Touraine in the Loire Valley isn’t just famous for its gorgeous castles. Gastronomy also plays a starring role in the region. One of the sweet specialities, recognisable by the legendary ring shape, Cormery’s macarons are one of the oldest cookies in France! Invented by monks in 781 at the thousand-year-old abbey of Cormery, this recipe has passed through centuries and down the generations. You can have an authentic taste at Aux Vrais Macarons, a boulangerie and patisserie in the heart of the pretty village of Cormery near the Chateau of Chenonceau (8 rue nationale, Cormery).
Enjoy the baker’s recipe from Pascal Debaud of Aux Vrais Macarons…
Ingredients (for about 15 macaroons)
200g ground almonds
100g caster sugar
50g icing sugar
2 egg whites
2 teaspoons bitter orange marmalade
A few drops of bitter almond extract (optional)
Method
Mix together the almonds, sugar and icing sugar.
Add 3/4 of the egg whites, bitter almond extract and orange marmalade.
Leave to rest for 2 hours.
Add the rest of the egg whites and form a loose dough. Fill a pastry bag with the dough then form small circles on the sheet of baking paper.
Bake in a very hot oven for 5 minutes (Cormery’s pastry chefs bake reach 300˚C), Gas Mark 8-10.
Leave to cool on a wire rack.
Enjoy for breakfast, with an aperitif or a glass of Vouvray, for dessert with ice cream, with a coffee and even with savoury food such as foie gras.
Watch them being made at Aux Vraix Cormery:
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Discover what to see and do in Touraine, Loire Valley: TouraineLoireValley
