Chef Abbie has been at it again! After a year of trial and error, she has introduced that rarest of pastries — The Vegan French Macaron! We’ll let you be the judge in your own personal taste test, but Vegan French Macarons have quickly become fan favorites at Monarch!
Macaroon – Macaron – What’s the Difference?
We also create Vegan Coconut Macaroon, which is entirely different than a Macaron. Macaroons are small coconut haystacks and are often drizzled with chocolate. Macarons are elegant little sandwiches that are made with meringue, almond flour, and filling.
The Origins of the French Macaron is Not So French!
Macarons are one of the most treasured desserts in France. The French have elevated these meringue-based sweets to a near art form. So, it’s a bit of a surprise to learn that this delicacy did not originate in France!
The first known appearance of the macaron in Europe was during the Middle Ages. At the time, it was a small sweet made of almonds, egg white and sugar, and was crunchy on the outside and soft inside. Catherine de’ Medici likely brought the maccherone to France in the 1500s from Italy, where it had been produced in Venetian monasteries since the 8th century. Back then, they were known as “priests’ bellybuttons” due to the shape of the pastry.
Nevertheless, France is where the confection became popular. The first written macaron recipe appeared in France in the 17th century, with a number of versions emerging since.
From Belly Button to Haute Cusine
The French Macaron we know and love today – with two meringue cookies sandwiching a flavored filling – was a creation of the French capital. In the 1830s, Parisian confectioners introduced the world to the macaron parisien. The recipe was popularised by pâtisserie Ladurée, a company created in 1862 by Louis-Ernest Ladurée, a gentleman who clearly knew how to make a great sweet.
Flavors & More Flavors Of French Macaron
Monarch Bakery has not only mastered the perfect French Macaron and now the Vegan French Macaron, we’re home to more than SEVENTY-NINE FLAVORS of French Macaron! That’s got to be the longest Macaron flavor list in Grand Rapids or all of Michigan!
