Whether you bake often or only buy your sweet treats from your local bakery who know what they are doing, it is well known that macarons are extremely difficult to make, so much so that some people avoid making them altogether.
When you can finally master that delicious batch of macarons, you can try freezing them to enjoy later. This will save you plenty of time in the kitchen the next time you are craving these deliciously delicate treats but can also be a great way to experiment with different macaron shell flavours and fillings.
To freeze macarons, stack macaron shells or filled macarons carefully into a freezer bag, seal the bags up and then pop them into the freezer.
How to Freeze Macarons
How you freeze your macarons will depend on if your macarons are already filled or if you have only have the shells prepared. Both the below methods are just as effective at freezing macarons as the next, so follow the one that best suits your needs:
How to Freeze Macaron Shells
It is the macaron shells that are the most difficult part of the macaron-making process. Trying to get the chewy texture in the shells themselves while also preserving that initial crunch as you break into the shell is a painstaking process.
You can double your batch of macaron shells and freeze some to fill later, helping cut down on the whole macaron process considerable. Here is how:
- Allow To Cool
Like you would when filling macarons, you need to allow your macaron shells to reach at least room temperature before you do anything with them. Otherwise, the shells may break apart. - Arrange The Shells
Carefully layer your cooled macaron shells in an airtight container, or stack them on their side. - Secure
When you have your macarons safely packed away, make sure to secure the lid on the container. - Freeze
All that is left to do is place the container directly into the freezer and allow the cold to work its magic. You can freeze macaron shells for up to 3 months.
Don’t try to heat the frozen macaron shells to defrost them. Instead, leave the shells in your fridge for a few hours to thaw naturally. Leave the shells locked in your air tight container as they defrost to prevent any condensation from your fridge making the shells soggy.
How to Freeze Filled Macarons
Not everyone has the time to learn how to make macarons, but doesn’t mean that you should miss out on this tasty treat.
The next time you are visiting your favourite bakery, buy more macarons than you normally would so you can freeze some. That way you can treat yourself at home whenever you want. Just follow this method for freezing filled macarons:
- Let Mature
Seeing as the macarons will already be filled, you will not need to wait for them to cool. However, allowing your macarons to mature for 24 hours before you freeze them will make a whole lot a difference to their flavours. - Organize
After 24 hours, take a large airtight container and layer your filled macarons on top of each other gently. - Secure
When all of your filled macarons are safely pack in the container, secure the lid to make the container as air tight as possible. - Freeze
Place the container directly into your freezer, and then you’re done! You can leave filled macarons in the freezer for up to 2 months, though after 1 month they will start to lose some of their flavour.
It is best to let your filled macarons defrost naturally in your fridge. They will need at least 4 hours to fully defrost, so it may be worth removing the macarons from your freezer the night before you plan to eat them.
How to Freeze Macarons Successfully
There are several tricks you can use to ensure that you get the most out of your frozen macarons:
- Try Using A Freezer Bag – If you often freeze food then you may already have some freezer bags to hand. You can use these instead of an airtight container to freezer your macarons. Just be careful of where you then store the bags in your freezer to prevent the macarons from getting crushed.
- Don’t Overfill – When filling the air tight container, avoid shoving too many macarons in the container at once. Overfilling the container could misshape the macarons or make them stick together.
- Freeze The Filling, Too – Most people who want to freeze macaron shells are most likely bakers themselves who are planning ahead. The good news is that you can also freeze a range of macaron fillings just as easily as their shells. From buttercreams to jams, you can really do future you a favour.
Do Macarons Freeze Well?
Macarons are quite a surprising bake. Though they are very tricky to make in the first place, macarons are exceptionally easy to freeze.
No matter if you wish to freeze just the shells of the macarons or whole macarons, you can guarantee a sweet treat whenever you wish.
Freezing Macarons FAQs
Got more questions? These FAQs might be of use:
The filling of some macarons can split and become a little grainy. This is why it can be better to freeze unfilled macarons.
Yes, macarons filled with buttercream can be frozen but the buttercream can become a little gritty or grainy during the freezing and thawing process.
Acacia may be a freelance writer by day, but they are a food fanatic by night. They are always trying out new recipes or finding different ways to elevate classical dishes. But their biggest culinary aim is to educate others on the basics of the kitchen so that they too can enjoy delicious food.
