While the craze for these petite treats is going from fiery passion to fizzling spark, I figured I would get my two cents in while the going was still at least lukewarm. Unlike the America macaroon, the French macaroon, or “macaron” as I prefer to call it, is an almond flour meringue cookie sandwich stuffed with ganaches and pastry creams and jams and other delicacies. The way to tell a great macaroon from a not-so-great one is not only the texture of the cookie but also the quality of the filling.
By the end of my nine month sojourn in France, I was able to properly enjoy a perfect macaroon and could not stand to eat one that was not perfect. Here are my favorites of any macaroons I tried in Paris:
This master of pastry not only sells delicious macaroons, but also some of the fanciest desserts I had in Paris. He is world renowned as the creator of fantastical renditions of traditional treats as well as new twists on old favorites. Everything he creates is obviously yummy, but it’s his macaroons that originally made him famous to other people who weren’t pastry chefs!
The flavors of these range from the classic (caramel, raspberry…) to the kooky (olive oil, asparagus…) but all of the flavors are equally great. The cookie is the perfect blend of crunchy and soft, the fillings are fresh and natural, and the presentation is, as expected, superb.
This is my number one choice of anywhere to get a macaroon in Paris, topping traditional favorites like Ladurée and Gerard Mulot.
While one may be considered a tourist for holding the famous mint green bag, it’s worth it to pick up of few of their delicate macaroons. This famous patisserie has now expand into an international chain (with a post in New York City (!!!!)), so it’s no longer a Paris original, but it definitely tastes better on this side of the ocean.
The macaroons they make are definitely worth the price, but sometimes I feel like they’re not worth waiting in the long line for. Yes, they’re yummy, but they’re much smaller than those of their competitors at Pierre Hermé and have less originality in the flavors. They seem to have stopped trying to create the new and focused on trying to expand. They are content with living up to the expectations of tourists instead of trying to exceed them, which is a real shame since with a touch more of creativity, they could have maintained their top spot in my list.
I have to say this, though: the fact that they fill their caramel macarons with actual caramel au beurre salé instead of a caramel flavored pastry cream puts that macaroon at the top of any list (even above Pierre Hermé). Stop in just to pick up one of those (although be prepared to wait in a long line of tourists).
This fancy salon de thé right by the Trocadero (with the best view of the Eiffel Tower) has a glitzy take-away counter right inside, past all the glamorous people eating their fancy treats with tiny cups of espresso. And from there, you can get their macaroons to go.
The macaroons themselves are both beautiful to look at and yummy to eat, plus you can pick up a bag of them and walk right over to the Eiffel Tower and stare at its glory while you munch on these delicacies.
While they may not top the list in either texture or flavor, their location alone is a reason to stop in for these cute treasures. And they’re delicious, so that’s a plus!
A household name in Paris, the man produces some more reasonably priced macaroons in imaginative flavors and colorful presentation. His store sells both the sweet and the savory (a cross of a patisserie and a boulangerie), so it’s a great place to come buy your entire picnic lunch!
The macaroons themselves too are very nice and are done the right way, which is always a great thing to see when a shop tries to do everything. It’s a great place to go, and the area it’s in is just fun to be in anyway, so this quick detour is an bonus!
Places you could definitely skip:
This chain is all around Paris, and while I would step in here to get a slice of their famous Opéra cake, I would skip the macaroons. The cookies are a bit too almond-y and the fillings did not cover up the nuttiness that took over each flavor.
Basically, go here for the Opéra, not the macarons.
This famous chocolatier has his decorative display of macaroons prominently placed in the center of the main store on Boulevard St Germain, but don’t be tempted by the beauty: the texture isn’t quite right and the fillings are a bit too sweet.
Overall, while I would stop in here to pick up the amazing chocolates, I would not recommend you go in just for the macaroons.
Addresses:
Pierre Hermé
72 rue Bonaparte (6ème arrondissement)
Ladurée
75, avenue des Champs Elysées (8ème arrondissement)
864 Madison Avenue New York, NY
Carrette
4 Place du Trocadéro (16ème arrondissement)
Gerard Mulot
76 Rue de Seine (6ème arrondissement)
Dalloyau
2 Place Edmond Rostand (6ème arrondissement)
Georges Larnicol
132 Boulevard Saint-Germain (6ème arrondissement)
Instead I Had Cake 