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Strawberry Lemon Macarons Recipe (French Macaron Method)

This Strawberry Lemon Macarons recipe is perfect for spring! Gorgeous macaron shells are filled with lemon buttercream and strawberry jam.

Pink Strawberry Lemon Macarons filled with yellow lemon buttercream are stacked on a small white marble board

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Strawberry Lemon Macarons

If you’re looking for a fun twist on a traditional dessert, try this Strawberry Lemon Macarons recipe!

Traditional French Macarons are gorgeously colored and filled with lemon buttercream and strawberry jam.

They’re perfect for Mother’s Day, afternoon tea, Bridal Showers, baby showers, birthday parties, garden parties, and more. Macarons are such a versatile little treat for any occasion.

overhead shot of pink Strawberry Lemon Macarons on a white surface with whole lemons and strawberries

The bright colors of the macarons look like little flowers on a plate, so gorgeous! We just got back from a trip to Disney last week and these would be right at home at Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival. 

For an alternative filling, you can use Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting to pipe the buttercream ring and then fill them with lemon curd.

Happy baking!

Pink Strawberry Lemon Macarons on a small white marble board are filled with yellow lemon buttercream

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Ingredients for Strawberry Lemon Macarons

overhead shot of ingredients in individual bowls to make French Macarons

For The Macaron Filling:

  • Unsalted Butter
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Pinch of Salt, optional
  • Lemon Juice
  • Lemon Zest
  • Strawberry jam/preserves – you can use homemade strawberry jam or storebought
overhead shot of ingredients to make lemon buttercream

Equipment Needed to Make Macarons

whipped egg whites in soft peaks on a wire whisk for a stand mixer

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How to Make Macarons with Strawberry and Lemon

Step 1. Add the egg whites to a large glass or metal bowl and bring to room temperature.

Step 2. Add the almond meal, powdered sugar, and salt to a food processor and pulse until the consistency is a fine powder. Set aside.

Step 3. Add the cream of tartar to the egg whites and use a whisk attachment on a hand mixer (or stand mixer) and whisk on low speed until soft peaks form. While the mixer is running, slowly add the granulated sugar, about 1-2 tablespoons at a time. Continue mixing as you add all of the sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.

Step 4. Add the gel food coloring and gently fold into the meringue 3 to 4 times.

Step 5. Sift the dry ingredients into the egg whites. Use a spatula to gently fold the dry ingredients into the egg whites. Fold until completely incorporated and the macaron batter runs off the spatula in long ribbons. The batter should be thin enough to be able to run off the spatula and form a figure 8 in the bowl without breaking. If it breaks, fold it a little more.

Step 6. Line 2 baking sheets with silicon baking mats or parchment paper. Add the batter to a piping bag fitted with a round piping tip (about 1/2 inch in diameter) and pipe the batter into 1 1/2 inch circles onto the prepared baking sheets. Once all the rounds are piped, gently lift and drop the baking sheets onto the counter to help pop any air bubbles. Let the macaron shells sit uncovered at room temperature for 45-60 minutes to help form a dry shell on the outside.

Step 7. When the shells are halfway through their drying stage, preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Bake the shells, one tray at a time, for 10-12 minutes – do not brown.

Step 8. Cool completely before carefully removing them from the parchment paper or silicon mat.

Step 9. Make the Lemon Buttercream. Transfer the lemon buttercream to a piping bag fitted with your choice of piping tip, such as the Wilton 10 or Wilton 12.

Step 10. Place the macarons into similar-sized pairs and pipe a ring of lemon buttercream around the edge of one shell of each pair. Fill the center with strawberry jam and place the second macaron shell on top, pressing them together gently. Repeat with the remaining macarons.

collage image of 4 process shots showing different stages to make a Strawberry Lemon Macarons recipe

Get the full directions in the recipe card.


How to Store French Macarons

Transfer the assembled macarons to an airtight container and place them in the fridge to age overnight. Macarons can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Bring them to room temperature before serving.

Strawberry Lemon Macarons on a wire rack filled and ready to be topped

Tips for Making French Macarons

  • Age your egg whites in the refrigerator for a couple of days before making your macarons.
  • Meringue and meringue-based recipes work best in low-humidity environments. You can still make macarons in the summer heat, just be sure to run the air conditioner or a dehumidifier to help take the moisture out of the air.
  • Please read my full and in-depth blog post on How to Make French Macarons for more detailed tips and tricks for making macarons!
overhead shot of pink Strawberry Lemon Macarons with yellow Lemon Buttercream on a white surface

Other Macaron Recipes To Try

pink Strawberry Lemon Macarons with yellow Lemon Buttercream filling on a white surface

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Pink Strawberry Lemon Macarons filled with yellow lemon buttercream are stacked on a small white marble board

Strawberry Lemon Macarons Recipe (French Macaron Method)

5 from 14 ratings
This Strawberry Lemon Macarons recipe is perfect for spring! Gorgeous macaron shells are filled with lemon buttercream and strawberry jam.
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 57 minutes
Servings: 24 Macarons
Print Rate Pin

Ingredients

For the Macaron Shells

  • 4 large egg whites aged and room temperature (about 130 grams)*
  • 170 grams almond meal or almond flour finely ground
  • 200 grams powdered sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 70 grams granulated sugar
  • Gel Food Coloring see notes

For the Filling

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened (8 tablespoons)
  • 2 1/4 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1/4 cup strawberry jam/preserves

Instructions

  • For the Shell
  • Add the egg whites to a large glass or metal bowl and bring to room temperature.
  • Add the almond meal, powdered sugar, and salt to a food processor and pulse until the consistency is a fine powder. Set aside.
  • Add the cream of tartar to the egg whites and use a whisk attachment on a hand mixer (or stand mixer) and whisk until soft peaks form. While the mixer is running, slowly add the granulated sugar, about 1-2 tablespoons at a time. Continue mixing as you add all of the sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.
  • Add the gel food coloring and gently fold into the meringue 3 to 4 times.
  • Sift the dry ingredients into the egg whites. Use a spatula to gently fold the dry ingredients into the egg whites. Fold until completely incorporated and the batter runs off the spatula in long ribbons. The batter should be thin enough to be able to run off the spatula and form a figure 8 in the bowl without breaking. If it breaks, fold it a little more.
  • Line 2 baking sheets with silicon baking mats or parchment paper. Add the batter to a piping bag fitted with a round piping tip (about 1/2 inch in diameter) and pipe the batter into 1 1/2 inch circles. Once all the rounds are piped, gently lift and drop the baking sheets onto the counter to help pop any air bubbles. Let the macaron shells sit uncovered at room temperature for 45-60 minutes to help form a dry shell on the outside.
  • When the shells are halfway through their drying stage, preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Bake the shells, one tray at a time, for 10-12 minutes - do not brown.
  • Cool completely before carefully removing them from the parchment paper or silicon mat.
  • For the Filling
  • In a medium mixing bowl, add the butter and beat on medium speed using a hand or stand mixer until it is light-- about 2-3 minutes.
  • Gradually add in the confectioners’ sugar while the mixer is on low speed.
  • Next, add in the lemon juice and lemon zest (and food coloring, if using). Turn the mixer to high speed and beat until the icing is light and fluffy-- about 3-4 minutes.
  • Transfer the lemon buttercream to a piping bag fitted with your choice of piping tip, such as the Wilton 10 or Wilton 12.
  • Assemble and Age
  • Place the macarons into similar-sized pairs and pipe a ring of lemon buttercream around the edge of one shell of each pair. Fill the center with strawberry jam and place the second macaron shell on top, pressing them together gently. Repeat with the remaining macarons.
  • Transfer the filled macarons to an airtight container and place them in the fridge to age overnight.
  • Before serving, bring them to room temperature.
  • Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Notes

I like a combination of Americolor Deep Pink Gel Food Coloring and a drop or 2 of Americolor Red Gel Food Coloring— make sure to use gel food coloring, not liquid!
Use a 2A or Wilton #10 piping tip for the macaron shells.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1g | Calories: 141kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 10mg | Sodium: 8mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 20g

Disclaimers

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nutrition Facts are estimated and aren't always accurate. Please consult a doctor or nutritionist if you have special dietary needs.

Did you make this?Mention @whattheforkfoodblog or leave a comment rating below!

Did you make this recipe? Leave a star rating and let me know in the comments! You can also leave a photo/comment on this pin for others to see.

Leave a comment

If you made this recipe, please consider giving it a star rating when you post a comment. Star ratings help people discover my recipes online.

Sincerely,
Shay

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Recipe Rating




  1. Kerryanne says:

    They look amazing Shay!!
    Thank you for sharing your strawberry lemon macarons recipe at Create, Bake, Grow & Gather this week. I’m delighted to be featuring this post at tonight’s party and pinning too.
    Hugs,
    Kerryanne

  2. Laura @ Our Grand Lives says:

    I can’t wait to give these a try! Love the flavor combination, too!

  3. Gina says:

    Love all the tips provided. I’ve tried my hand at making macarons a few times and was never as successful as this batch. They’re gorgeous and delicious too!

  4. Erin says:

    These macarons were perfect and had the perfect texture! I just loved the little surprise jammy spot in the middle. And the color! So springy and fun.

  5. claire says:

    My daughter was desperate for pink macarons for her birthday, but I was petrified of making them!! I thought they would be a failure.

    But your recipe seemed easy to follow so I just had a test run. THEY WERE PERFECT!!!!
    Thank you so much, I took it really slowly and read your instructions several times and they looked like yours and tasted amazing.

    I am so impressed with myself, thank you so much

  6. Erica says:

    I was devastated that I didn’t have any strawberry preserves left in the pantry when I went to make these – but I did have blackberry, and let me tell you it worked just fine. Macarons can be so testy, but this recipe worked perfectly.

  7. Addison says:

    The strawberry lemon combination is next level delicious! These were such a stunning dessert.