Learn How To Make Delicious Spanish Bilbao Macaroons

While confusing, Bilbao macaroons are a wonderful dessert that has nothing to do with Italian pasta or French macaroons, except that they require some of the same ingredients as the latter.

This is a recipe that gets a lot of attention, as they, despite what you think, are not typical macaroons as we know and love them. In fact, Bilbao macaroons are a well-known dessert in Spain. Discover and learn how to make them in this article!

Bilbao macaroons

Bilbao macaroons are a sweet dessert that is mainly consumed on the feast day of Saint Blasius, February 3rd. They are usually eaten with foam candy.

This dessert is made from egg whites, ground almonds, cinnamon and powdered sugar. However, these are not similar to the typical French or Italian macaroons. They are actually completely different!

But do not worry, we will also show you the recipe for the original French macaroons, so you can make both and discover which one you like best.

Read on and learn how to make these wonderful desserts!

Recipe for Bilbao macaroons

You do not necessarily have to be from Spain to make or like this dessert. It is a perfect dessert to eat after any lunch or dinner.

Ingredients for Bilbao macaroons

1 cup chopped almonds (150 g)
4 tablespoons of sugar (60 g)
1 cup powdered sugar (120 g)
3 egg whites
0.5 tablespoons of ground cinnamon (8 g)
1 tablespoon butter (20 g)
1 tablespoon of wheat flour (15 g)

Preparation of Bilbao macaroons

Take a medium-sized bowl and mix together the almonds, powdered sugar and ground cinnamon.
Then slowly add the egg whites and lemon juice. Mix everything together with a hand mixer. Make sure the mixture is sticky but compact.
After this, take a baking sheet and spread some butter and flour on it so that the macaroons do not stick.
Once you have achieved the desired texture, make some balls with the dough.
Then sprinkle sugar on a plate and dip each macaroon in it. Make sure they are not too large to fit on the baking sheet.

Before putting it in the oven, press the balls a little. Do not worry, because they rise when they are fried.
Fry the macaroons for 10 minutes at 180 to 190 ºC, until they rise and turn golden.
Finally, take them out of the oven and let them cool. Serve them for coffee or afternoon tea.

Recipe for French macaroons

French macaroons are colored cakes made from egg whites, powdered sugar and ground almonds. They are often confused with Bilbao macaroons as they require about the same ingredients, but the difference is that these macaroons have fillings.

Ingredients for French macaroons

4 egg whites
2 cups powdered sugar (240 g)
1.5 cups ground almonds (225 g)
1 pinch of salt (5 g)
2 drops of pastry color

Ingredients for the filling

2 cups powdered sugar (240 g)
1 cup butter (200 g)
1 tablespoon whipped cream (30 ml)
1 tablespoon with lemon peel (15 g)
1 tablespoon of cocoa powder (15 g)

How to make the macaroons

Start by whipping the egg whites, salt and powdered sugar in a bowl until you get stiff tips.
Then add ground almonds and pastry color (the color you want). Put the mixture in a spray bag.
Then cover a baking tray with parchment paper and make the macaroons with the spray bag. Leave enough space between them so that they do not stick together when frying.

Finally, bake them in the oven at 200 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes. After this, take them out of the oven and let them cool while you make the filling.

How to make the filling

First whip the butter until it is creamy and add the icing sugar, vanilla and whipped cream.
Then add the lemon peel and cocoa powder.
Then fill the macaroons with the filling as if they were sandwiches, and serve.

Try these two amazing dessert recipes today!