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Everyone knows that making macarons is a tricky business. Even the most experienced pastry chefs can sometimes fall victim to a failed batch.

What to do with failed macarons (12 ideas)

5 from 1 vote
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What to do with failed macarons? Rather than tossing them in the trash, here are some fun ideas for using up those pesky little cookies.

Ingredients:

  • macarons

Instructions:

Idea #1: Eat them as is

  • Just because they’re not perfect doesn’t mean they’re not edible. The macarons might taste better than the perfect ones since you know that you made them with your own two hands (and a few mistakes).

Idea #2: Crumble them up and use them in a recipe

  • If you don’t want to eat them as is, you can always crumble them up and use them in another recipe. They’ll add a bit of texture (and flavor) to whatever you’re making. Think about it – all those flavorings and ingredients used to make the macarons are still there. They’re just in a different form.

Idea #3:  Turn them into macaron ice cream sandwiches

  • This is a great way to salvage failed macarons. Because the ice cream will help mask any imperfections in the cookies, they’ll be cold and refreshing – perfect for a summer day.
    Simply take two (or more) of them, fill them with your favorite ice cream, and enjoy.

Idea #4: Make macaron pops

  • This is a fun way to dress up failed macarons and turn them into a festive treat. They’ll be like mini cakes on a stick – and who doesn’t love cake pops? Well, because you can dip them in chocolate and add sprinkles (or any other topping that you like).
    Simply insert a popsicle stick into each macaron, dip them in chocolate or candy coating, and decorate as desired.

Idea #5: Turn them into ice cream or soup

  • This is a fun way to use up failed macarons. Just blend them up and add them to your favorite ice cream or soup recipe. The almond flour in macarons gives them a natural thickening power, so they’ll help your ice cream or soup become extra creamy without changing the flavor too much.

Idea #6: Use them as a topping

  • Using up small pieces of failed macarons is an excellent idea. You can top all kinds of desserts with crushed macarons. You can sprinkle them on top of ice cream, yogurt, or pudding or use them as a topping for cakes, cupcakes, or even ice cream. They’ll add a nice almond flavor and some extra texture.

Idea #7: Make macaroni and cheese

  • Make macarons out of failed macarons with this fun recipe. Just blend them up and add them to your favorite macaroni and cheese recipe. The almond flour in macarons gives them a natural thickening power, so they’ll help your mac and cheese become extra creamy without changing the flavor too much.

Idea #8: Make a trifle

  • Trifle is an English dessert that traditionally consists of layers of fruit, sponge cake, and custard. To make a trifle out of your failed macarons, start by layering the bottom of a trifle dish with macaron halves. Next, add a layer of your favorite fruit jam. Alternate between layers of macarons and fruit jam until you reach the top of the dish. Finally, top off your trifle with a layer of custard.

Idea #9: Make a cake

  • The cake is always a good idea. Even if your macarons didn’t turn out perfectly, you could still use them to make a delicious cake. Simply stack the macaron halves on top of each other, spreading a layer of buttercream or jam between each one. When you reach the top of the cake, frost it with your favorite icing.
    Or crumble up the failed macarons and use them as a cake topping or fillings.

Idea #10: Make a pie filling

  • A pie is another great way to use up failed macarons. Simply fill a pie crust with a layer of broken macaron pieces, followed by a layer of fruit jam or buttercream. Repeat the layers until you reach the top of the pie crust. Then, bake the pie according to the recipe instructions.

Idea #11: Use them as a decoration

  • If your macarons are only slightly imperfect, you can still use them as a decoration. Crumble up the failed macarons and sprinkle them over a cake or cupcake. Or, use them to top off a trifle or pie. If you’re feeling creative, you can use the failed macarons as a decoration on top of cupcakes, cakes, or even cookies.

Idea #12: Give them away

  • If you don’t want to eat them and you can’t think of anything else to do with them, just give them to someone else. There is a good chance that they can think of something that you didn’t know. Or chances are, they won’t mind that they’re not perfect. After all, it’s the thought that counts.

Please note that all nutrition information are just estimates. Values will vary among brands, so we encourage you to calculate these on your own for most accurate results.

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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: French
Keywords: what to do with failed macarons