Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Mint Shamrock Macaron with Dark Chocolate Mint Ganache—For St. Patrick’s Day



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Obviously, I’m not Irish.  I’ve never been so excited about St. Patrick’s Day, until this year, really!  Why am I so excited?  Food, of course.  I created these Mint Shamrock Macarons with Dark Chocolate Mint Ganache and couldn’t wait to share them with you.  I know, shaped macarons are not new, if you remember these or these from a while ago.  But it’s the flavor and how fun these are that won me over.

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Saint Patrick's Day is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated on the 17th of March, the anniversary of Saint Patrick’s death.  This day is supposed to commemorates Saint Patrick (c. AD 385–461), the most commonly recognized of the patron saints of Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland.  Why the Shamrock always associated with St. Patrick’s Day, you might ask?  Irish folklore tells that one of his teaching methods included using the shamrock to explain the Christian doctrine of the Trinity to the Irish people. That was why. 

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Are you still with me?  Okay, just checking.  I’m known to be amongst the first few who always falls asleep the fastest in History classes.  So, just want to make sure I didn't lose you with the last paragraph.  Let’s move on to the fun stuff.  How about we talk more on food, recipe and how-to’s instead?  Yeah? Come take a closer look on the shamrock macaron below.

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If you've made macarons before, you know the macaron batter is filled into a pastry bag and piped onto baking sheets before going into the oven.  So, I'm sorry to tell you that there’s no cookie cutter you can use to make these shamrock macarons.  However, don’t be despaired, they are pretty easy to pipe.   Basically, they are a combination of 3 mini heart shapes and a trapezoid as shown in the picture below.  After piping numerous heart shaped macarons for the Valentine’s Day, I probably can pipe a heart shape macaron blind-folded (nah…I wished!)  So, these are not hard to do at all, just need a few practice and you’ll be all fine.

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Here’s how they look before going into the oven.

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With these macarons, I added about 10 fresh mint leaves and grind them all up along with the almonds and powdered sugar to make the shells.

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The scent of fresh mint is amazing. 

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Along with the Dark Chocolate Mint Ganache filling, these shamrock macarons are so refreshing and totally rock!  (Hey, that rhymes.)  They totally reminded me of the thin mint Girl Scout Cookies and the After Eight Chocolate Thin Mints, if you have tried those before.  Amazing stuffs.

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I say, they are even better than a pot of gold!  Just sayin’!

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If you’re looking for a fun and festive treat to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, give these Mint Shamrock Macaron with Dark Chocolate Mint Ganache a try.  I know you’re going to love them!

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I found this at my local craft store, or click here to see a similar product online.

Last but not least, may each petal of the 4 leaf clover (Wait! Why 4 and not 3?  I’m totally returning this dish!) bring you good health, good luck, love, and happiness!  Thank you for reading and I hope you’ll enjoy today’s recipe.  Until next time….

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Mint Shamrock Macaron with Dark Chocolate Mint Ganache:
Makes: 22 to 24 filled macarons
(Printable Recipe)

For the macaron shells:90 grams egg whites (about 3) preferably aged 3-5 days in the fridge
pinch of kosher salt
30 grams granulated sugar
200 grams powdered sugar
110 grams almonds
10  fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
A pinch of green powdered/gel food coloring (optional)

Prepare the macarons:
In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the egg whites and salt on high, gradually add the sugar until stiff peak forms. Place the almonds, powdered sugar, mint leaves and food coloring (if using) in a food processor and pulse until the nuts are finely ground. Add them to the meringue.

Fold the mixtures carefully until you obtain a batter that falls back on itself after counting to 10. The entire process should not take more than 50 strokes. Test a small amount on a plate; if the tops flatten on its own, the batter is ready. If there is a small beak, give the batter a couple more turns.

Fill a pastry bag fitted with a medium plain round tip with the batter and pipe batter in 3 small heart shapes and a trapezoid as shown in the picture (around 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter) onto parchment paper or silicone mats lined baking sheets.

Preheat the oven to 280F. Let the macarons sit out at room temperature for 30 minutes to an hour to harden their shells a bit and bake for 20 to 22 minutes, depending on their size.  Rotating the baking pans once half way through baking.


For the Dark Chocolate Mint Ganache:

4 oz dark chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon mint extract

Place chocolate in a heat proofed bowl.  In a small sauce pan, heat the heavy cream until simmer.  Pour hot cream into the bowl of chocolate and stir until smooth and shinny then stir in mint extract.  Let cool slightly before use.

To Assemble:

With a small teaspoon, fill 1 macaron shell with a teaspoon of cooled dark chocolate mint ganache and top with another shell.  Fill the rest of the macaron shells.  Place filled macarons in room temperature until chocolate ganache completely harden. 

105 comments:

  1. These are adorable! I love mint and dark chocolate, such a tasty combo.

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    1. Thank you, Natalie. Yeah, I can't resist Mint and Dark Chocolate. :P

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  2. Amy, your food photography (and recipes) are stunning and creative. Just added you to my circle on G+... will "like" you on FB right after this! Thanks for stopping by my blog -- so glad to "meet" you. :)

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    1. Thank you, Kim. Glad you like it. Thank you so much for your adds and following. Truly appreciate it. I will definitely following you back. Have a great weekend.

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  3. These are fabulous. Love them! So impressed with your piping skills.

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    1. Thank you, Lora. My piping isn't always perfect. :P Really took a lot of practice. hehehe...

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  4. I've not tried shaped macarons before. These look great! I bet the mint chocolate combo works really well too.

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    1. It's quite fun to make shaped macarons. The mint and chocolate certainly is a great and delicious combination. :P

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  5. St. Patrick's day already! This year is just flying by.
    The macarons are GORGEOUS. Love the clover shape and the pretty mint-green color.

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    1. I know...can't believe 2 months were gone in a blink. Glad you love these macarons. :) Have a great weekend.

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  6. so cute Amy! Love the shamrock macarons and I love After 8's so I will most likely enjoy these.

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    1. Thank you. Glad you love these shamrock macarons. If you love After 8's, you're going to love these for sure. ;) Have a wonderful weekend.

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  7. Very beautiful design for macarons !!!! It win my heart with the chocolate mint Ganache :)

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    1. Thank you, Esther. Glad you like the design. yes, I love chocolate and mint together a lot too. ;)

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  8. I love the shape of these macarons! Amy you are so creative! I love macrons but I still yet have made macrons at home. Maybe I should start with a more basic recipe :). Thanks for these gorgeous macarons!

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    1. Thank you. Glad you love these macarons. Yeah, start with the round one is the way to go. But I'm sure you'll be perfecting this in no time. ;)

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  9. I recently took a macaron class and they were so much work, I don't think I could tackle them alone. These look bakery perfect. I love mint and chocolate together, wish I could try one right now!

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    1. I agree, it's quite a lot of work involved in macaron making. But I love it cos baking is somewhat therapeutic for me. ;) Wish you a great weekend.

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  10. These are absolutely gorgeous! Mint and chocolate always beats me hands down. And the color and shape is extra-ordinary. I will fight with a kid over this. :)

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    1. Thank you for your sweet comment. :) Glad you love the shape and taste combination of these macarons.

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  11. Amy, these are outstanding. And gorgeous. And fun. And minty. And chocolatey. Yum!

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    1. Thank you, Abbe. Glad you love these cuties. ;)

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  12. These are beautiful and I'm so impressed that you are so well organized to plan these in advance, bravo!

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    1. Thank you. I'm glad you like them. I know, I feel great planning ahead on my posts as well. ;) Have a beautiful weekend.

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    1. Thank you, Angie. :) They tasted wonderful too. I need to make another batch as they are all gone already. :P

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  14. these are so pretty and festive! you're very talented, amy ^^

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    1. Thank you for your sweet comment. I'm glad you like them too. ;)

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  15. That is indecently beautiful ! You make so gorgeous little things ! I am so jealous ! You're so talented !
    :)

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    1. Thank you for your sweet comment. I'm glad you like these macarons. ;) Hope you're enjoying your weekend so far.

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  16. Those macaron are just divine! I've never made shaped macaron and choc-mint is such a great combination! Happy St. Patrick Day!

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    1. Thank you, Veronica. I love shaped macarons, they are just so much fun to make....and taste great too. :P Have a wonderful weekend.

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  17. These look so cute!!! Bet they taste delicious too.

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    1. Thank you. Oh yeah, they tasted so good I need to make more before St. Patrick's Day. :P Have a beautiful weekend.

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  18. Really impressive, i love those macarons, perfect! You are amazing really I don't know how you got them the same size, Such a great idea!

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    1. Thank you, Suzanne. These macarons are so amazing that they were all gone in record time! Now, I have to make more. I'm still trying to improve my piping skills. :) Practice makes perfect and my family and friends certainly give me lot to chances to do just that. Have a great weekend. ;)

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  19. What pretty and inventive macarons! And with the mint ganache filling...chocolate mint is a fave of mine. These really put me in the mood for St. Patrick's Day.

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    1. Thank you. Glad you love mint and chocolate together. I'm a big fan. :) Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

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  20. What a great & tasty invention here! You are a genius! Thee filled shamrock cookies look amazing & just wonderful to look at too! :)

    I must make them soon!

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    1. Thank you. I'm glad you love my creation. Let me know how you like them if you try. I need to make another batch too as they were long gone! So good.

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  21. wow, these are super amazing! And I am sure they tasted fantastic :)

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    1. Thank you. Yes, they tasted amazing and I definitely need to make more. ;)

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  22. Your mint shamrock macarons look too pretty to be eaten. I like how you compose your photos - how you place and arrange the shamrock vine, the little guy, the brass looking thingy at the back and your pretty macarons on the clover plate. So much attention to details. Nice photos!

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    1. Thank you for your sweet compliments. :) I always have fun trying different setting and food styling when I take pictures. Wish you a wonderful week ahead.

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  23. This is very creative and sounds so yummy. Thanks for sharing a great idea!

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    1. Thank you so much. Yes, these Mint and Chocolate macarons were delicious. :) Have a beautiful week ahead.

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  24. These look amazing! I have not mustered up the courage to try macarons yet, hopefully before the year ends!

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    1. Thank you so much. Actually, the macarons are not that hard to do. I hope you'll give them a try soon. ;)

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  25. Amy, These are gorgeous and sound delicious! You sure know how to make macarons come out perfectly:)

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    1. Thank you so much. These were really delicious. hehe...time to make more. Guess I'll need to make a few more batches to last till St. Patrick's Day.

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  26. Oh I love these. They are just perfect for St. Patrick's Day. Nothing better than mint and chocolate.

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    1. Thank you, Karen. Glad you love the Mint and chocolate combination too. ;)

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  27. I am obsessed with macarons! In fact, I plan to have a ton of macarons at our dessert table at our wedding. :) I love festive cookies and these would definitely be the most festive St. Patty's Day cookies I've ever seen.

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    1. Thank you for your sweet comment. Oh...I know it's going to be elegant and fun at your wedding when you serve macarons at the dessert table! (wished I've done that when I got married years ago! :P too bad that didn't happen) I look forward to seeing your wedding dessert table. ;)

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  28. well, now, aren't you clever! these are masterfully-made, amy--i'm so impressed! plus, very few things top chocolate and mint on my list of best pairings. :)

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    1. Thank you, Grace. I'm glad you like my creation. These Shamrock macarons were so much fun to make. I know,my family loves mint and chocolate together...these were all gone in record time!

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  29. hi amy, these look so pretty! i even had difficulty just doing the round shaped macarons, let alone these artistic ones! great job! i know the fillings must be really good!

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    1. Thank you, Lena. I started off with the round ones first, then play around with different shapes and flavors. I have a post with tips and techniques on how to make the perfect macarons. Check it out if you're interested. ;) Have a wonderful week ahead.

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  30. These are so adorable - and I am beyond impressed that you piped the shamrock shape by hand! I'm Irish and for that, I say we're officially adopting you as one of our own :-D

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    1. Thank you, it's such an honor to get adopted! Cheers! ;)

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  31. Wow......your st.Patrick day macrons looks stunning Amy. You have made it wonderful.... Nice filling....great combo.....


    You are rocking Amy....:-)

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    1. Thank you, Helen. Glad you love these macarons. They were yummy and wonderful. :P Gotta make more soon.

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  32. Sorry I forgot to mention abt that cute doll in my previous comment.

    Lovely presentation. :-)

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  33. These are so adorable! And I love mint and dark chocolate, it's such a great flavor combination. Thanks for sharing Amy.

    Anne ~ Uni Homemaker

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    1. Thank you, Anne. Glad you like these macarons. Yes, the mint and dark chocolate are so good together. ;) Wish you a wonderful week ahead.

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  34. Oh these are just so cute indeed! Love them- yummo!

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    1. Thank you, glad you love these macarons. :) They are my family's new favorite macarons.

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  35. Altho we don't celebrate St. Patrick’s Day here in S'pore, I'm sharing your joy. These bakes are so cute! I'm sure they make your guests very happy :)

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    1. LOL...I don't really celebrate St Patrick's Day. But it's nice to visit my Irish friends and bring a few treats over for gatherings. ;)

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  36. They look so festive & tasty.

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  37. lovely recipe...looks so good..
    new follower to your blog
    if you get chance, visit my blog..
    http://foody-buddy.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thank you. Glad you like it and thank you so much for following. :) I'm following you on Facebook now. ;) Have a wonderful week ahead.

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  38. I have never made macarons, not to mention such beautiful ones! Irish or not, every excuse is good to prepare and enjoy excellent food!

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    1. So true, I love good excuse and reasons to indulge in food. :P Thank you and I'm glad you like these macarons.

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  39. How clever you are and talented too! They are so much fun and different for St. Patrick's Day.

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    1. Thank you so much. I'm glad you like them. :) Have a wonderful week ahead.

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  40. I totally forgot about St. Patrick's day...thanks for the reminder, these are super cute!

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    1. Thank you. :P I remember St. Patrick's Day just so I have more excuse to indulge in Chocolate! hahaha...

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  41. Amy ,I have never made round macaroons and not to mention these pretty shaped macaroons. You have made it very artistically.

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    1. Thank you so much. Glad you love these shaped macarons. They taste wonderful too. :) Have a beautiful week ahead.

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  42. Amy you made beautiful macarons, I am just got a hang of it, still there is lot of room for me improvement.

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    1. Thank you so much, Swathi. I'm sure you'll get them perfect in no time. ;) They are just so much fun to make.

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  43. These are sooosososo cute!! I can't wait for St. Patty's day!

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  44. Greatly presented and such a cute cookies!

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    1. Thank you. I'm happy that you like them. :) Have a wonderful week ahead.

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  45. Oh these area just so cute!! The would be amazing, I love mint and chocolate. The little leprechaun is pretty cute too :)

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    1. Thank you. Oh yeah, I love mint and chocolate together. :) Makes me a very happy girl. :)

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  46. I read somewhere that macarons are very popular at the moment...and I have never tried to bake them. This green, shamrock shaped version is just what you need for San Patrick Day.NB I would return the dish too (4 petals??)

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    1. I know...I see macaron shops popping up everywhere in the neighborhood lately! I've been baking my own for a while now and love them. :)

      I think the person designed the dish had one too many drink! Funny to see that, huh?

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  47. Wow! I'm really impressed by these lovely macarons. Love the shape & the pastel green color! Perfect treat for St Patrick Day indeed! AWESOME! ;)

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    1. Thank you, Kit. I'm glad you like these shaped macarons. They are now my family's favorite. ;)

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  48. So cute and festive looking and they look and sound delicious!! You always take such awesome pictures!!

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    1. Thank you, Tiffanee. Oh you bet, I love the mint and chocolate together. Can't wait to make more.

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  49. How cute are these? You are a macaron queen!

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