I have had a huge interest in baking since college. My first real job, I would wake up early to make fresh bagels to bring to the office (fairly easy once you get a routine), and frequently hosted pageant parties where girlfriends would wear crowns while enjoying wine and dessert treats.
After many successes with established recipes, I must have felt my ego needed a check – I started to write my own. Years before I knew what a blog was, I created recipes. I still shudder when I think of all that was lost with a laptop death a few years ago – chills as I type that now.
Fast forward several years, adding a new challenge of baking vegan and gluten free. Friends and family subjected to enjoying flat loaf cakes with a smile, and a good stretch where all I made was variations of brownies “because I wanted the result to be dense and fudgy”. Well, that part is still true.
French macarons were something I did not attempt as a vegetarian, when I could have easily used eggs. Nope, I had to wait until the challenge would be much greater. After a couple not so pretty fails, I summoned the willpowder to keep going.
With attempts at clever jokes came success! With this amazing product I created a cardamom macaron and filled it with dark chocolate ganache. Then I resumed breathing. Whew.
Before I share a recipe I will be making more batches. While these tasted amazing and had the similar textures to a classic macaron, I want to perfect their appearance while hopefully making them less delicate. I want to make other bright colors (for cardamom flavored I chose a pale green). I just want more excuses to make these and have that elation again! I was giddy all day. After I resumed breathing.
What was your last elated success, in cooking or otherwise?
{ 106 comments… read them below or add one }
those look incredible! we have always wanted to make gluten free and vegan baked macaroons but just have not gotten around to it haha can’t wait to see what you did
yes, I’ve wanted to try for a while now… very intimidating! I made sure I had everything ready, started the process early on a cool morning, all that. some came out okay, but not quite macaron like! I have not tried again after this batch, so I’m hoping they turn out at least the same if not better! happy weekend, you two!
hello! I have been looking for a vegan recipe for macarons. Have you giving yours away? hihi. Please share!
My latest success is becoming a ‘professional packer’ haha! Moving 4 times in 3 years will do that!
These look so so so fabulous!
I want to attend a pageant party! How fun!
Happy Weekend! kisses to Basil!
<3
there really is an art to packing and moving – I have done it enough to know (and I’m not very artful at it!).
my pageant parties were so fun – I have a collection of crowns and tiaras, and when friends would come in they would get to pick one to wear for the evening!
happy weekend to you all too – from me and Basil!
I’ve never had a macaron. I love your baking gusto. I’d gladly sample anything you passed my weigh (meat-free of course). I guess my latest success was 12 mile run yesterday. Now I’m beat down.
unfortunately this batch was a little delicate – I have NO idea what they’d look like if I were to ship them!
that’s one thing I hope to perfect – making them less likely to crumble with a sneeze or strong breeze!
Those are too cute — to be honest my first thought was “they look like little mini hamburgers!”
And I was thisclose to entering ipoop as my email address
haaa! that would have made me laugh, Holly. (actually it did)
That’s one of the things I love about needing to be gluten free; the challenge of cooking and baking and suiting my needs. I love that I have to think and tweek and recreate many times to get something just right!
I love it too – learning and figuring out what does what!
You tease!! I was really wanting to see how they were made vegan. Now I will have to be patient.
I know, I’m sorry!
I really wanted to share these, that I did it! I want to perfect them before sharing with anyone.
Please don’t wait too long to share; I really want to know how to make these!
the versawhip is crazy awesome stuff – it basically makes any liquid a foam, like egg whites. perhaps cheating in a way, but they turned out better than my other attempts…
My son’s birthday was last week, and I had some coconut flour and oil that I wanted to use for his cupcakes. The only issue is that most of the recipes I’ve seen contain a crazified amount of eggs and both of my kids are allergic. The recipe I found called for 6 and I had heard that replacing 3 eggs using chia was kind of the limit, so I subbed 3 eggs with chia and 3 with Ener G egg replacer and it was FABULOUS! I was so excited!
that is SO great, Jessica! good call to mix the kinds of “eggs” too – I don’t know if I’ve ever had to replace that many in one recipe, but I know I’d be wondering if it would work! great job!
Some of the coconut flour recipes I’ve seen on Tropical Traditions have called for TEN eggs! I think I’d be tempted to cut the whole recipe in half, or do 2 batches. I’m pretty sure those were cakes with 2 layers.
holy COW (or should I say chicken?!) I have never seen that many eggs for a recipe… or if I did I forget because it boggled my mind and I said no way!
so happy there are lovely things like chia and even Ener-G – the first replacer I ever used! 
While EnerG was my first love…Chia is my soulmate. I never got cookies to work until I discovered it. And if chia can make a certain gluten free box mix with the initials B.C. taste pretty good…well…that’s all she wrote!
awesome! I can’t imagine they are easy to make? I’ve never had one so I have no idea! Cardamon isn’t a flavor I enjoy – but I still look forward to the recipe!
I think you should make some hot pink ones
no, not easy… but not as hard as I made them out to be, really. bright pink – that is the color I had in mind!!
YUM! these look so good (and inspired me to nominate you for a foodbuzz award!)
wow, THANK YOU, Lynn! you just made my day!
More cardamom! Vegan macarons! You’re the best!
ha – see?! this time of year, I tell ya!
girl, aren’t you writing a cookbook? as much as I want a recipe, this isn’t just something you give away!! they look amazing, and your photos as always do too. XO
ha – good point, my friend!
Those vegan macarons look like hamburgers! That is AWESOME! Write your recipe book.
working on it!
I WANT ONE! I can’t believe they are vegan. They turned out so beautiful. I think pink ones would be perfect!
thank you, Amanda!!
yep – pink ones are definitely in the plans…
These look delicious! I finally made macarons for the first time a couple months ago. LOVE them!
kinda fun to make, right?
You know I’m talkin’ ’bout Betty. She’s a nice girl and all, but kind of grainy. Rice flour’s OK. It’s good to have mixes, though. I don’t know how people did this 10 years ago.
Whoa! When I was scrolling downward, the macarons in your second pictures seemed to jump out of the screen and into my face!
(Honestly: Try this! Scroll downward from the top of the post and then see what happens when you pass the second pic! 
)
Why are they so green? Okay, you said cardamom, but this it just the theoretical reason. The practical remains mysterious. Is it food coloring? Matcha powder? (Please tell me because, you know, once a scientific’s mind is in curiosity mood, there’s no thought of sleep!
)
Other things I’d love to know: Why would perfectioning o appearance have to make the taste less enjoyable? (*Does* it have to do with match powder in the end?
)
Which other colors do you dream of?
Do you plan to vary the filling? (Let’s say, from choc to cashew cream?)
Will you some day take an even greater challenge and make a *soy-free* version of these?
Sorry, I’m really nasty tonight. On top of your already giddy day. (Sheesh Kath, leave it!) So, for reconcilement, here is the most awesome electronic music video *with dogs*:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F52dx9Z0L5k
Kath you are giving me a much needed laugh right now!! I used a slight amount of food color, just enough for a tinge of cool green. the cardamom doesn’t actually make them green, as the seeds are more brown when crushed – I was thinking of a fresh cardamom plant with the green. matcha would be a great flavor to use, though – then I could make a matcha ganache filling! ooh. the possibilities are ENDLESS.
and I’m not thinking the taste WILL be less enjoyable as I continue to perfect the process – with that statement I was thinking, they taste GREAT now, and that’s the most important thing, right?
haaa – you’re really being funny with that one – Soy Free Indeed!! I should have kept photos of the first few tries before I had this wonder product… they were soy free, but they were also … oh so wrong.
besides, this stuff, while it has soy, is VERY fun to play with!! I made some juice the other day, added some and whipped my juice into stiff peaks! it was glorious!
and thank you for the video – so fun! I kept looking for a dachshund, but the Basset came close!
Yeah, I know there is no dachshund in the vid.
But the others are fun, too, especiall the one whose fur looks like electrified! 
Btw I just saw the scrolling fun only work when you have a little wheel for scrolling on your mouse and use that one. The side bar won’t do it.
Now you’ve almost gotten through that awkward day … I hope tomorrow will be better! If I can do anything for you, I’m just an email away, you know that! Even if it’s just that you write me all your sorrows to relief your heart. But you don’t have to, you know that, too, if you don’t want to, or feel it wouldn’t help you, or already have talked with somebody else. Just know I’m always here because I’m you’re friend.
My spelling is totally f***d up again, sorry.
oh, I LOVE the video – do not want to sound like I’m a Dachshund Only Girl, I love all pups!
I liked the big one that was flapping all the water off – slow motions of that are always great to watch!
and THANK YOU, Kath!! I know you are – and I love our emails! I will email you later or this weekend. not anything big or bad, just a little thing, and a Kath E Chat is just what I need!
XO
I’m looking forward to that! Have a refreshing workout!
p.s. ! your drawing is FINALLY being posted tomorrow!
Whee!
I wonder, do you have Skype? Maybe we could talk via Skype as well.
(Exciting! You’ll learn how bad my English actually is, and how much I have to search for words … But it would be fun! 
)
I saw this recipe in my reader and I was like… wait, what? Did that just say… vegan?… How? What ingredients? How did she do it!?… then I go to the post and there isn’t a recipe. But I can understand you wanting to test it a few more times before you release it’s amazingness into the world. I’ll be waiting. Oh boy, will I be waiting.
*sigh* I know – I’ve had several “you’re a tease” emails, asking me for the recipe in secret.
all i have to say is CAN I MOVE IN WITH YOU???? I want to learn how to make such beautiful treats and even more, I want to learn how to photograph them! Ah, you amaze me. But seriously if you ever need a housekeeper or umm personal assistant, call me hahah
oh my GAAH, I need both of those things, my friend! and we would have SO much fun…
Wowee kazowee – those are GORGEOUS!
thank you, Tiff!
Oh. My. God. I can’t believe you made those vegan and gluten-free, but still need to “perfect” them. How much better could they look? Seriously? I was in Paris in June and yours are every bit as beautiful. You rock.
oh, wow, thank you, Stephanie! *blushes* I don’t know if they stand up to PARIS, yet…
but thank you! I’m excited!
They’re so pretty! Looking forward to seeing the recipe. I’ve always wanted to try making macaroons.
thank you, Lauren! they are pretty fun…
These are beautiful, Kris! Very impressive – and I loved reading this post because I could *hear* your excitement and passion about baking. You really are seriously talented! <3
thank you, Dorry!
I have a list of flavors / colors I want to try, and there’s one called The Dorry - lavender cookie with pale yellow buttercream! 
if I ever have a bakery, you’ll be a star attraction!
That’s the coolest thing I’ve ever heard! <3 <3 <3 <3
goddess and heroine. That’s all.
(and my NORMAL macarons had me in fits of joy not long ago…)
*bows in curtsy*
THANK YOU my friend. so you KNOW the fits of joy I mean!!
the macarons looks fab.. i am going to start pinging you every hour for the recipe soon
:)
I made my first ever raw foods entree this weekend and it was the most amazing thing I’ve ever eaten – Raw Lasagna. And I can’t wait to make it again!
And these look super yummy!
I have wanted to make a raw-sagna for a long time… congrats on a success!
More suffering for a macaron. In all honesty, I have yet to have one that makes all the trials and tribulations worth it but this is pretty interesting since egg is just part of the essence of a macaron. How ever will you change that I wonder!
BTW…Skype is so easy. Install, send an invite to connect to a friend’s user ID and either chat via text or via ‘call.’ I keep my camera off…people ALWAYS say…oh, your camera isn’t working? Nope…I work from hope and enjoy the luxury of working sans makeup in sweats…not meant for primetime or Skype!
for me the macaron is a challenge – if I wasn’t having fun I wouldn’t do it!
and thank you for the skype info – sounds easy! you are SO good for my learning – still have the favicon on my to do list… 
Please… share this recipe. Ever since visiting Paris (and unable to eat any) a few months ago, I’ve been so envious to make a vegan macaroon.
My last elated baking success had to be today. I was making some suppose-to-be vegan cookies and they came out nice, cakey-ish (my favorite kind), and round! Then again, I get happy whenever I can bake something that comes out right!
http://milk-and-tea.blogspot.com
congrats on the cookies!
I just saw them – they look tasty!
Wow! I’ve never had macarons, because I’ve never seen vegan macarons before. But I would LOVE to try one of these and I love baking… so I’m waiting for your recipe!
I dunno, but I’d certainly say these look about as perfect as a vegan macaron can be right now! I’m pretty sure I couldn’t eat them (sugar), but I don’t care–want to try the recipe anyway! Can’t wait until they meet your standards and you post the recipe.
thank you, Ricki! I love that you can appreciate them even if you will not eat them!
these are so cute.
OMG…I will SO be making these. Thanks for sharing. Look forward to more of your recipes. Have a wonderful Sunday.
I remember there was a recipe for vegan and GF macaroons from vegan dad on vegansaurus last year. other than that, i haven’t seen anything like this yet. excited for your recipe!
i am confused a little, and feel free to ignore or clarify. are you vegan? a lot of your recipes lately have been vegan and you said that you would not have tried this as vegetarian, but I recall you used to not be strictly vegan. has this changed? i have been a little out of the loop lately and probably missed something. no judgement, just curious! i know either way you offer a lot to the vegan world in terms of great recipes!
hi bitt! many of my recipes have been vegan for a long time – and I’ve been eating mostly vegan for a while… just cut out the last couple things a while ago, quietly with no fanfare
so YES I am now vegan!
and thank you – I appreciate the recipe compliment… I love to share the good ones, and LOVE hearing about people trying them!
no fanfare? you deserve fanfare! well, these cookies are fanfare of sort and a great way to celebrate. congrats! wanted to be here to support and cheer you on!
Too cute!
woo hoo! WTG!
wow, these look totally glorious and amazing! You do realize that people will offer you their first born children in exchange for vegan macarons, don’t you? People are nutsos for these things!
hee hee. yep. which is why it may be saved for a cookbook.
ack! You did it again?! I saw your desserts post and these babies were front and center… so I was like “darn it Leanne, how’d you miss that recipe?!” So I clicked on the post… and it’s the same one I cursed the first time! Cursing = not bad… just I really wanna know how you did it!
Are they done yet?
Are they done now?
I really want to make these vegan and gluten free!
Oh man! Can’t wait for that recipe!
I have this absurd fasination for macaroons. I didn’t hesitate buying them while peaking in the stores in France. I’ve tried them at home, and even though they are tricky non-vegan, I can’t imagine creating them vegan. It’s been one of my biggest goals to create a vegan macaroon. I can’t wait to see the recipe when you finally display it for the most perfect batch!
this has been my goal for quite some time too – it’s REALLY not easy, and I tried with the egg replacer (Ener-G), with all kinds of things, they just didn’t turn out. This was the first batch to work! I kinda took a break from them after this post – I need to get back to it!
these are wonderful, when will you post the recipe ?
xo
Have you posted the recipe for these yet? They look amazingly tasty!
sorry, Tomi, I have not yet. I want to make them again, I hope to find time soon. Cheers!
recipe?! i can’t wait to make these wow they look amazing
Oh my god they look perfect! Please post the recipe soon! My first attempt at vegan macaroons ended in little walnut cookies, so naturally I’m now on a quest to succeed
Please please please the recipe! They look so great. They would be great for my Paris photo evening coming Friday.
I’m searching for a special French snack.
Please! They look soooo perfect!
Hi there! I’d love even the rough version of the recipe – dying to make these and there’s not a lot of options for vegan macarons online!
Dear Spabettie
Good day I would just like to say that i am truly surprised that you have been able to produce vegan macaroons as i have searched for a very long time to find such a recipe.
I as just wondering if it was possible if you could tell me your recipe for it is a major grade for my science project
hope to hear from you soon
your truly Nishna
I look forward to the recipe, I want a macaron
Where’s the recipe! I want it now! I’m having a bake-off with one of my good friends, knowing I’m vegan he chose Macarons! What a little weasel. So you should get around to posting the recipe…
Is there a recipe for these?! They look amazing & I wouldn’t mind trying to make these for the holidays. Please & thank you
Any update on the publishing of this recipe?
hi Amanda, not at this time, sorry. I continue to perfect the recipe (do not want to tease anyone by posting new cookies), and I may be saving it for a published book. If I do publish it here, you will be among the first to know!
Thanks for the update. I am looking forward to your book!
thanks for understanding, Amanda. I better get going on that book…
Dear Spabettie:
May I have your recipe? I have tried so many recipes but none of them look good like yours.
Please thank you!
Hi! I found your photos of macarons while looking for a vegan recipe on google. You say you were going to post the recipe once it was perfected… is it ready to be posted now? I’d love to have it, even if they look only as good as they do in these photos: which is fantastic
So, what’s about the recipe? Or your cooking-book? I really want to bake these fabulous macarons!!
Can you please post your recipe?? I see many people have asked But i dont yet see the recipe. I’m sure you’ve perfected them by now although they dont look like they need perfecting at all!! IV been searching for a great vegan macaron recipe and these look amazing!!!
ha – by any chance are you talking about Betty??
nice! Ener-G was my first love too – I like chia more nowadays too – and I always have them around!
I SO NEED to learn skype!! I have never used it but I should – that would definitely be fun! I’ll work on it and get “My Tech Guy” (heh!) to help set it up…
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