​The history of the macaroon

You could be forgiven for thinking that France is the home of the macaroon, but their actual birthplace is Italy which is why they take their name from the Italian word for ‘paste’ – ‘macarone’.

However, it was the French who made the macaroon truly famous. Brought there by nuns seeking refuge during the French Revolution, the rise of the ‘salon de thé’ and the ambition of French bakers saw them become a popular treat. Despite having the simplest ingredients, they are very hard to perfect, so to produce a macaroon of quality represents one of baking’s highest achievements.

Our craft confectioners

The confectioners at our Craft Bakery in Harrogate are expert macaroon makers. We whisk free-range egg whites to a soft peak before delicately folding the finely ground almonds and sugar through, making sure the desired texture is achieved. Getting the consistency of this mix is absolutely crucial – as is the baking process. Once these miniature shells are baked to perfection, they are sandwiched together with a variety of fillings. The result is a marvellously light and crisp shell with a soft, yielding texture.

Why do we at Bettys say 'macaroon' not macaron?

'Macaroon' is the older English translation of the french 'macaron', and though in recent years the latter has become a popular way to refer to these almondy, meringue-like treats (partly to differentiate between these and the popular coconut confections and partly because adopting the French name adds a certain je ne sais quoi) both are actually correct as they derive from the original Italian. We stick with the original English translation because we think our Yorkshire macaroons stand up proudly to their Paris cousins.

Using only the finest ingredients we are able to craft a rainbow of different colours and flavours. These treats are already a firm favourite on the fancy counter at our Café Tea Rooms, but for those further afield our Macaroons can also be purchased online for delivery to your door. Which is your favourite flavour?