Blueberry Macarons for Blue Monday

Blueberry Macarons | Patisserie Makes Perfect

Today is apparently Blue Monday, so we have some blueberry macarons.

If you’re anything like me, you’ll instantly think of the New Order song Blue Monday. You would, however be very wrong because Blue Monday is actually a mathematical calculation used to determine the most depressing day of the year. The factors taken into consideration seem to be the weather and the fact that none of us have any money because we spent it all at Christmas.

While I admit, January can be a bit bleak, I don’t find it that miserable. There’s still plenty of things to enjoy, snuggling up indoors to avoid the cold weather, drinking hot chocolate and working your way through the leftover Christmas food. Not to mention the fact that the first half of the year has a high proportion of Bank Holidays in the UK and I love free holiday from work. I’ve already booked my Easter Holiday – perhaps that’s the key, having things to look forward to and plan.

In recognition of Blue Monday, I decided to make Blueberry Macarons, partly because they were the only ingredient I could think of that is truly blue and also because there is a distinct lack of blueberry recipes on the blog.

Blueberry Macarons | Patisserie Makes Perfect

These blueberry macarons have freeze-dried blueberry powder in the shells and they’re filled with an intense blueberry confiture (which is essentially French for jam) that is surrounded by a rich lemon ganache. Although I love salted caramel macarons, I think these might be my new favourite flavour. It doesn’t hurt that they look so photogenic either.

I used my usual Macaron recipe to make the shells, but the fillings came from William Curley’s book Patisserie.

Blueberry Macarons | Patisserie Makes Perfect

Blueberry Macarons

Adapted from William Curley
These macarons have freeze-dried blueberry powder in the macaron shells and an intense shot of blueberry confiture, surrounded by a lemon ganache.
Prep Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 35 minutes
Course Patisserie
Cuisine French
Servings 30 +

Ingredients
  

  • ***Macarons***
  • 200 g Ground Almonds
  • 200 g Icing Sugar
  • 50 ml Water
  • 175 g Granulated Sugar
  • 160 g Egg Whites about 3 eggs
  • 10 g Freeze-dried Blueberry Powder
  • ***Lemon Ganache***
  • 125 g Milk Chocolate 35% Cocoa, chopped
  • 125 g Dark Chocolate 65% Cocoa, chopped
  • 200 ml Whipping Cream
  • 100 ml Lemon Juice
  • 25 g Butter at room temperature
  • ***Blueberry Confiture***
  • 75 g <a href="http://www.funkincocktails.co.uk/blueberry-puree" target="_blank" >Blueberry Puree</a>
  • 75 g Blueberries frozen are fine
  • 60 g Caster Sugar
  • 10 g Pectin
  • 5 ml Lemon Juice

Instructions
 

  • ***Lemon Ganache***
  • Place the chocolate in a bowl that is big enough to fit the cream in to. Place the cream in a saucepan and bring it to the boil. Pour the boiling cream onto the chocolate and stir until the chocolate is fully combined with the cream and melted.
  • Add the lemon juice to the ganache and stir fully, then add the butter until it's fully mixed. Leave the ganache somewhere to cool to room temperature, don't be tempted to put the ganache in the fridge as you're going to want to pipe it later.
  • ***Blueberry Confiture***
  • Put the blueberry puree, blueberries and 40g sugar in a saucepan and bring to the boil.
  • Combine the pectin with 20g of the sugar and mix thoroughly, add this to the fruit, along with the lemon juice and keep stirring until the fruit reaches 104C.
  • Pour the confiture into two sterilised jars and leave to cool.
  • ***Macaron Shells***
  • Preheat the oven to 170C Fan and line four baking trays with baking parchment. You can use these macaron sheets as a guide when piping out 4cm circles.
  • Add the water and sugar to a pan and stir over a medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
  • Put half of the egg whites into a stand mixer and whisk them on a medium speed until frothy.
  • Bring the syrup to a boil and heat until it reaches 118 degrees.
  • Pour the syrup in a slow steady stream into the egg whites as they are being whipped on a high speed. Keep whipping until the meringue forms a stiff peak, about 5mins.
  • Grind the ground almonds and icing sugar together in a food processor and then sift them into a clean bowl, add the freeze-dried blueberry powder too.
  • Add the remaining egg whites to this mix and beat it, until it forms a paste.
  • Add a third of the meringue to the almond paste and beat it in thoroughly.
  • Fold through the remaining meringue, ensure the ingredients are mixed thoroughly.
  • Put the macaron mix into a piping bag and pipe out 48 macarons.
  • Tap the bottom of the tray to remove any bumps or air pockets, then put the macarons in the oven for 12-14 mins per tray. Turn the trays halfway through cooking to ensure an even bake.
  • Let the cooked macarons cool completely before trying to remove them from the tray.
  • ***To Assemble***
  • Pair up similar shaped macaron shells. With your chocolate ganache in a piping bag fitted with a 1cm straight nozzle, pipe rings of ganache around the outside of the shell. Take some of the confiture and spoon a small blob inside the ring that you have piped.
  • Place a macaron on top and sandwich them together. Leave for at least 20mins or overnight if possible as the macarons will taste even better when they soften a little.

Blueberry Macarons | Patisserie Makes Perfect

Blueberry Macarons | Patisserie Makes Perfect

To help soften the blow of Blue Monday, the team over at Wayfair have very kindly donated £100 of Wayfair vouchers for you to spend on anything you like on their site. That should help make January a bit less miserable for you.

They sell everything from kitchenware to homeware so you should be able to find something to your liking, you could even buy everything you need to make these macarons.

colorful100

Win £100 of Wayfair Vouchers

Thanks for reading.

Angela

297 Responses

  1. Laura - For The Chef

    These look marvelous! Do you have any tips or tricks when it comes to making macarons? I am scared to make them, I heard they are tricky!

    • PatisserieMakesPerfect

      They can be fiddly, the main tips I can provide are:
      – I always use the Italian Meringue method of making them.
      – Don’t boil or cook anything else in the kitchen or in the oven at the same time (humidity doesn’t help).
      – Use a template to help with piping, there are lots online
      – make sure the finished macaron mix is well mixed and all the parts are combined.
      – after you’ve piped them out, tap the underside of the pan to remove any bubbles.

      There are lots of youtube videos that can be really helpful as well. Let me know if you have any other questions.

  2. Jodie Dodd

    Love the color of these, so pretty! So jealous of your many January bank holidays! I don’t mind January but it’s a bit sad that in America the government and schools get quite a few holidays off but the majority of workers don’t get a another paid holiday until May!!

    • PatisserieMakesPerfect

      Well annoyingly there aren’t any holidays in January – but Easter is coming up soon and I have a week away planned with Patrick and Dylan which I can’t wait for! I hope May comes around quickly for you!

  3. Natalie Crossan

    I just remember that I don’t work mondays and I cheer up 😉

  4. Vicky Kenny

    A big cuddle of the children always cheers me up x

  5. Denise Seddon

    Go to the gym, never really want to go but always feel much much better when I have been.

  6. fifi b

    I’m generally cheery anyway, so don’t need to be cheered up, but a gym session usually lifts my spirits even more!

  7. Eva Appleby-Gill

    A lovely hot bubble bath with candles and a glass of wine

  8. sarah gray

    Well, going to the gym is the correct answer in theory, but wine wins 🙂

  9. Mark Allen

    Sorry to say, I’ll probably open a bottle of wine.

  10. michelle jenkins

    A duvet day sitting in pj’s watching films and eating macarons.

  11. Mimicat

    Go to the sales and buy what I wanted but couldn’t afford at full price.

  12. Nancy Bradford

    I’d take myself out shopping and out for lunch.

  13. Jay Hill

    Snuggle up with a good book and large supply of chocolate

  14. Samantha Ripley

    Blue Monday this year was on my husbands birthday, we cheered ourselves up with lots of chocolate cake

  15. Ellie Spider

    snuggle up on the sofa with the kitties and eat choccies

  16. supastar1501

    Make myself a nice creamy hot chocolate to enjoy x x

  17. thriftymum

    Some baking with my daughter always brings a smile

  18. Amanda Norwood

    I was on holiday in Madeira this year but usually I would play my favourite music to cheer myself up

  19. Sheila Reeves

    Walked across the fields with my dog, bit of freshe air makes you feel so much better

  20. lynn heath

    I went for a nice long walk in the woods in my new wellies!!!!

  21. Michelle C

    I charge up my Ipod and go for a power walk. : )

  22. haxell

    Listen to some very happy music – e.g. We Love To Boogie by T Rex

    Hazel Rea @beachrambler

  23. Lisa Wilkinson

    Take my little girl out for hot chocolate and cake 🙂

  24. Jessica Cook

    have A DANCE AND SING WITH MY BOYS AND BAKE SOME CAKES

  25. Patricia Avery

    A workout at the gym followed by a swim always does the trick for me 🙂

  26. Anthea Holloway

    I get out into the garden and pull up some weeds and feel so good afterwards!

  27. jo liddement

    I would make a hot chocolate and watch a good dvd

  28. Nikki Hayes

    I didn’t do anything – I felt no worse on “blue Monday” than any other day of the year. Do people really feel miserable because the media tells them they should? I like winter personally, no blues in this house :o)

  29. Mel Southey-Hill

    I didn’t do any housework and went out for dinner ….made me feel less blue 😉

  30. Carolyn

    I didn’t feel blue on blue Monday. Maybe it’s because I had copious amounts of tea while browsing my mountain of cookery mags for baking inspiration.

  31. Katie Walker

    I didn’t feel too bad on blue monday I had a blue wednesday. On the Monday I got some lovely flowers from my sister so that cheered me up

  32. melaburt

    Snuggling up to my OH whilst he cooks the meals would defo cheer me up!

  33. Nicola

    PJs, bubble bath, movies and online shopping cheer me up no end on a blue Monday 😀

  34. Helen Humphries

    Family, fun and food and keep busy to keep the January gloom at bay. 🙂

  35. FionaJK42

    spend some time with my baby granddaughter – she always makes me feel happy

  36. Maggie Ali

    I’d make lots of gingerbread men and let my children decorate them 🙂

  37. Sue Bowden

    I declutter one room and clutter up another one then have to start all over agin … keeps me happy and out of troublex

  38. alice lightning

    would love to just be able to pay the bills then I can relax

  39. Jane Middleton

    I would buy myself some new clothes in the sales

  40. Naz Mse

    Treat myself to something chocolatey and listen to music 🙂

  41. Rachel Butterworth

    Play with my three year old nephew. He always cheers me up.

  42. Jane Pring

    Cuddled up on the sofa with choccy & soppy films (not forgetting the tissues)

  43. Julie Edwards

    I listen to my favourite CD as loud as possible xx

  44. Debbie Santowski Mac

    get out for a walk, watch funny movies

  45. Martina Evans

    I would play my favourite music then I’d bake something sweet, like cupcakes to cheer myself up.

  46. Kirsty Woods

    I listen to music and have a good sing (when i’m on my own) that always puts me in a good mood

  47. nonblonde

    i encourage my children to talk about things and get things of their chest and mine and we feel a lot closer and happier after we do this

  48. Linda Toth

    I would eat some chocolate and maybe bake some brownies

  49. C h a n t e l

    Think of it as any other Monday! But if generally feeling blue I’d indulge in the little things that make me happy 🙂

  50. Gemma Holland

    Just a normal Monday, walking the dog, taking kids to school & meeting up with my sister as it’s no work on Mondays

  51. Rebecca Howells

    Put the duvet over my head! and have a lay in! (@PeanutHog)

  52. tracy sinclair

    Start the week off by doing lots of competitions, hoping to win something nice to cheer me up x

  53. Paula Walls

    Spend the day playing with my daughter. Nothing can be blue when she is around me 🙂

  54. GCforever

    I would go out to a really nice coffee bar and have a strong tasty cappuccino and a big, fat piece of carrot cake.

  55. Karen Laing

    I think blue Monday passed me by,it’s now the 26th January so I can’t remember feeling blue.It’s maybe just as well or I may have been sad !

  56. Hayley Todd

    I booked our summer holiday, and as I was off work, had a PJ day snuggled on the sofa watching tv and films!

  57. Rebecca Mercer

    I stayed at home in the warm and had a nice lazy day

  58. Beryl Drake

    A nice cuppa with a friend would cheer me up no end

  59. natalie moore

    cuddle up with my little girl and watch dvds eating sweets

  60. Barbara Jane Shaw

    I went out with friends for lunch – lots of laughter and gossip – definitely not a Blue Monday for us!

  61. Andrew Petrie

    I would do something I really enjoy. Drink alcohol.

  62. Julia Frey@Vikalinka

    Blue Monday was brutal but it would’ve definitely been better if only I had these beauties! You are amazing, Angela. Such lovely colour and photos!

  63. Darrell

    Go for a long bike ride through the forest and then home for a coffee in front of the fire – works every time 🙂

  64. Danielle Louise Cresswell

    A nice soak in the bath with candles and chocolate

  65. Deborah Rainford-Thompson

    Really pretty macs! I love the blueberry and lemon combo!

  66. Susanelai Kelly Carter

    make a huge bowl of maple syrup popcorn.

  67. SuperBob

    You have to go way before New Order to hear the REAL ‘Blue Monday’ – you should try Fats Domino!

  68. Elinor Fisher

    I have a get-together with my friends for a coffee and a chat which never fails to cheer me up.

  69. Louise Fairweather

    Going to the gym usually cheers me up – esp when I have finished!

  70. Jayne Townson

    I get out for a long walk with the dog and the fresh air always makes me feel better.

  71. AgentAllan

    Go a LONG walk with the dog – always cheers me up

  72. Sarah

    I always think of the New Order song too. Awesome band, I love Joy Division too. Anyway, your macaroons looks amazing, as always! 🙂

  73. Keri Jones

    I would run myself a hot bubble bath and stay in it till I was all wrinkly. Instead my son was poorly so I lay with him on the sofa watching cartoons 🙂 x

  74. Emily Clark

    We made sure we spent lots of the working day chatting and smiling, having cups of tea. It’s a hard time of year!

  75. Hayley Atkins

    Cuddle my dogs and my partner and ignore other people”s negativity …and bake some blueberry macaroons!

  76. Donna Towner

    I would pop round my sister’s and pop out for a coffee

  77. jandoc

    I would try and bake something as delicious looking as above

  78. Christine Constable

    I’d make a yummy chocolate cake to share with friends and family

  79. Rebecca Nisbet

    well i had to work a double shift, so wasnt to great 🙁 if i had the chance i would of brought myself a yummy cake, and lobbed on the sofa allday

  80. Kimberley Ryan

    I don’t really have a Blue Monday as my children make me smile, and keep me happy and busy everyday.

  81. cagsd

    I spent the day by the fire catching up on all the great TV I’d recorded, with some nice snacky treats to cheer me up even more!

  82. Helen Stratton

    Think of all the wonderful things I have arranged for the year ahead.

  83. Stephanie Whitehouse,

    Eating generally seems to solve most things. I fancy making some Chelsea Buns

  84. williamgould

    I have a very nice routine that I follow every day, so I don’t really have a Blue Monday!

  85. Kelly Donald - Pattullo

    I spent a lot of money online shopping haha

  86. Sarah S

    I would like to have hidden under the duvet all day with a good book & tea on demand but sadly I had to go to work.

  87. Audrey Odriscoll

    What a great site! I’m completely hooked, thanks x

  88. Alison

    I had a me day, where I pampered myself in the bath and had a face mask

  89. Ellen Sheppard

    Take a long, hot bath with a glass of wine and my favourite book 🙂

  90. Gwyn

    I watched a good movie when I came home from work and got snuggly.

  91. Becky Duffy

    I cleaned the house and took the dogs for an extra long walk, exercise stopped me being blue

  92. Martina Evans

    I like to bake & decorate myself cupcakes! To me there’s something magical about a cupcake when you’ve got the Monday blues.

  93. ✰★ღ Kayleigh ✰★ღ

    I bake cakes! I’m a bake-aholic!

  94. Michelle Carlin

    I cleaned my kitchen – doesn’t sound like fun, but it’s brand new, so it’s still a pleasure to keep it spotless!

  95. Lesley Bambridge

    I made some cakes and fresh coffee, then I took the dog out in the sunshine

  96. JudeVFR400

    Listened to some music while entering some comps, hard to feel down with ACDC on.

  97. Ruth Harwood

    I made a nice cake to share with the family xx

  98. Suzanne Drummond

    ran for 40 mins and on target to loose 5 stone 24lb to go

  99. MyMillsBaby

    I spent the day with my 20m old daughter – she managed to say Mummy for the first time 😉

  100. Janice Dunn

    I have treated myself to a night off, the ironing bundle can wait until tomorrow!

  101. Annie

    I don’t have Blue Monday – YET. Life of a student 🙂

  102. Penny

    Think positive thoughts, have a nice long bath and a glass of wine 🙂

  103. Emma Nixon

    Treated myself to a bar of choccie and sat down to watch a film. Bliss

  104. MANDY DOHERTY

    Take my grandsons for a play in the park, they are guaranteed to put a smile on my face x

  105. Kathy D

    I went to afternoon cinema – saw The Martians and had tea and biscuits whilst watching – great day

  106. Alica

    I have had a Mother and daughter day with my gorgeous girl! 🙂

  107. Michelle O'neill

    Spend time with my gorgeous grandaughter x

  108. Debs Henderson

    sat with a cuppa and chocolates reading a good book x

  109. anthony harrington

    I have eaten lots of chocolate on this cold, bleak January Blue Monday

  110. debbie

    i watch a good movie with lots of yummy munch to get me through xxx i love the recipe they look delicious xx

  111. Karen Cowley

    For me its cuddles with my baby boy, always makes me smile xx

  112. Alana Walker

    Well our major house redecoration has started today, blue Monday, so I’m feeling re-energised if a little stressed!

  113. lyn

    I’ve picked my little girl up from school and we will be having fun baking some cookies

  114. Leila B.

    Catching up with my best friend over tea and biscuits

  115. Shivon Davis

    Go to the gym as that always makes me feel happy when im back not when im there haha x

  116. Amanda Tanner

    On the sofa with a cup of tea and catch up on social media, with a macaroon of course

  117. Amy Harding

    Slice of cake and a cuppa! I’m with bump too..so maybe an extra piece.. to treat us both 😉

  118. Beverley Cousins

    Visit my daughter, as she always brings a smile to my face.

  119. Helen Adams

    Bake a cake then enjoy it with a nice cup of tea

  120. John Tingay

    Just accept it’s Blue Monday and be miserable – then the rest of the year will seem so much better 🙂

  121. Jo Bryan

    I make something nice for lunch, watch a fave film, I smile whatever happens and so much so I find it works for other days.

  122. Amy Fidler

    I’m listening to reggae music to keep me upbeat xx

  123. Rachel Barratt

    Every day is a bit blue for me as I’ve been stuck on the sofa since december with torn ligaments. Sitting here with a cup of tea and watching some of my child hood favourite movies!

  124. Caroline Clarke

    I woke up early, drank a glass of Skinny Green Superfood Cleanse, completed a vigorous workout followed by a nice chocolate protein shake. Then I spent time cuddling my sweet little boy before getting the chores done and taking him school. 🙂

  125. Martina Pichova

    I didn’t notice it was Blue Monday… until you mentioned it.

  126. emma louise gough

    doing my Zumba work out on the xbox then having a chunk of chocolate as a reward!! lol

  127. Keshia Esgate

    A lie in, a day off work and to see the number on the scales to go down at slimming world tonight lol!

  128. IsabelOBrien

    I know it’s not very healthy, but cake for breakfast usually helps!

  129. @missamanda77

    I’m going to have a roast beef sandwich and then a walk with my baby to pick my son up from preschool. That will lift any blues.

  130. DanielleGraves

    I’d get some of my favourite cake, a blanket and a decent dvd and put my feet up

  131. Lynn Ryan

    Don’t need cheering up if it’s your birthday!

  132. Debbie Skerten

    Whenever I’m feeling blue, I bake and I always feel much happier afterwards x

  133. Heather Haigh

    I don’t need cheering up I’m feeling happy. I like to get my decorating done in the winter and that is keeping me motivated and cheerful.

  134. Kelly glen

    Do some baking because that usually cheers me up.

  135. Amelia Kennedy

    Some healthy sugar-free baking! Never fails to cheer me up …

  136. mary heald

    Sit beside the wood burner with a good book and a hot chocolate

  137. Lisa Parker

    As I don’t work mondays I would go for a long bike ride as it is a lovely day outside today x

  138. Terri Collins

    I think I’m getting a cold so this #bluemonday I’m going to chill in my pjs in bed and maybe watch some of the Harry Potter films as they always cheer me up 🙂

  139. caroline walliss

    A day at home on the sofa in front of the fire with a nice hot chocolate.x

  140. Tracy K Nixon

    Get my hair done at the hairdressers – which I am this pm!

  141. Alison Joyce

    I’m going to bake some muffins and watch trashy TV to cheer myself up.

  142. Aj

    Cook more! Have blueberries in the fridge so will try this!!!

  143. Angie McDonald

    Get in the kitchen and bake! Being creative always makes me feel happier!

  144. Holly Harmsworth

    spend lots of time with my babies. They make me smile everyday 🙂

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