9 Easy Ways to Decorate Macarons

Macarons are stunning, beautiful cookies all on their own. However, they can be so much fun to dress up and decorate! Use simple techniques to create beautiful designs or reflect the flavors in the cookie. Let me tell you about some of my favorite ways to decorate macarons!

 

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The Limit Does Not Exist

 

When it comes to decorating macarons, the only limitation is your imagination. Since it’s all but impossible to show you every single way to decorate macarons, we’re going to go over nine of the easiest options.

We’ll be using chocolate, candy melts, gel colors, dusts, and more to create beautiful effects on our cookies. For the most part, you don’t need special tools and you probably have most of the supplies on hand. 

 

 

Different Ways to Decorate Macarons

 

Drizzle

 

This is one of the easiest, and tastiest, options on the list. Add melted chocolate or candy melts to a small piping bag and snip a tiny bit of the tip off.  Zigzag the melted chocolate over the macarons in any pattern you like. Then just let the chocolate set up!

Don’t squeeze too hard or move too slowly or you’ll create thick, jagged lines. Use this decoration as a way to showcase or add flavor to the macarons. You can find all sorts of colors and flavors of candy melts online or in craft and cake stores.

 

Dip

 

Melt chocolate or candy melts in a small bowl. Dip one side of the filled macarons into the chocolate. Place the macaron upright on wax or parchment paper with the chocolate facing up. If you’d like, add extra touches like sprinkles, gold leaf, or crushed ingredients. 

This is another way to embrace flavor by using a chocolate or candy melt option that pairs well with the rest of the macaron. However, it’s also great at hiding any wonkiness in your shells! Do this to cover up any slight lopsidedness or goofy looking feet.

 

 

Dunk

 

Basically, this is Dip’s cousin. Melt chocolate or candy melts in a small bowl. Dunk the top of a macaron into the chocolate and let any excess drip off before placing the macaron on wax or parchment paper. Sprinkle with extra toppings.

I hesitated about using this way to decorate macarons. I kinda thought it would be too difficult to bite into, but that wasn’t the case! It helps to add coconut oil to the melted chocolate, but that’s not necessary.

 

Related Video: Fun Ways to Fill Macarons

 

Edible Marker

 

Use an edible marker to draw patterns and designs onto the macaron shells. You can find edible markers in multiple colors online, so get creative!

Drawing and writing are not my strengths, so this technique was not my favorite. That being said, it’s super cheap and easy. 

 

Toppings

 

You can also decorate macarons before you even put the shells in the oven! Simply sprinkle the freshly piped shells with light toppings such as espresso powder, cocoa powder, lavender puts, ground pistachios, small sprinkles.

Not all toppings work well with this technique. Large sprinkles can explode or wreck the shells. Try to stick with toppings that are very small and light. If you’re trying out a new topping, maybe test it on half of your batch just to be safe.

 

 

Dusting

 

Use luster dust or pearl dust to create different effects. Dip a fluffy brush into some powder and tap off any excess. Brush the powder onto the macaron to create a soft color effect. Using a pearl dust will add a slight shimmer effect.

This is a fun technique to play with. You can use it to hide slightly wrinkly shells, add shimmer, or create a soft color. I think it almost has a watercolor effect to it.

 

Painting

 

Use gel food colors diluted with clear alcohol (Everclear or moonshine work well) to paint macarons. You can also use an edible paint, like the edible gold paint I used. Use different brushes and techniques to create different effects. If you are artistic, you can use this technique to paint beautiful designs. 

Be careful not to oversaturate the macaron shells. This could leave you with a soggy shell, which would be a bummer. Since alcohol evaporates quickly, it’s a great option for diluting colors and paints without creating a textural issue.

 

 

Air Brush

 

Dilute some gel color with alcohol (Everclear or moonshine work well) or use air brush colors. Use an air brush machine to spray the top of the macarons to create a lovely color. Get creative with how you spray the shell to create different effects.

Of all the ways to decorate macarons on this list, it’s the only one that requires an expensive tool. If you struggle with creating bold colors in your macarons, this is an option that may work best for you.

 

Related Reading: 5 Steps to Prep for Perfect Macarons

 

Edible Gold Leaf

 

Dip a brush in clear alcohol (Everclear or moonshine) and wipe off any excess. Swipe the brush over the macaron wherever you’d like to apply the gold leaf. Press the gold onto the macaron and use a dry brush to tidy up. You can also use a dry brush to transfer the gold onto the shell.

If you’d like to avoid using alcohol, you can use chocolate or candy melts. I’ve added edible gold leaf to a drizzle and a dunk before and loved the look. 

 

Watch It In Action

 

While all of these ways to decorate macarons are fairly simple, it can make such a difference to see them in action. Check out this step by step video tutorial to see how each method goes down.

If there’s a macaron decorating technique that I haven’t covered, or that you’d like more details on, tell me about it in a comment below. I’ll do my best to cover it at some point in the future.

 

 

Get Creative!

 

As I’ve said before, your imagination is the only limitation to macaron decoration. Get creative and have fun playing around with new techniques. If I’m ever stuck, I like to let the flavors inspire how I decorate my macarons.

Thanks for joining me today! If you enjoy baking and macaron making, consider subscribing to Bakes & Blunders. You’ll get access to over a dozen free baking resources, including macaron templates and a macaron prep checklist.

 

My Favorite Products For Macaron Decorating