdered sugar but once I mix it in with my whites and pipe, they are bumpy and sad. Everything else comes out perfect, I don't understand. 🙁
P.S. my whites are aged at room temp, whipped to a stiff peak, and I have tried a couple different brands of almond meal/flour. Please help!
Mimi says
Hi Carrie,
Are you sure your sifter is fine enough? It's great to hear you are able to eliminate everything else like aged egg white, stiff peaks etc. (although those two don't necessarily contribute to the smoothness of the shells.) Make sure you are sifting with a fine sieve, then DISCARD big pieces. Also fold sufficiently as well!
Mimi
Rachel says
The feet do. They rise beautifully, then deflate before the cookie is done baking. Thank you!
yenny says
Yup, same here. The feet deflated, the shell is good though with all the correct anatomy of a macaron shell. Thanks.
neelam says
Sounds like too much air in the batter that's causing a rapid rise and then drop
Mimi says
Are the insides full Rachel? There are many types of feet. If the feet falls to make just a small ruffled feet that doesnt expand outwards, its okay. If the insides are full and the feet is small but ruffled, that's fine. I find the macarons at PH tend to have feet like these and those ones are always full and fluffy. There are many variables that can cause it such as high heat, overbeat meringue....
XOXO Mimi
Kim says
Sorry, I left my comment above before reading the rest of the comments. Thank you for validating that even small feet are fine! I was getting a little self-conscious about them, even though the tops are delicately crunchy and the insides are full. I think it's the obsession with making the "perfect" macaron that was getting to me!
Mimi says
hehe, I think small feet are definitely better than large feet with hollows!
Glad it helped.
xoxo,
Mimi
Rachel says
ive noticed that my macarons rise nicely when baking, but deflate before I take them out of the oven. At about 6 minutes in the feet are huge and beautiful, but by 9-10 minutes in they've deflated to just under the height of the top. Any idea why, or is this normal? Thanks!
yenny says
Hi Mimi, i want to ask the same question. Mine are the same with Rachel's, nice and beautiful feet for the first 5 mins then deflated until barely visible at all when i finely took them out of oven. Any idea why?
Mimi says
Hm... can you clarify... does the feet deflate or the shell?
Kim says
Hi Mimi! I have the same problem. I often get beautiful feet after the first 6 or 7 minutes in the oven, but then they deflate and I end up with really tiny, thin feet. Other than that, the shells are perfect. Is there a way I can post a picture in the comments so I can show you what I mean?
Thanks!! 🙂
..Kim..
Mimi says
maybe tag me in Twitter, Facebook or Instagram? Please use the tag function since I mentions seemed to get bumped off the list after a while. Thank you
Xoxo,
Mimi
Michelle says
What causes the tops to look wrinkly?
Mimi says
Taking them out of oven too quickly before they are fully baked or batter is too "wet".
XOXO,
Mimi
Amy says
Hi Mimi,
Thanks for the recipe! My macarons had no hollow but the tops were wrinkles. Would you please help how to fix if the batter is too wet?
Thanks,
Amy
Mimi says
Hi Amy,
Thank you! For the wrinkly tops, watch out that you're not overbeating your egg whites. If the batter is too beat, theres nothing you can really do to salvage it except try again and build a better meringue. Adding more dry ingredients will defeat the purpose since the meringue is mostly compromised at that point already.
XOXO
Mimi
SC says
I keep my macarons in fridge in air tight container, and when taken out to room temperature they sweat, turn soft and soggy. How to store and still have its crispness ?
Mimi says
hmm... do you open up the lid? Yes, I do agree moisture can collect inside the container when taken out to room temperature so I usually take the macarons out of the original container that was in the fridge and transfer them into a container that is at room temperature.
XoXo,
Mimi
Marianne says
Hi, just wanted to ask if it is necessary to put the macaron mat on a tray, because my macaron mat does not fit on my tray.
Mimi says
Yes, I do believe its very important. The tray transfers heat to the paper or silicone and then onto the macarons. You need enough bottom heat to help the shells develop.
XOXO,
Mimi
Lisa | THINK LIKE A BOSS LADY says
Thank you for this. Mine keep turning out doughy, relatively flat, and with no feet. And sometimes they crack on top too, so that's fun.
I think my oven is the biggest culprit. 🙁
Lisa | THINK LIKE A BOSS LADY
Mimi says
What you described like doughy and no feet should not be related to the oven so work on the correct folding technique and getting a stiff meringue 🙂 Make sure you rap the tray really hard after piping to prevent cracks.