Chocolate Walnut Macarons with Salted Caramel #BrunchWeek
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.)
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. 🙂
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 😉
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!
BrunchWeek Beverages:
Blueberry Sangria from Love and Confections.
Spring-Infused Lemon Drop from Culinary Adventures with Camilla.
Bloody Margarita from The Suburban Soapbox
Caramelized Onion, Swiss Chard, Mushroom and Alpine Cheddar Croissant Strata from Taste Cook Sip.
Crab Cake Eggs Benedict from The Redhead Baker.
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.
This post contains affiliate links
Chocolate Walnut Macarons with Salted Caramel
Ingredients
- 100 grams walnuts,, ground finely in the food processor
- 150 grams powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 egg whites,, preferably at room temperature
- 1/4 teaspoon (0.25 teaspoon) cream of tartar
- 55 grams superfine sugar, (granulated sugar may be substituted)
- 3/4 cup (53.25 ml) salted caramel
Instructions
- Sift the ground walnuts, powdered sugar, and cocoa powder together. (Re-process and re-sift, if necessary.)
- Place the egg whites in a large mixing bowl, and add the cream of tartar. Whip the egg whites, on medium-high speed, until fluffy. Slowly add in the superfine sugar, while whipping. When all the superfine sugar has been added, turn the speed up to high and continue to whip until stiff.
- Add the ground walnut/powdered sugar/cocoa mixture, all at once, and fold until the mixture drops from the spatula in one long ribbon. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a large round tip.
- Pipe the batter onto parchment-lined baking sheets, in 1 1/2-inch circles. Set them out to dry for 45 minutes to an hour, or until a thin, dry membrane has formed on the surface of the macarons.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the macarons in the hot oven. Turn the oven temperature down to 300 degrees F, and bake for 18 minutes (do not brown). Allow the macarons to cool completely on the baking sheets.
- Sandwich the macarons with salted caramel sauce.
Brunch week sounds awesome and so do these macarons! I LOVE that you made them with walnuts! So so creative and delicious! They look perfect with the salted caramel filling! So gorgeous, Allie!
Aw thank you so much Kelly! I know you are the macaron master, so coming from you this really means a lot! xoxo
Oh my goodness! I need to make these! This would be the best Brunch item for a family get together.
Thanks Monica! I forgot to mention in the post that I sometimes give them as gifts. People are always so appreciative!
I’m dying to have one of these right now! They look so delicious!!! 🙂
Thanks Tiffany! I wish I could share some with ya!
Macarons are my ultimate weakness! These look so so good!
Thanks Manali! Aren’t they so good? I especially love them with they’re filled with something rich and flavorful, to balance out that sweetness. Thanks so much for the comment!
I’ve never made macarons, I always feel like I’m not delicate enough for such elegant treats. But, I will say I absolutely LOVE eating them! And these little beauties with the salted caramel sound incredible!
They are so much fun to make, Kathleen! Truly one of my favorite things. Seeing them grow feet just puts me over the moon, lol! Thank you so much my dear!
Oh my, these are one of the most beautiful-looking and delicious-sounding macarons I’ve ever seen!
Thank you so much Nicole! Salted caramel is totally my weakness 🙂
These look amazing! You almost have me feeling brave enough to tackle Macarons! 🙂
Oh you totally should! They’re not nearly as hard as people think. I bet you’d really enjoy making them! Thanks Christine!
Love this combination of flavors for macarons! These look amazing!
Thanks Jessica! I loved it too- it all just worked so well together 😀
These macarons look SO wonderful! I’ve never tried a macaron made from walnuts, but I love the idea! And that caramel sauce? I’ll be lucky if there’s any left to go inside the macarons…
Haha, right? I really loved the added flavor from the walnuts. Such a great combination of flavors! Thanks dear!
The macaroons will now become my favorite gift cookie!
I love them for gifting! Everyone always appreciates a homemade treat, and macarons are so special. Thanks Nadine!
Brunch week sounds fantastic! Love these walnut macarons. Anf that salted caramel sounds incredible!
Thanks Jen! You should definitely try to join Brunch Week next year! I bet you’d love it 😉
These macarons look so delicious, and with salted caramel too? Divine.
Thanks Janette! Anything with salted caramel wins, IMO 😉
OOOOO this is all walnuts?? I NEED to try them! you know how macarons make me happy 😉 Just love the walnut, chocolate and salted caramel combo. Perfect perfect!!
Yes! I did all walnuts in these and I LOVED the flavor. So happy you like them dear!
Allie, your chocolate walnut macarons are gorgeous!!! and I LOVE the salted caramel! so happy to be doing brunch week with you this week!!! woot woot!!!
Holla! Same here girl!
Oh my gosh, brunch week sounds like so much fun! I love all those sponsors, I use these products almost every single day! So, I’ve never made french macaroons, is it difficult? Great recipe, they look absolutely scrumptious!
It’s one of those things that has a reputation for being fussy, but honestly I think they’re way easier than people make them out to be. I have no doubt you’d rock them out Heather! You should definitely jump on the Brunch Week bandwagon next year!
Yes! That would be awesome! I don’t know how to get on the band wagon (lol) but I’m all about some Brunch Week! I’m glad that you said macaroons aren’t as difficult, now I’m feeling more encouraged to try the recipe!
They’re not really- I’m probably going to post a video in the next week or so, so stay tuned!
Brunch week sounds lovely!
I’ve never made macaroons yet but of course I’d start with chocolate. These look downright fabulous!
Thanks Melanie! The ones involving chocolate are always my favorite. And if you throw in caramel too, well then I’m a happy mama. 😉