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Pink Tagada Macarons

Pink Tagada Macarons
Pink macarons, ok…but what is "tagada" you may ask. "Fraises Tagada" is one of my childhood favorite candies, and it is pink, and it is good and it makes me giddy like a kid again. I just like saying the name over and over! Since I introduced B. to the line of Haribo candies, the licorice rolls and "fraises tagada" have become his favorites, so it was no surprise that when we came back from Christmas with my parents in France that we had several bags tucked away in our suitcase. I thought we had gone through all the stash when I found a bag that had fallen behind my pastry box. The candy is like little pink pieces of strawberry flavored marshmallows.
I know I said May was the month of things pretty and delicate but when you read the reason why I made these, you will understand.

I started thinking about these ever since I saw Requia' post about a pink event to support the fight against breast cancer. I wanted to make them very pink and very giddy…Well, yeah I am weird: just looking at them makes me happy, feels me with hope and the color even calms me down. I put it in the back of my mind until Bea’s savory pink "verrines" reminded me it was high time I cranked up the mixer.
Cancer makes no distinction of gender, reace, age and social status. We live with cancer, know somebody with it and hold the hands of too many friends going through the same thing. Cancer is global, cancer is universal…so is hope, so is the fight against it. A few weeks ago I participated in Barbara's yellow event for LiveStrong Day, and today I want to pay tribute to all the women and men devasted by breast cancer.

I also wish to pay tribute to my grandma who found out in her early 8os (yes, you read right) that she had breast cancer. When her doctor suggested biopsies, exams, breast removal and what not, she looked at him straight in the eyes and said "you’re crazy…let me live". AH!!! And there you have it, my grandmother in a nutshell…and the essence of the way I lead my life. She passed away at 93 from a cancer that had invaded her tiny frame but never her spirits or her will to live.

Now, and before you all start to yawn…These are just plain macarons shells colored with neon pink powder dye, with different pink sparkles and filled with a "fraises tagada" and white chocolate ganache. For the macaron shells I followed a different recipe than my favored Italian meringue one, and with good results. The first tray looked like the meringue was not folded enough so I gave it a couple of extra turns and the remaining tray turned out beautiful…I think I could get addicted to this lazier method!!

Pink Macarons and Fraises Tagada White Chocolate Ganache

Shells: (original recipe here)

3 egg whites at room temp

100 g almond powder

160 g powdered sugar

40 g granulated sugar

a few drop of neon pink coloring

pink sprinkles of your choice

In a food preocessor, grind the almonds and powdered sugar togther to make sure they are really fine. Pass through a sieve and set aside.

Note: when I process them very fine, I usually skip the sieving step and just break any lumps with my fingers.

Start whipping the whites on low speed to break them up, and slowly increase as to obtain a soft foam. Slowly add the granulated suage, one TB at a time until the meringue is tight and glossy.

Stop the machine and fold in the coloring and the almond/powdered sugar. The batter should flow like magma. Try a spoonful on a plate. The little peak created by the meringue should flatten when tapped on the counter top.

Line 2 baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 300 F.

Fill a pastry bag with the batter and drop rounds on the baking sheet. Add the sprinkles. Let dry for 30 minutes and bake for 10-12 minutes.

Once they are cooled. Fill each with about 1 Tb. of the ganache.

Fraises Tagada White Chocolate Ganache:

2 cups fraise tagada candy

1 cup white chocolate chips

1/2 cup heavy cream

Heat the cream until hot. Drop the chips and candy into the cream and stir until all are melted and come together. Let cool.

Pink Tagada Macarons

If you read French, here are some more "Fraises Tagada" recipes:

– Emmanuele’s mousse

– Samania’s yogurt

– Paris Breakfast’s fun post about the candy

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Comments


Anita June 8, 2007 um 4:02 am

I have never heard of Tagada but now I want some! They make your macarons look beautiful, like jewelry – too pretty to eat!


jef June 8, 2007 um 4:53 am

Interesting. You go to the non-Italian method and I go to it. It’s like we swapped recipes or something. I’m really starting to like the Italian method because you can skip the drying phase which seems like voodoo to me.

These look like candies, almost festive!


Anonymous June 8, 2007 um 5:13 am

Wonderful recipe… looks so pink and so sweet. An real ideal for women’s tea time party! Thank you for your creativity!
I go visit your blog right now… seems very interesting…


Anonymous June 8, 2007 um 5:34 am

There are so cut, so girly thanks!


Anne June 8, 2007 um 5:42 am

they are simply adorable…and my favorite color..pink.


Meeta K. Wolff June 8, 2007 um 5:43 am

Do I have to say this? They look so fantastic. I love the tribute to your grandma and her strength (or stubbornness) reminds me of mine. Helene, with a teacher like you I think it is high time I confronted macarons too.


Anonymous June 8, 2007 um 5:53 am

What a lovely tribute to your grandma and such pretty macarons! I am not ashamed to say I love pink and your little macarons look fit for a princess! 🙂


Anonymous June 8, 2007 um 6:38 am

Your macarons are amazing, the best ones I’ve seen so far. They’re very "girly" and I love that!


Mercotte June 8, 2007 um 6:44 am

superbes et ludiques! bravo


Anonymous June 8, 2007 um 6:46 am

Hi Helen,
these macarons look gorgeous.
xxx
– fanny


Rosa's Yummy Yums June 8, 2007 um 6:53 am

Your macarons are very professional looking! I love the way they are decorated. Very cute…


Anonymous June 8, 2007 um 6:56 am

Hello ! I’m french !
your macarons are very very beautiful and gorgeous, I’ve nerver seen macarons like that with Tagada I like them a lot !!


Philo aux fourneaux – Blog culinaire June 8, 2007 um 7:45 am

Your macarons are beautiful


Barbara June 8, 2007 um 8:52 am

Some months ago I printed out your macarons recipe and put it in my folder. Just this morning I was looking at it, thinking I really must attempt to make macarons. Now today I see your pretty pink ones…and I love pink…and I want to make them too. Your Grandmother sounds like she was a very special lady. How wonderful you have inherited her love of food.


Anonymous June 8, 2007 um 9:06 am

Thansk for these pinky and lovely macarons !


Stella June 8, 2007 um 9:23 am

Oh my goodness, these are so cute Helene. Very cute & sexy in pink I must say! I’d be too sad to eat them;)
I was taught how to make macarons myself, next time, maybe I’ll dye them pink too!


Amrita June 8, 2007 um 12:44 pm

such sweet and lovely macarons!

Could I ask you something..heh….How would someone get accepted into "DB"..? Im dying to join!


Nora B. June 8, 2007 um 12:58 pm

Helene, they are so cute, I feel giddy just looking at them. And a wonderful tribute to your grandmother. I’ve participated in many cancer fund rainsing projects in the best way I know how – baking. It is a subject that is close to my heart.


Cheryl June 8, 2007 um 1:19 pm

They are just beautiful little creatures. I loved learning about Tagada and I went right on google afterwards to see more pictures of them.


Papilles et Pupilles June 8, 2007 um 2:13 pm

So cute, so girly ! wonderful !


Deborah June 8, 2007 um 4:57 pm

These have got to be the most beautiful macarons I have ever seen!!


Jes June 8, 2007 um 7:07 pm

I love that macaroons keep popping up on people’s blogs! The pink is rad, I love the color!


Laura June 8, 2007 um 9:04 pm

As everyone pointed out these are so beautifully girly and pink so my little one , who is an utter princess is demanding them. Right now!


Cookie baker Lynn June 8, 2007 um 10:01 pm

Just gorgeous, Helen. They make me happy looking at them. But I’ll be happier when I can figure out where to get some Fraises Tagada so I can make these!


Anonymous June 8, 2007 um 10:50 pm

Your macarons are so beautiful and professional. They’re the cutest shade of pink. 🙂


bossacafez June 9, 2007 um 2:12 am

such sweet colors helen!


Anonymous June 9, 2007 um 9:11 am

Thanks Helen!
I totally missed the Tagada link 🙂


Aimée June 9, 2007 um 10:40 am

These are so adorable, Helen, and I think you are doing a really good thing by helping raise awareness for breast cancer.


Mercedes June 9, 2007 um 12:46 pm

I love that you used candy in the filling- so clever!
I have a friend who is obsessed with Haribo gummy candies, I think it makes up half her diet, I’ll have to ask her if she knows about tagada.


Anonymous June 9, 2007 um 3:38 pm

they look so pretty 🙂 a different look for macarons. I wanna make macarons but thanks to my oven… 🙁


Kelly-Jane June 9, 2007 um 8:06 pm

I like all things pink, and these are just the cutest and prettiest!

I’m going to keep your recipe, as I’m pretty keen on lilac too 🙂


Erin June 9, 2007 um 10:00 pm

My friend is walking in the Breast Cancer 3 Day. These would be the perfect thing to make for one of their fundraisers!


Anonymous June 10, 2007 um 12:58 am

oh les fraises Tagada. I cannot recall when I ate them for the last time! What a fun idea, and I loved the way you described your grandma’s spirit. What a woman!


Anonymous June 10, 2007 um 1:19 am

I love macarons! I just made a batch of matcha macarons with this easy method and I agree that it might not be worth the trouble of boiling the sugar as it turned out even better for me.


Anonymous June 10, 2007 um 1:58 am

I have been looking for this recipe for years! Honestly, I have been trying to perfect pink macaroons … and here they are … thank you!


Anonymous June 10, 2007 um 3:50 am

First of all, I’ve never heard of that candy but I want some!!!

And what a beautiful story about your grandma! The macarons are a beautiful tribute!


Anonymous June 10, 2007 um 7:46 am

It’s wonderful! I love this pink recipe, thanks for Requia, thanks for this cause!
I have participated. And for the livestrong day too! The last recipe 😀


Anonymous June 10, 2007 um 12:33 pm

Bravo pour tes macarons qui ont l’air très bons et très sensuels. Merci pour ta grand-mère, elle serait fière de toi. Je me réjouis àl’idée de toutes les bonne choses que tu vas nous faire lors de notre passage ; nous allons commencer à nous mettre au régime pour apprécier. Mille bises.Mam


Anonymous June 10, 2007 um 2:54 pm

How adorable they are! These look like they’d be perfect at a girly tea-party…in fact, I’m having one next week and I think these may have to feature on the menu!


Anonymous June 10, 2007 um 4:53 pm

Those are the most beautiful macarons I have ever seen. They are absolutely beautiful!


Anonymous June 10, 2007 um 5:14 pm

These are beautiful!!! And they really make me want to give macarons a try. Up until now, I haven’t been inspired enough to take on the project…Thanks!


Peabody June 10, 2007 um 11:35 pm

These are so cute. Almost remind me of circus cookies with the pink and sprinkles.


Freya June 11, 2007 um 7:19 pm

So beautiful and with a great cause in mind too.


Virtual Frolic June 12, 2007 um 4:43 pm

Oh – my – gosh! Those are the most adorable macarons!!! and for a great cause too! I have been thinking about trying to make macarons – your many posts about macarons has totally inspired me, I can’t wait to try!


Monique June 12, 2007 um 6:09 pm

These are absolutely lovely! Love the colours!


Anonymous June 14, 2007 um 5:58 am

The macarons look so pretty! I love your idea with the pink sparkles.


Anonymous June 14, 2007 um 1:16 pm

Gorgeous pictures! I’ve never heard of Fraises Tagada but that name reminds me of a Joe Dassin song! Go figure!


Elle June 16, 2007 um 2:45 am

These look like a party! I’ve never heard of Tagada either, but it sounds delicious.


Anonymous July 7, 2007 um 8:09 pm

So cute recipe!


Charmaine October 12, 2007 um 7:47 pm

You make it look so easy! They are absolutely scrumptious looking.


Donna October 27, 2007 um 4:17 pm

beautiful macaron..


alison June 17, 2009 um 8:44 pm

how about pistachio macarons with blackberry swiss buttercream filling? (my absolute favorite)


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