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    Home ยป Recipes ยป Macarons

    Cinnamon Macarons with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Filling

    Published: Sep 3, 2024 ยท Modified: Nov 15, 2024 by Emily Laurae ยท This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Cinnamon macaron pinterest pin.
    Cinnamon macaron pinterest pin.
    Cinnamon macaron pinterest pin.

    If you love sugar, spice, and everything nice, youโ€™re going to fall head over heels for my Cinnamon Macarons. These delightfully dainty, warmly spiced French sandwich cookies are made with just 10 basic ingredients and are naturally gluten-free!

    Cinnamon macarons on the counter with cinnamon sticks.
    Jump to:
    • โญ Why Youโ€™ll Love This Recipe For Cinnamon Roll Macaronsย 
    • ๐ŸดIngredientsย 
    • โฒ๏ธ Substitutions & Variations
    • ๐Ÿ“– Step-by-Step Instructions
    • ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿปโ€๐Ÿณ Expert Tips
    • โ„๏ธ Storage
    • ๐Ÿ’ญย Recipe FAQs
    • More Fall Recipes Youโ€™ll Love
    • Cinnamon Macarons
    • ๐Ÿ’ฌ Comments

    Of the many French recipes I learned to master in pastry school, macarons consistently top my Favorites List. Between their gorgeously smooth appearance, crisp-but-chewy consistency, rich fillings, and endless color and flavor combinations, they check all the boxes this baker could hope for.

    And when it comes to herbs and spices, cinnamon is by far the most popular in my kitchen. It adds warmth and sweetness to everything it touchesโ€”from spicy orange cinnamon hot chocolate to cozy vin chaud, sourdough raisin bread to brown butter cinnamon rolls, pear compote to apple spice donuts, and so much more. 

    So when I set about developing a new recipe for fall-flavored macarons, I thought to myself, โ€œWhy not make it cinnamon?โ€ My friends, I couldnโ€™t be happier that I did. Adding a hefty dash of spice to my foolproof macaron recipe and then stuffing the cinnamon macaron shells with cinnamon cream cheese frosting mightโ€™ve been one of my best ideas yet!    

    โญ Why Youโ€™ll Love This Recipe For Cinnamon Roll Macarons 

    • Light But Rich - Melt-in-your-mouth almond meringues are so delicate, they have an almost ethereal quality. But when you pair them with a decadent cream cheese frosting and add plenty of spice to the mix they become a cinnamon roll macaron mash-up thatโ€™s nothing short of magnificent.
    • Beautifully Basic - Just 10 easy-to-find ingredients are all you need to make these impressive-looking treats.
    • Budget-Savvy - French macarons cost a pretty penny when you buy them from a bakery, but with my step-by-step recipe you can make a batch for just a fraction of the cost!

    ๐ŸดIngredients 

    Ingredients needed to make cinnamon macarons in bowls.
    • Granulated Sugar - The neutral pH and low moisture content of white sugar are essential for creating perfect snickerdoodle macaron shells. Youโ€™re welcome to use superfine/caster sugar instead, which is simply white sugar that has been pulverized to a finer grain.
    • Room Temperature Egg Whites - Room temperature โ€œagedโ€ egg whites create a more stable meringue than fresh, cold ones. Note that liquid egg whites will not work here, as they donโ€™t properly whip into a meringue consistency. 
    • Almond Flour - Make sure youโ€™re reaching for fine blanched almond flour rather than coarser almond meal in order to achieve a perfectly smooth, glossy exterior. Extra almond flour on hand? Whip up a batch of Almond Frangipane!
    • Powdered Sugar - This blend of white sugar and starch provides stability to both the cinnamon macaron shells and the frosting filling. If youโ€™re out, you can make your own by blitzing granulated sugar with cornstarch or potato starch in a food processor. The ratio is 1 cup of sugar to 1 Tablespoon of starch.
    • Cinnamon - There are many varieties of cinnamon to choose from, so have fun experimenting to find your favorite. Hard cassia cinnamon is the most widely sold as it is the most inexpensive to source, but you may prefer mild Ceylon cinnamon (a.k.a. Mexican cinnamon), sharp Saigon cinnamon, and sweet Korintje cinnamonโ€™s unique flavor profiles.
    • Gel Food Coloring - Optional, for coloring the macaron shells and/or filling. I recommend gel coloring over liquid as the pigmentation is more potent and the lower water content ensures you donโ€™t throw off the meringueโ€™s stability. You can also use natural powdered food coloring (e.g. beet powder, butterfly pea powder, matcha, etc.) if you prefer, but note that they often impart some flavor to whatever they are dyeing.
    • Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting - In addition to more powdered sugar and cinnamon, youโ€™ll also need unsalted butter, block-style cream cheese, and salt.

    See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

    โฒ๏ธ Substitutions & Variations

    • Almond-Free - If you want to try this recipe for churro macarons but canโ€™t eat almonds, you have options. You can swap in other nuts (pistachios are a great option), or you can use sesame seeds or ground tiger nuts for a wholly nut-free version.
    • Dairy-Free - Simply swap in your favorite plant-based butter and cream cheese for all the creamy, cinnamony flavor without the dairy.
    • Different Filling - Cinnamon is a flavor that plays well with lots of other flavors. Try brown butter buttercream, chocolate buttercream, almond buttercream, dark chocolate ganache, salted caramel, or any other filling that strikes your fancy! 
    • Chai Macarons - For an aromatic twist, swap the cinnamon for chai masala, a warming spice blend with cinnamon, cloves, ginger, black pepper, cardamom, star anise, and nutmeg. You can also use any other cozy spice blend like pumpkin pie spice or haiwaj if you prefer.

    This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!

    ๐Ÿ“– Step-by-Step Instructions

    Mixing macaron meringue in a standing mixer.
    Dry ingredients mixed in a food processor bowl.

    Step 1: Make the meringue & sift dry ingredients. Whisk the egg whites in the bowl of a standing mixer at medium speed in a large bowl. Slowly add the white sugar when it starts to foam. Keep whisking until stiff peaks form and mix in your desired food coloring. Meanwhile, pulse the dry ingredients including the ground cinnamon in a food processor and sift into a medium bowl.

    Cinnamon french meringue in a bowl.
    Piped cinnamon macaron batter.

    Step 2: Macaraonage! Pour your sifted dry ingredient mixture into the bowl with the meringue and slowly fold the two together. The batter should be thin, drippy, and slide easily off of the rubber spatula. Overmixed macaron batter is impossible to salvage, so donโ€™t fuss with it too much.

    Step 3: Pipe the batter & rest. Transfer the batter to a piping bag and pipe it into circle shapes on the parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving space in between each. Tap the baking sheet a few times to pop any air bubbles or use a toothpick. Allow the shells to set for about 30 minutes or until they feel dry to the touch.

    Piping cinnamon cream cheese on cinnamon macarons.
    Stacked cinnamon macarons filled with cream cheese frosting.

    Step 4: Bake and cool. Bake the meringues in a 310ยบF oven for 9 minutes. Rotate the pan and bake for 2 minutes more. Your shells are done when theyโ€™re dried out and firm. Let the shells cool completely before removing them from the parchment paper, and finding each matching half.

    Step 6: Assemble, chill, and enjoy! Pipe a nickel size amount of cinnamon cream cheese filling onto each of the bottom macaron shells. Top each one with a top shell and place the assembled macarons in the fridge overnight. Then, enjoy the next day!

    ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿปโ€๐Ÿณ Expert Tips

    • Separate Cold, Whip Warm. Itโ€™s much easier to separate eggs when theyโ€™re still cold from the fridge, as the yolks are less likely to break. However, โ€œagingโ€ the yolks at room temperature ensures a stronger meringue, so let them sit out for about an hour or so after separating before making your cinnamon macaron shells.
    • Use 3 Bowls. When separating your eggs, you want 3 bowlsโ€”one for the current egg youโ€™re separating, one for the yolks, and one for the whites. After each egg is separated, empty the working bowl. This ensures that if one yolk breaks during separation, your whole batch of whites doesnโ€™t get wasted. 
    • Keep Your Whites Fat Free. Even the slightest bit of yolk or oil residue can cause your meringue to deflate. I recommend cleaning your equipment thoroughly before starting. If you hand-wash your dishes, consider dipping a cotton ball in lemon juice or vinegar and wiping down your beaters and bowl to remove any lingering grease.
    • Waste Not, Want Not. If you donโ€™t have any immediate designs for your egg yolks, they can be frozen for up to 3 months. If youโ€™re looking for ways to use them up, fruit curd, creme anglaise, and ice cream are all great places to start!
    • Use A Template. I have a Silpat macaron mat with circles drawn on it; this helps me pipe out perfectly round, equally-sized shells. For a cheaper DIY version, simply trace circles onto a piece of parchment paper using a small round biscuit cutter or cookie cutter.
    • Donโ€™t Rush The Rest. After piping the cinnamon macaron batter onto your lined cookie sheets, you need to let them rest for 45 or so minutes before baking. This allows a โ€œskinโ€ to develop, resulting in perfectly smooth shells with the signature macaron โ€œfeet.โ€
    Cinnamon macarons on the counter with cinnamon sticks.

    โ„๏ธ Storage

    Youโ€™re welcome to make, bake, and freeze empty macaron shells for up to a month in advance. The cinnamon frosting can likewise be prepped and frozen ahead of time. Once assembled, I recommend allowing them to rest overnight in the fridge for the best texture.

    Assembled cinnamon bun macarons should be kept under refrigeration for no longer than 3 days. To serve, allow them to rest at room temperature for 10-15 minutes to take some of the chill off. Assembled macarons can also be frozen for up to 2 months.

    Cinnamon macarons on the counter with cinnamon sticks.

    ๐Ÿ’ญ Recipe FAQs

    What can you make with broken or undesirable macaron shells?

    Just because a cookie is crumbled doesnโ€™t make it any less tasty! I usually just nibble on any broken shells while I fill the rest, but theyโ€™d also make excellent ice cream inclusions and sundae toppers.

    How long does it take to make macarons from scratch?

    It typically takes me about an hour and a half to make a batch from start to finish, but around half of that is just waiting time while the batter rests. In terms of active time, youโ€™re looking at about 45 minutes to an hour, unless you do more detailed decorations.

    How hard is it to make macarons? Can a beginner make them? When is the best time for a beginner to bake macarons?

    Macarons do take a bit of practice, and your first batch or two probably wonโ€™t come out quite perfect, but if you follow along with my step-by-step instructions and photos, Iโ€™d bet theyโ€™ll be pretty close. Beginners can absolutely make themโ€”everyone is a beginner at some point! And Iโ€™d say the best time to make them is whenever you get a hankering to try!

    Why do my otherwise excellent French macarons have pockets?

    Ooops! Sounds like you may have forgotten to rap the cookie sheet against the counter after piping out the batter. By firmly tapping the sheet against your work surface a few times, all the air bubbles should get knocked out, removing any chance of making pockets.

    What color are French macarons? How do macarons get their color?

    It depends on the recipe! If you donโ€™t add any food coloring to these churro macarons, theyโ€™ll be a pale tan color on account of the cinnamon. Whatever flavoring you use (spices, cocoa powder, matcha powder, freeze-dried fruit powder) will contribute some color to the macaron shells, but for the most vibrant-looking shells, a bit of gel food coloring is the way to go.

    More Fall Recipes Youโ€™ll Love

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    If you try the recipe for these Cinnamon Macarons, please leave a ๐ŸŒŸ review and share your creation with me on social media! You can find me on Instagram, Facebook, Youtube and Pinterest - for more delicious recipes sent straight to your inbox, sign up for my newsletter! ๐Ÿ“ง 

    Cinnamon macarons on the counter.

    Cinnamon Macarons

    If you love sugar, spice, and everything nice, youโ€™re going to fall head over heels for my Cinnamon Macarons. These delightfully dainty, warmly spiced French sandwich cookies are made with just 10 basic ingredients and are naturally gluten-free!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: French
    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 11 minutes minutes
    Resting Time: 45 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 26 minutes minutes
    Servings: 16 Macarons (32 Shells)
    Calories: 199kcal
    Author: Emily Laurae

    Equipment

    • Food Processor
    • Fine Mesh Strainer
    • Mixer with Whisk Attachment
    • Spatula
    • Bowls
    • Parchment Paper
    • Baking Tray
    • Piping Bags & Piping Tips
    • Immersion Blender (optional)
    • Saucepan

    Ingredients

    Cinnamon Macarons

    • 76 g (โ…“ cup + 1 teaspoon ) Granulated Sugar
    • 90 ml (About 3 egg whites) Room Temperature Egg Whites
    • 80 g (ยพ Cup + 1 Tbsp) Almond Flour, Blanched
    • 135 g (1 ยผ Cup ) Powdered Sugar
    • 15 g Ground Cinnamon
    • Gel Food Coloring, optional

    Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

    • 56 g (ยผ Cup) Unsalted Butter
    • 227 g (1 Cup) Cream Cheese
    • 120 g (1 Cup) Powdered Sugar, sifted
    • 3 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon

    Instructions

    Cinnamon Macarons

    • Line each baking sheet with your prepared parchment templates and prepare your piping bags along with your piping tips.ย I like to use a small, round piping tips for piping.
    • Pour your egg whites into the bowl of a stand mixer and start whisking on medium speed. Once they start to foam, slowly add your sugar and bring up your speed to medium for about three to four minutes.ย 
      90 ml Room Temperature Egg Whites, 76 g Granulated Sugar
    • While your meringue is whisking away, grind together your measured powdered sugar, ground cinnamon, and almond flour using a food processor for one minute. Sift these dry ingredients into a large bowl with a fine sieve and set aside.ย 
      80 g Almond Flour, 135 g Powdered Sugar, 15 g Ground Cinnamon
    • Your meringue is complete when it holds stiff peaks - add desired food coloring and gently whisk for a few additional seconds to incorporate.
      Gel Food Coloring
    • Now itโ€™s time for the ever so important Macaronage! This is the act of mixing your dry ingredients into your french meringue and folding these ingredients enough to allow for the perfect desired consistency. To start, pour your dry mixture onto the meringue and slowly start to fold with a spatula. While rotating the bowl, continue to fold ingredients together. Press mixture on the side of your bowl until the mixture of the batter flows off your spatula rather slowly and smoothly. You should see that the batter will drip off the spatula back into the bowl, and rest on top for a moment. Then, the batter from your spatula will slowly sink back into the mixture. One too many folds and your batter could be over mixed leading to it being impossible to work with, so be careful not to overmix!
    • ย Pour your macaron batter into your prepared piping bag and pipe in circles onto your templated parchment paper. In order to get rid of any air bubbles within your piped shells and to even out your tops, tap your baking sheet firmly on a flat surface. You can always use a toothpick to gently pop any extra air bubbles that you see hovering on top of your shells.
    • Allow the shells to rest for approximately 30 minutes. Once the top of your shells are dry to the touch they are ready to bake!ย 
    • Place your macarons in your oven that has been preheated to 310 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake for 9 minutes, then rotate the baking tray and bake for an additional 2 minutes.ย 
    • You will know that your macarons are ready to remove from the oven when you gently touch the upper shell, and it barely moves, while the developed foot of the macaron stays set to the parchment paper. Remove from the oven to cool completely before removing shells from the parchment paper.

    Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

    • Beat together the softened butter and cream cheese on medium speed until itโ€™s smooth and somewhat fluffy.
      56 g Unsalted Butter, 227 g Cream Cheese
    • Scrape down the sides, then add in the powdered sugar slowly and ground cinnamon.
      120 g Powdered Sugar, 3 teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
    • Place cream cheese frosting in a plastic bag or pastry bag with a piping tip and set aside.

    Assemblyย 

    • Once cooled, the shells will peel easily off of your parchment paper. Find each shell's matching half and pipe a circle of cinnamon filling into the middle. Finally, top with the matching half.ย Place in the fridge overnight for the perfect texture and taste!

    Notes

    Tips to make the best cinnamon macarons
    • Use a kitchen scale.ย Working with weights rather than measuring cups is the easiest way to ensure consistently delicious macarons.
    • Parchment paper is your friend.ย Not only can you draw out your circles on it so your macarons are even, but it also makes cleanup a breeze.ย 
    • Donโ€™t rush the rest.ย Once you pipe out the macaron batter, you need to let it rest for 30 minutes. This helps to create a โ€œskin,โ€ which means theyโ€™ll look shiny and smooth. Itโ€™s also essential for getting your macaron shells to have โ€œfeet.โ€
    • Storage: Unfilled cinnamon macaron shells can be left in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days, or frozen for up to a month. Likewise, the cinnamon buttercream can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or frozen for up to 3 months. Once youโ€™ve piped on the frosting and assembled them, they will keep for up to 3 days in the fridge. Filled macarons can also be frozen for up to 3 months.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 199kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 12mg | Sodium: 17mg | Potassium: 93mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 135IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 2mg
    Enjoyed this recipe?Mention @emilylaurae or tag #emilylaurae!

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    About Emily Laurae

    Emily is the recipe developer, writer, and food photographer behind Emily Laurae. After finishing Pastry School and working as a chef in the restaurant industry, she created this blog to share those skills with home bakers and creators all over the world!

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    Comments

    1. Lauren

      September 04, 2024 at 6:13 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely beautiful!! I love cinnamon and spice and everything nice. These are so perfect for fall!!

      Reply
    5 from 1 vote

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