5 Fascinating Facts About Macarons That’ll Surprise You

Tower of macaron cookies
Image by Tesa Robbins from Pixabay

It turns out that there’s such a thing as Macaron Day, and it’s celebrated every year in March! This yummy day originated in France, and it’s focused entirely on this chic dessert, with pastry shops giving out complimentary macarons for charitable causes. Here are five surprising facts about these colorful cookies that you probably didn’t know.

Origins Unveiled

Forget what you thought you knew—macarons actually have Italian roots! Catherine de’ Medici brought these fancy treats to France in the 16th century, and the French took them and ran with them.

Mix-Up Alert

Before you make a crucial mistake, macarons and macaroons are two totally different things. While Macarons are made of a mix of almond flour, egg white, and sugar, macaroons are all about dense, coconut-based chewiness.

Calorie Check

You might want to sit down for this one—macarons are surprisingly low-calorie, with just 70 to 100 calories per cookie. So go ahead, indulge in all the flavors without the guilt trip.

DIY Dream

Thanks to the Ladurée Sucré cookbook, macaron lovers everywhere can now whip up these Insta-worthy treats in their own kitchen. Get ready to flex your baking skills and impress your feed.

Evolutionary Eats

Did you know that back in the day, macarons only had a single layer? In the 20th century, they leveled up into double-deckers, adding even more flair to this fancy French favorite.