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5 from 2 votes

Pumpkin Macarons with Pumpkin Butter Buttercream

Delicious and light pumpkin meringue cookies.
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time1 hour 20 minutes
Course: Cookie
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: cookies, dessert, pumpkin
Servings: 36 cookies
Calories: 93kcal
Author: Tricia

Ingredients

For the pumpkin spice:

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

For the macaron batter:

  • 4 ounces almond flour, sifted to remove large pieces
  • 8 ounces powdered sugar, sifted
  • 5 ounces egg whites, aged overnight at room temperature (about 5 eggs)
  • 2 ½ ounces granulated sugar
  • pinch salt
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
  • Orange gel food color if desired

For the pumpkin butter buttercream:

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 1 ounce cream cheese, room temperature
  • ¼ cup Pumpkin Butter
  • 1 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
  • a few drops of vanilla extract
  • 2 cups sifted powdered sugar, more or less as needed for desired consistency

Instructions

  • In a small bowl mix together the cinnamon, ginger, allspice and nutmeg. Set aside.
  • For the macarons preheat oven to 300°F. Prepare 3 baking sheets with parchment paper. Draw 1 ¼ to 1 ½ circles (I used a shot glass) on the parchment paper at least 1 inch apart. Turn the paper over and set aside.
  • Prepare a large pasty bag, fitted with a plain tip. Set aside Whisk together the almond flour, confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl of a stand mixer, combine the egg whites, granulated sugar and salt. Using the whisk attachment turn the mixer to medium (speed #4 on a Kitchen Aid) and whip for 3 minutes. The egg whites will not seem overly foamy at this point. Turn the speed to medium-high (7 on a Kitchen-Aid) and beat for another 3 minutes. Turn the speed to 8 and whip for 3 more minutes.
  • Add the vanilla extract and food color if using, and beat on high for another minute or until stiff peaks form and the egg whites hold in the middle of the whisk attachment. Shake the meringue loose from the whisk and add all the dry ingredients at one time. Fold the ingredients together using a rubber spatula. Keep turning the batter until all dry ingredients are incorporated and the mixture is creamy. To test the consistency, drizzle some of the batter back into the bowl using the spatula. If the batter blends back into itself after about 1 minute, it's ready. You don't want it runny like pancake batter. If you think it needs another turn, do them one at a time until you reach the perfect consistency.
  • Scoop the batter into the prepared pastry bag and pipe onto the cookie sheets. Do not fill the circles completely. Fill to about ⅔ full as the batter will spread a bit. Once the whole sheet is full, rap the pan on a hard surface to pop any air bubble in the cookies. Allow the unbaked macarons to rest for 30 minutes before baking.
  • Bake about 20 minutes. To check you can pull up on a cookie and if the top separates from the bottom, they are not ready. Bake another minutes or two and test again. Remove from the oven and cool completely before removing from the parchment paper. I pick up the parchment paper with cookies intact and transfer it to a cooling rack to speed the cooling process.
  • To make the buttercream beat the butter and cream cheese on medium speed of an electric mixer until light and creamy. Add the pumpkin butter, vanilla, and the 1 remaining teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice. Blend another minute until incorporated. Reduce the speed to low and slowly add the confectioners' sugar. Beat until fluffy and smooth.
  • Pipe the buttercream in mounds onto half the macarons. Top with the other matching half and twist to distribute. Store the macarons in an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to serve. Allow them to rest at room temperature about an hour before serving.

Notes

(base macaron slightly adapted from Bravetart)
 
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. When multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 93kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 13mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 153IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg