Combine salted caramel with cheesecake buttercream for a fun and unique macaron flavor. These cheesecake macarons are perfect any time of year!
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I love eating cheesecake, so I knew I needed to recreate this iconic dessert in macaron form. These French macarons are filled with cream cheese and graham cracker buttercream and then finished with salted caramel in the center.
Whether you're looking for a classic macaron filling that everyone will love, or you need to make macarons for a special occasion, you'll love these caramel cheesecake macarons!
If you experience any issues along the way with your shells, be sure to check out my macaron baking course. It will teach you all the techniques needed to achieve perfect macarons, every single time!
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What You'll Learn In This Recipe
- How to make macaron shells filled with homemade cheesecake and caramel fillings.
- The most important steps to get correct to bake perfect macarons.
- Troubleshooting steps to try if your macarons aren't turning out correctly.
Enjoy learning tips about making macaron shells? Sign up for my free macaron template and email series. You'll learn my favorite tricks for achieving perfect macarons.
Ingredients You Need
- Egg whites: This ingredient is the base for the French meringue. Be sure to use fresh egg whites (not ones from the carton) and allow them to come to room temperature.
- Almond flour: It's best to use blanched almond flour (without the skins) that is finely ground. Don't forget to sift the almond flour before making this recipe.
- Confectioners' sugar: You may also hear this called powdered sugar or icing sugar. This ingredient will also need to be sifted.
- Cream of tartar: This ingredient helps the meringue to whip up with proper texture. Don't be tempted to skip it!
- Granulated sugar: For French meringue, the granulated sugar is slowly added to the egg whites as they whip (no cooking required).
- Gel food coloring: Be sure to use brown gel food coloring (not liquid food coloring) to color the macaron shells.
Check out the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and exact measurements.
How To Make This Recipe
I'll show you step-by-step how to make these caramel cheesecake macarons. If you're a beginner macaron baker, this section will show you how the macaron batter should look along the way.
1. I always get my ingredients measured and equipment ready prior to baking. Then, it's time to add the room temperature egg whites and cream of tartar to a stand mixer bowl fitted with a whisk attachment. Whip on medium-low speed until the eggs are very foamy.
2. Add a third of the granulated sugar at a time, allowing the mixer to beat in each batch of sugar for about 45 seconds before adding in another batch. This is what gives our French meringue the proper texture.
3. Once all the granulated sugar is incorporated, turn the mixer speed to medium-high and allow the egg whites to continue to whip until stiff peaks form. This typically takes about 10 - 11 minutes with my KitchenAid mixer running at speed 7.
You'll want to add brown gel food coloring once the egg whites reach the soft peaks stage.
4. It's really important to double-check that your meringue has reached stiff peaks. To test the meringue stiffness, pull the whisk out. A stiff peak should stand straight up (no curl at the tip). You'll also know it's ready because you can feel some resistance if you hand whisk the meringue (it shouldn't be too flimsy).
5. Pour the sifted almond flour and confectioners' sugar into the meringue mixture and gently fold them together using a silicone spatula.
6. Begin working the batter until everything is fully incorporated (this is called the macaronage process). Slowly spread the mixture along the side of the bowl, then wipe it back down. Continue to repeat this process until the mixture has reached a smooth, shiny, flowing consistency.
You can test this by lifting your spatula and seeing if the batter drops almost like lava. Once the batter drops back into the bowl, it should take about 10-15 seconds for the ribbon that formed to "disappear" back into the rest of the batter.
7. Pour the batter into the prepared piping bag. Hold the bag vertically and pipe 1.5 inch (3.8 cm) circles. Once you have reached the desired size, release the pressure on the bag and twist your wrist without lifting up.
8. Bang the sheet pan down on the counter a few times to release any air bubbles and pop ones that rise to the top with a toothpick. Allow the batter to sit on the counter and dry for 60+ minutes until a thin "skin" develops, and you can touch the tops without ruining the macaron.
Finally, bake the macarons for 19 - 23 minutes. You can test that the macarons are done by gently touching the edge and the feet of the macarons. If the shell wiggles, is sticky, or wet, the macarons need to bake longer.
9. Next, it's time to make the salted caramel. Add the sugar and water to a saucepan. Cover with a lid and allow it to boil over medium heat until the sugar is completely melted.
10. Remove the lid and continue cooking until the sugar begins to darken. Once the sugar reaches an amber-colored liquid, about 4 - 6 minutes later, remove it from the heat.
11. Stir in heavy cream (be careful, the cream will bubble and slightly splatter), followed by butter one cube at a time.
12. Finally, mix in vanilla extract and fine sea salt. Transfer the caramel to a bowl and cool in the refrigerator for 1 - 3 hours until thickened.
13. For the cheesecake buttercream, beat the butter and cream cheese in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium-high speed until light and fluffy.
14. Add confectioners' sugar and graham crackers and mix until combined. Then, mix in heavy cream, vanilla extract, and salt.
15. Set the mixer to medium-high speed, and allow the buttercream to beat for an additional 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
16. Match up macaron shells so they are paired with a similar size/shaped shell. Pipe the cheesecake buttercream filling along the outer edge of one side of the macaron shell using a ½ inch (1.3 cm) round piping tip. Finally, pipe the salted caramel on the inside of the cheesecake buttercream and place the matching shell on top.
Expert Tips
- Make sure your meringue has fully whipped to stiff peaks or you could experience issues with your macarons once they bake up. Cracked tops, soft shells, or hollow insides are all common problems with underwhipped meringue.
- There's not a set time for how long you need to macaronage. It's all about the feel of the batter. When in doubt, it's better to under macaronage by a little since the batter will continue to be worked in the piping bag.
- Oven temperature plays a huge role in your macarons. Even adjusting your oven temperature by 5°F (3°C) can make the difference between ruined macarons and perfect macarons. If your oven is too hot, the macarons will crack, become brown, or develop large ruffled feet. An oven that's too cool will result in wrinkled or soft shells.
Macaron FAQs
Are you having trouble with your macaron shells turning out correctly? Don't worry! Use this troubleshooting guide or check out the frequently asked questions below.
Store these caramel cheesecake macarons in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5 - 7 days. When you're ready to eat the macarons, allow them to come to room temperature.
Here are a few common causes of flat macarons:
1. The oven is too hot or too cold: If your oven is too low, you'll notice that the macarons won't properly rise. Not only will they be flatter than a normal macaron, but the feet will be short (under 2 millimeters), and the tops will likely be wrinkly or indented.
On the other hand, if your oven is too hot, the shells will be flat because proper feet will not form. The macarons will bake too quickly on the outside, leaving a moist interior that doesn't properly rise.
2. You under whipped the meringue: You didn't whip your meringue to stiff peaks. Under whipped meringue won't be strong enough to properly rise in the oven. It can lead to flat, wrinkled, or weak macaron tops.
3. You over macaronaged your batter: Another common issue that results in flat macarons is over macaronaged batter. Macaronage is a term that refers to folding the dry macaron ingredients (almond flour and confectioners' sugar) into the meringue. This process smooths the mixture and helps the macarons bake with proper structure.
When you over macaronage, you'll notice the batter is very thin and easily falls off the spatula. You'll also notice that the batter spreads really easily when piped. It might even fall out of your piping bag when transferring from one circle to the next on your piping template.
If you're still having trouble, check out my troubleshooting guide for flat macarons.
Here are a few common causes of cracked macarons:
1. Your oven is too hot: Most likely, cracked macarons are related to oven temperatures that are too hot. To fix this issue, you'll first want to purchase an oven thermometer.
This inexpensive cooking tool will allow you to see if your oven is heating to the temperature you're setting it to. Oftentimes, home ovens are known for heating hotter or colder than you set the temperature to.
2. Your meringue is under or over whipped: Both under-whipped and over-whipped meringue can result in cracked shells. This is because the meringue needs to have the proper structure in order to rise in the oven.
Weak meringue will not be strong enough to withstand the heat of the oven when baked, causing a cracked top. Alternatively, meringue that has been over-whipped won't have enough air incorporated to properly expand in the oven.
3. You didn't rest your macarons long enough: It's important to allow your macarons to rest on the counter until they've formed a skin.
Typically, you'll need to allow the shells to rest for about 45 - 60+ minutes on the counter until a skin has formed on top. If you live in a humid climate, this may take up to 90+ minutes.
4. You have air bubbles in the macarons: Did you put your macarons in the oven without banging them on the counter? Oftentimes, air bubbles are trapped in the macaron batter. Air bubbles occur naturally in the batter during the macaronage and piping process.
In order to avoid cracked macaron shells, you need to release and pop these air bubbles, otherwise, they will burst in the oven and ruin the shells.
If you're still having trouble, check out my troubleshooting guide for cracked macarons.
Here are a few common causes of wrinkled macaron shells:
1. You used too much cocoa powder: Using too much cocoa powder can cause your macarons to bake up wrinkled. Even 10 grams more can have a huge impact on the macaron shells. Be sure to follow the specific measurements listed in the recipe card below.
2. Your oven temperature is too low: To remedy this, you'll first need to purchase an oven thermometer, and place it in the center rack of your oven to double-check the temperature reading before baking the macarons.
Next, you'll need to play around with your temperature settings. I usually recommend heating your oven to 300°F (150°C) and adjusting from there. Pipe a set of 4 - 6 macarons on a baking sheet and test just a few macarons at a time (so you don't ruin a whole batch).
3. You over or under whipped the meringue: One of the most important techniques to learn, especially when making macarons, is how to whip egg whites to stiff peaks.
Egg whites that are under whipped or over whipped can result in wrinkled shells, weak tops, and macarons that will not properly rise.
4. You over macaronaged the batter: Another common issue related to wrinkly macaron shells is over macaronaging.
Macaronage is a term that refers to folding the dry macaron ingredients (almond flour and confectioners' sugar) into the meringue. This process smooths the mixture and helps the macarons bake with proper structure.
To properly macaronage, you should fold the batter until it reaches a lava-like consistency. You can test this by lifting your spatula and seeing if the batter drops almost like lava. Once it drops off the spatula, the batter that was dripped should fade back into the batter within 10 - 15 seconds.
If you're still having trouble, check out my troubleshooting guide for wrinkly macarons.
Here are a few common causes of weak/soft macaron shells:
1. Your meringue is under whipped. French meringue needs to be properly beaten in order to form a strong macaron. Make sure that you're beating the meringue to stiff peaks.
To test the meringue stiffness, pull the whisk out. A stiff peak should stand straight up (no curl at the tip). Signs that you're ready to test the stiffness include seeing lines left from the beaters in your eggs. In addition, the meringue starts to almost ball up inside the whisk attachment. You'll also know it's ready because you can fully flip the bowl over and nothing moves or falls out.
2. The macaron shells are underbaked. If you don't give your macaron shells enough time to bake in the oven, a sturdy outside will never develop. Make sure to check that the macarons are done before pulling them out of the oven. If you touch the shell and it wiggles or is still sticky/wet, you know they need to bake longer.
Chocolate macarons in particular need to be baked for a longer time in the oven compared to regular macarons. If you notice your chocolate macarons are fragile or have speckled tops after they cool, you likely need to bake them longer.
Here are a few common causes of small feet, no feet, or feet that have ruffled/spread too far:
1. Your oven temperature is too high or too low: Work on dialing in your oven temperature. You may have to try a few different oven temperatures in order to find the perfect temperature for your home oven. You can read more about my experiments with oven temperature if you're curious to learn more.
2. You didn't rest the macarons long enough: Typically, you'll need to allow the shells to rest for about 45 - 60+ minutes on the counter until a skin has formed on top. If you live in a humid climate, this may take up to 90+ minutes.
3. You over or under macaronaged the batter: If you've over macaronaged your batter, it will be too thin and runny. This will cause your macarons to fall flat with small feet or even no feet. An overworked batter can also cause the macarons to spread out horizontally, rather than rising up vertically.
If you're still having trouble, check out my troubleshooting guide for macaron feet.
Here are a few common causes of hollow macaron shells:
This is the last troubleshooting problem you should worry about. Before perfecting your macarons so they don't have hollows, make sure all the other properties are correct:
1. The meringue is over and under whipped: In order to prevent hollows, you need the perfect consistency of meringue before starting the macaronage process. Oftentimes, adding in acid, like cream of tartar, can help stabilize your meringue and allow more time for the air to get incorporated.
2. The batter was over or under macaronaged: The macaronage stage, which refers to working your batter to the proper consistency, is a technique that takes a while to master. If you've worked the batter to a lava-like consistency and you're still getting hollow shells, try working it a tad less.
3. Your oven temperature is too high or low: Oven temperature plays a big role in hollow macarons. Unfortunately, due to the capabilities of home conventional ovens, you have to test and play around with the temperature to get your macaron shells perfect. Most recipes suggest baking macarons anywhere from 275°F (135°C) - 325°F (163°C). Test these temperature ranges out with your home oven and an oven thermometer to see what works best.
If you're still having trouble, check out my troubleshooting guide for hollow macarons.
More Macaron Recipes
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Caramel Cheesecake Macarons
Equipment
- stand mixer with whisk attachment
- light colored baking sheets
- silicone mat or parchment paper
- pastry bag with ½ inch (1.3 cm) round tip
Ingredients
Macaron Shells
- 112 grams egg whites
- 140 grams super fine almond flour
- 140 grams confectioners' sugar
- ½ teaspoon cream of tartar
- 126 grams granulated sugar
- 10 drops brown gel food coloring
Salted Caramel
- ¼ cup granulated sugar large impurities removed
- 1 tablespoon water
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream room temperature
- 3 tablespoons room temperature unsalted butter cut into 1 tablespoon (14 grams) pieces
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
Cheesecake Buttercream
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter softened to room temperature
- 3 ounces cream cheese softened to room temperature
- 1 ¾ cup confectioners' sugar measured then sifted
- ¾ cup graham crackers finely pulsed in a food processor (about 3 graham crackers)
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
Instructions
For Macaron Shells
- Separate egg whites from yolks and allow egg whites to come to room temperature.
- Measure dry ingredients using a kitchen scale. Double-sift the almond flour and confectioners' sugar together in a large mixing bowl.
- Wipe down the mixing bowl and whisk attachment with a little white vinegar on a paper towel to remove any leftover oils.
- Print off the macaron template. Place them on a light colored sheet pan underneath a piece of parchment paper.
- Prepare your piping bag with a ½ inch (1.3 cm) round tip. Push part of the side of the piping bag into the piping tip to ensure nothing leaks out. Set the bag inside a tall glass, and pull the remaining top of the piping bag out over the outside of the glass to make pouring the batter easy and clean.
- Add room temperature egg whites and cream of tartar to a stand mixer bowl fitted with a whisk attachment. Whip on medium-low speed until the eggs are very foamy, about 3 minutes. Add a third of the granulated sugar at a time, allowing the mixer to beat in each batch of sugar for about 45 seconds before adding in another batch.
- Once all the granulated sugar is incorporated, turn the mixer speed to medium-high and allow the egg whites to continue to whip until stiff peaks form, about 10 - 11 minutes. Add brown gel food coloring once the egg whites reach soft peaks stage. Once at stiff peaks, you'll notice the meringue starts to ball up inside the whisk and is glossy. To test the meringue stiffness, pull the whisk out. A stiff peak should stand straight up (no curl at the tip). You'll also know it's ready because you can fully flip the bowl over and nothing moves or falls out. Make sure not to overbeat the meringue at this stage (this is when the egg whites look dull or curdled).
- Pour the sifted almond flour and confectioners' sugar into the meringue mixture and gently fold them together using a silicone spatula. Continue until all the meringue is fully incorporated and no dry bits of almond flour remain on the bottom of the bowl.
- Begin working the batter until everything is fully incorporated (this is called the macaronage process). Slowly spread the mixture along the side of the bowl, then wipe it back down. Be sure to do this gently. Repeat until the mixture has reached a smooth, shiny, flowing consistency. You can test this by lifting your spatula and seeing if the batter drops almost like lava. Once the batter drops back into the bowl, it should take about 10-15 seconds for the ribbon that formed to "disappear" back into the rest of the batter. Don't over macaronage the batter or the macarons will not properly bake in the oven.
- Pour the batter into the prepared piping bag. Hold the bag vertically and pipe 1.5 inch (3.8 cm) circles. Once you have reached the desired size, release the pressure on the bag and twist your wrist without lifting up. Continue until no batter remains.
- Bang the sheet pan down on the counter a few times to release any air bubbles. Pop the air bubbles with a toothpick. Allow the batter to sit on the counter and dry for 60+ minutes until a thin "skin" develops, and you can touch the tops without ruining the macaron. This resting time will vary depending on the humidity (they may take up to 90+ minutes to dry if you live in a humid or rainy environment). While the macarons are drying, place the oven thermometer in the center rack of the oven. Heat oven to 300°F (150°C).
- Bake one sheet at a time on the center rack of the oven for 19 - 23 minutes. You can test that the macarons are done by gently touching the edge and the feet of the macarons. If the shell wiggles, is sticky, or wet, the macarons need to bake longer. Remove macarons from the oven and allow the pan to rest on a wire cooling rack until completely cooled.
For Salted Caramel
- Add sugar and water to a medium heavy bottom saucepan. Cover with a lid and let boil over medium heat until sugar is completely melted, about 2 - 4 minutes.
- Remove lid and continue cooking until the sugar begins to darken. Do not stir the caramel at this point. If it appears to be burning, you can gently swirl it in the pan. Once the sugar reaches an amber-colored liquid, about 4 - 6 minutes later, remove from heat.
- Stir in heavy cream (be careful, the cream will bubble and slightly splatter).
- Add butter one cube at a time, and stir until the caramel is smooth. Stir in vanilla extract and fine sea salt. Transfer the caramel to a bowl and allow to cool in the refrigerator for 1 - 3 hours until thickened.
For Cheesecake Buttercream
- Beat butter and cream cheese in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 - 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the mixer as needed.
- Add confectioners' sugar and graham crackers; mix on medium-low speed until combined.
- Add heavy cream, vanilla extract, and fine sea salt; mix until fully combined.
- Set the mixer to medium-high speed, and allow the buttercream to beat for an additional 2 minutes until light and fluffy.
- Match up macaron shells so they are paired with a similar size/shaped shell. Pipe the cheesecake buttercream filling along the outer edge of one side of the macaron shell using a ½ inch (1.3 cm) round piping tip. Pipe the salted caramel on the inside of the cheesecake buttercream. Gently place the matching shell on top of the filling.
- Mature the macarons with the filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator overnight. This will allow the macarons to slightly soften and develop a deeper flavor.
- Store the macarons in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 - 7 days. To serve, allow the macarons to come to room temperature.
Notes
- You'll notice the meringue starts to ball up inside the whisk while it's mixing.
- Pull the whisk out of the mixer. A stiff peak should stand straight up (no curl at the tip).
- You can fully flip the bowl over and nothing moves or falls out.
- The meringue feels sturdy (not flimsy).
Sammi
I'm OBSESSED with this macaron filling recipe! My friends and I recently made it and it's our new favorite!!!