Rich and flavorful walnuts replace the traditional almonds in these French macarons, with a deep, chocolate-y flavor, and a buttery salted caramel filling!  These delicious little pastries are almost a cross between a cookie and a candy, and they’re sure to be your new favorite treat!  (Naturally gluten-free.)

The best macarons I've made yet!  Loved the walnut in the shells, and the buttery salted caramel balances out the sweetness.

Good morning, my dears!

I’m so sorry I missed our usual Friday morning chat.  I was so busy putting together a video for a potential client, that before I knew it, it was Saturday.  But I figured I’d make it up to you this week by posting three fabulous recipes for Brunch Week!

What is Brunch Week you may ask?  Well, it’s only the most incredible blogger event ever to happen for the last three Mother’s Day weeks in a row.  I will let Terri and Shaina, the organizers of the event, fill you in:

Welcome to the third annual #BrunchWeek hosted by Terri from Love and Confections and Shaina from Take A Bite Out Of Boca. We are so excited to have you join us this year!  Celebrate Brunch with us this week as we prepare for Mother’s Day. 30 Bloggers from around the country will showcase their best brunch dishes, from cocktails to casseroles, breakfast breads, sandwiches and salads – there is something for everyone! Our amazing Sponsors have donated some great prizes for the #BrunchWeek giveaway. Thank you so much, Sponsors, for your generosity. We have an incredible giveaway below and we’d love if you would take a moment to read about them all and what you can possibly win!

So, this week you can look forward to a dessert recipe, a breakfast recipe, and a cocktail recipe from moi, as well as about a bazillion other great brunch ideas from all the other bloggers that are participating in this fun event.  🙂

The best macarons I've made yet!  Loved the walnut in the shells, and the buttery salted caramel balances out the sweetness.

California Walnuts was one of the Brunch Week sponsors, and so they inspired these little treats.  The rich walnut flavor really comes through in the cocoa-infused macaron shells.  It’s definitely something different and a lot more flavorful than the typical almond macaron.

Dixie Crystals was also involved with this event, so for the filling I ended up going with my favorite salted caramel sauce.  It’s made with just a handful of basic ingredients (sugar being key), and it comes together in about 10 minutes.  Also, it’s about the richest, butteriest, most decadent thing you’ll ever put in your mouth 😉

The best macarons I've made yet!  Loved the walnut in the shells, and the buttery salted caramel balances out the sweetness.

My husband and 8 year-old both agreed that these were probably the best macarons I’ve made to date, and I couldn’t help but agree.  You just can’t go wrong with chocolate, nuts, and caramel.  It’s a classic flavor combo for a reason!

The best macarons I've made yet!  Loved the walnut in the shells, and the buttery salted caramel balances out the sweetness.

Take a look at what the #BrunchWeek Bloggers are creating today!

BrunchWeek Beverages:
Blueberry Sangria from Love and Confections.
Spring-Infused Lemon Drop from Culinary Adventures with Camilla.
Bloody Margarita from The Suburban Soapbox

 BrunchWeek Egg Dishes:
Caramelized Onion, Swiss Chard, Mushroom and Alpine Cheddar Croissant Strata from Taste Cook Sip.
Crab Cake Eggs Benedict from The Redhead Baker.
Fried Eggs with Kale and Mushrooms from Hip Foodie Mom.
Chimichurri Breakfast Sandwich from Healthy Delicious.
Asparagus, Brie and Smoked Salmon Omelet from girlichef.
Braised Leeks with Poached Eggs from Jane’s Adventures in Dinner.

BrunchWeek Breads, Grains and Pastries:
Savory Pancetta and Cheddar Waffles from The Little Ferraro Kitchen.
Avocado Toast Bar from Sarcastic Cooking.
Mocha Nut Granola from greens & chocolate.
Chocolate Hazelnut Croissants with Bourbon Sauce from {i love} my disorganized life.
Berry Cacao Nib Scone Cakes from The Spiffy Cookie
Spiced Pear Oatmeal from Making Miracles.
Overnight Cinnamon Bread French Toast from That Skinny Chick Can Bake.
Nutty Chocolatey Oatmeal Muffins from A Day in the Life on the Farm.
Vanilla Orange Scones from Sew You Think You Can Cook.
Sour Cream and Dark Chocolate Oat Bread from Bread Booze Bacon.
Cherry Vanilla Almond Granola from Cupcakes & Kale Chips.
Mini Chocolate Chip Muffins from My Catholic Kitchen.
Macadamia Nut Crusted French Toast with Spiced Pineapple Syrup from Cooking in Stilettos.
Maple Cinnamon Scones from Pink Cake Plate

BrunchWeek Main Dishes:
Breakfast Wraps from Big Bear’s Wife.
Brunch Charcuterie Cheese Board from Quarter Life (Crisis) Cuisine.

BrunchWeek Fruits, Vegetables and Sides:
Whipped Yogurt and Ricotta with Figs and Honey from Take A Bite Out of Boca.
Gluten Free Swiss Chard and Mushroom Galette from It Bakes Me Happy.

BrunchWeek Desserts:
Mini Creamsicle Bundt Cake with Vanilla Bean Glaze from It’s Yummi.
Lemon Bars from Chelsea’s Messy Apron.
Chocolate Walnut Macarons with Salted Caramel from Baking a Moment.

Thank you to #BrunchWeek Sponsors: Bob’s Red Mill, Cabot Creamery Cooperative, California Walnuts, Dixie Crystals, Grimmway Farms/Cal-Organic/True Juice, KitchenAid, Le Creuset, Nielsen-Massey Vanillas, Pacari Chocolate, Stonyfield Organic, Vidalia Onions, and Woot Froot for providing the bloggers with samples and product to use for #BrunchWeek. All opinions are my own.
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