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Sunday, June 26, 2011

Kitty Cat Carrot Macarons

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There have been a lot of animal-themed baked goods on this blog. Pupcakes. Piggy Macs. Bunny Macs. Sweets with little smiley faces on them are just too cute aren't they? This weekend is A's little sister's birthday and I wanted to make her something special. The newest member of their household is an adorable ginger kitty named Puss Puss and these kitty cat macarons are inspired by him.
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I've been wanting to do another animal macaron for some time now. A while back I REALLY wanted to make Hello Kitty macarons for Asian Gaga's birthday, but then I found a few blogs who had already done them so well and AG ended up requesting the mint slice cake anyway. But I think I like these ginger kitten macarons even more than Hello Kitty, they're so fat and happy! And look as those little tails :D
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One thing we need to talk about is the filling. I decided to make a Carrot Cake-Flavoured Icing to match the orange shells. I was a little unsure if this would work but it turned out SO GOOD. It tastes just like carrot cake with cream cheese icing. I'm quite chuffed with it to be honest. I did manage to dump an entire container of ground cinnamon on myself in the process, which was very messy and I kept smelling myself and getting hungry for the rest of the day.
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Hopefully A's sister will like these as much as I do. Happy Birthday Miss K!
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Just like with my bunny macs, I might have gotten a little bit carried away with the photos/scenarios...
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Kitties playing
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Kitties chatting over morning tea
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I ended up with two extra tail shells, which is super creepy and makes me think of that Halloween episode of the Simpsons which parodies The Fly and their cat and dog get spliced together...someone please tell me I'm not the only one who knows what I'm talking about.

Kitty Cat Macarons with Carrot Cake Icing
(makes about 10 macarons)
100g aged egg whites (you can use fresh eggs too, just make sure they are room temperature. I always use fresh these days, and zap it in the microwave on defrost for 10 seconds)
110g almond meal, dried in a cool (100 degrees C or less) oven for 5 minutes and sifted
200g icing sugar
50g caster sugar
Optional: 1 tsp powdered egg whites (available from The Essential Ingredient), helps to stabilise egg whites but is not necessary
orange powdered food colouring

For the carrot cake icing:
1 medium carrot, peeled & finely grated
100g cream cheese
1 1/2 cups icing sugar, sifted
1/4 tsp cinnamon

To decorate: liquid black food colouring (available from the supermarket) or edible ink pens, sugar balls/cachous

Line two baking sheets with baking paper. Place icing sugar in food processor and pulse for a minute to remove any lumps. Stir in almond meal and pulse for about 30 seconds to combine. Place in a large mixing bowl and set aside. Using an electric mixer, beat egg whites and egg white powder in a medium mixing bowl until the egg white powder dissolves and it reaches soft peaks. With the mixer on high speed, gradually add sugar and beat until it reaches stiff peaks.

Add meringue to your dry mixture and mix, quickly at first to break down the bubbles in the egg white (you really want to beat all the large bubbles out of the mixture, be rough!), then mix carefully as the dry mixture becomes incorporated and it starts to become shiny again. IMPORTANT: Just as the mixture has started to combine, place about 1/4 of the mixture in a separate bowl and set aside (to be used for the white part of the faces). Add orange food colouring to the remaining mixture and mix until the correct consistency. Take care not to overmix, the mixture should flow like lava and a streak of mixture spread over the surface of the rest of the mixture should disappear after about 30 seconds. Place in a piping bag and pipe rounds of about 3-4cm diameter on baking sheets, about 10 on each sheet or silicon baking mats. Make sure you leave enough space above each round so you can pipe the two ears for each kitty face. Using a narrow piping tip, piped triangular ears on half of your piped rounds. Tap baking sheets carefully and firmly on the benchtop a couple times to remove any large bubbles.
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Leave to dry for about half an hour. Mix the leftover white macaron mixture to the same consistency as the orange mixture and place in a piping bag. Pipe small circles over the top of the rounds with ears. Place a pink sugar ball/cachous in the middle of the white circle for the kitty's nose. If you still have some mixture leftover of either colour you can pipe small tails on the non-face shells. Leave this to dry again for at least half an hour, so that when you press the surface of one gently it does not break. This will help prevent any cracking and help the feet to form on the macs. Preheat your oven to 140-150 degrees C. Place on top of an overturned roasting tray or another baking sheet if your sheets are not professional grade, for better heat distribution. Bake for 15-18 minutes, depending on the size of your shells. Remove from the oven and cool on the tray for a few minutes, then gently remove from the sheet and place on a wire rack to cool completely. Use a skewer dipped in black food colouring or edible ink pens to draw on eyes (and whiskers if you choose).

To prepare the carrot cake icing, heat a small non-stick frying pan on low and coat the surface with a small amount of unsalted butter. Place grated carrot in pan and sweat carrots until all excess moisture is remove and carrot is tender and cooked through (about 15 mins). Set aside to cool completely. Place cream cheese in a mixer (you may need to take it out of the fridge ahead of time to soften if you don't have a strong electric mixer), and beat until fluffy. Add sifted icing sugar, cinnamon and carrot and beat until smooth. Spoon/pipe onto shells and sandwich.
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Kitty sniggering into his ball of yarn because he thinks the other kitty walks with a funny bum wiggle

77 comments:

  1. Uber cute! And lol I do remember that Simpson's episode!

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  2. I swear to god your macarons are always amazing. I don't have to skill to do piping like that :(.
    I wonder what macarons you'll do next :D

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  3. Oh these are too adorable for words. Love them!

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  4. Steph they are super adorable. Oh my goodness. I just want to let out a big squeeeeeee... You are so very talented...

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  5. OH EM GEEEEEEEEEE!

    Keep the animal macs coming! <3

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  6. Cute, cute, cute ^^ And yes, I remember that Simpsons episode so you better eat that double kitty butt macaron quick-smart!

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  7. lol I know what Simpsons ep you're talking about. They are super adorable!!! I'm sure Miss K would love these macs, how wouldn't like your macarons? They are awesome!

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  8. these are delightful ! How lucky your sister is. Your animal mac ideas are always such fun :-)

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  9. KITTY!!! WITH TAILS!!! EEEEEEEE /dying in cuteness overload

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  10. omg these are so cute!! I love the little tails! and I totally know which Simpsons episode you're talking about haha creepy!

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  11. These are brilliant!! So very cute. I love the sound of carrot cake flavoured filling.

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  12. these are like the cutest macarons I've ever seen. and yes, I've seen animal themed macarons before ;) I admire your ability!!

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  13. I have NEVER seen anything as cute as these! You should definitely make things like these professionally and sell them, im sure you would have a wonderful and profitable business. The carrot cake filling...dont even get me started on that! I think i may make a batch of it and just eat it by itself :)
    also i like the sound of a cinnamon 'perfume', might have just started a trend there!

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  14. I'm ready to pass out from cute overload. What a great idea! The paper you use in the background is mighty adorable too. Well done, all around!

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  15. Too cute for words!! I bet the kids love 'em =)

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  16. You are a genius, these are too cute!

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  17. I bow down to you greatness, these are so special...I would love to order some! My daughter would love minie & mickey ones.

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  18. Oh my! The only thing I love more than macarons are felines, and when forces combine...

    The way you've piped the shapes with ears is incredibly perfect! Hopefully some little girls I know will have birthdays quick smart! If not, maybe I'll make them for myself.

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  19. These are unbelievable. I literally stopped in my tracks when I saw them-what a fantastic idea! (Plus, they look like my fat boy kitty Cosmo...) I only wish I had the talent to pull these off. This post made my day!

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  20. Super, super cute!!!
    You are so creative, I admire you!

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  21. omg! super adorable. you're so talented!

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  22. oh my! these are just too cute. both the crazy cat lady and baker in me love these!!

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  23. These are incredible, you are sooooo talented. I love them and I am not showing my daughter as she would beg me to make them but i know mine would not look like that!!

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  24. Another pretty animal/ stylised mac I have seen over the last week. All you ladies are just so creative!

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  25. These are beyond adorable!

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  26. this just made my day!

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  27. Twice the pet, and none of the mess ;)

    Treehouse of Horror VIII at 10 minutes and 30 seconds...

    And it tasted delicious!

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  28. I love it, these are super adorable, where did you get the background for your prop? I mean, where did you get the prop background.. gah!

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  29. These are just the cutest ever!!!

    Absolutely too beautiful too eat, I love them :))

    All the little kittens playing and drinking... so gorgeous. What is the background made of??? It makes the scenes so beautiful!

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  30. WOW, how cute are these?!!?! Carrot cake filling too hhmmmmmmm!!! How comes your batch only makes 10 tho, they normally make 24 right? hmmmm!!! your creativity is just undescribable!

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  31. myFudo & Gourmet Getaway - Thanks so much! The background is wrapping paper from Kikki K, isn't it adorable?

    LucyL - errm I don't think so! My normal batch makes anywhere between 12-20 (24-40 shells) depending on how big you piped them. These ones are quite big and you have to split the mixture up so I did end up with a little bit of wastage.

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  32. These are so cute and a wonderful birthday gift! Did she love them? I'm sure she did!

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  33. I. Am. In. Love! Such a cute idea!

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  34. WOW! I can barely make regular macarons and you're making them to look like cats! great job!

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  35. These are just too cute. :) They're all full of life and color. Just the perfect gift to bring a smile to someone. Love it!

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  36. You are just a creative superstar of all things cute in the kitchen. Love these! :)

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  37. Oh my goodness! The cuteness of these macarons is off the charts!!! SO adorable! Stunning photos too!

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  38. I follow your recipe for macarons and I normally end up with 24-30, I think I've been piping them super small then! =P
    you are the macaron queen <3

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  39. These are beyond BRILLIANT! And the filling sounds wonderful. You are the animal mac queen.

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  40. ahhh!! first piggy macarons, then bunny and now kitty D: u always manage to tip the cute scale. loved the ball of yarn touch.

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  41. These are SO adorable!!!!!! You are SO creative. I absolutely love these!!!!

    I know what you are talking about with the Simpsons episode with the cat and dog spliced together. Eww!!

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  42. Oh my word - how utterly adorable! Love the picture of the kitty macaron playing with the ball of string!

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  43. no, you are not the only one who remembers that ep of the simpsons

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  44. I know exactly the Halloween special you're talking about! No-one wants the two-bummed pet... :(
    Gorgeous, creative and just stunning macarons!

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  45. They are brilliant, you're so creative. I remember that episode, also CatDog the cartoon about half dog, half cat! Who came up with that idea.

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  46. These are too adorable, but I'd never ever be able to eat one!!!!

    -Mabel

    http://mabel-time.blogspot.com

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  47. These are the cutest macarons ever! I love their little tails!

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  48. Helen (Grab Your Fork) - YAY! Glad it's not just me :)

    A Spoonful of YUMM ! -thanks!

    Nicole @ It's Feeding Time at the Zoo - Thanks so much!

    Ellie @ Kitchen Wench - :D Thank you!

    KitchenTherapy - Aww it just takes a little practice! Trust me, I am a total klutz with a piping bag, I could never do sugar cookie decorations!

    Linda V @ Bubble and Sweet - Thank you!

    A cupcake or two - :D Thanks Kath! Squeeing is encouraged!

    Karen | Citrus and Candy - I will!! Not sure what to do next...

    mademoiselle délicieuse - :D Heehee double killy butt!

    Phuoc'n Delicious - :D Thanks Phuoc! Hehehe such a good Simpson's ep!

    Maris(In Good Taste) - Thanks so much!

    Sarah-Jane - SiliconeMoulds.com - Heh not my sister, my fiance's sister! Thanks!

    leaf (the indolent cook) - :D Thanks!

    chocolatesuze - KITTEH!!!

    Jacq - :D thanks! was debating whether or not to do the tails and im glad i did!

    Christine - Haha thanks!

    Butter Hearts Sugar - The filling was awesome! I was pleasantly surprised :)

    cakeje van eigen deeg - Thanks!

    The Procrastobaker - Aww shucks! Thanks! Haha I think I would drive myself crazy if I had to mass produce these!

    stella -Thanks so much! I love the paper too :)

    Alan Cooke - Thanks! I think everyone liked them :)

    Mika - Thanks!!!

    Jennifurla - LOL thank you! OMG disney macs! That would be awesome

    Amber - I was freaking out while piping the ears, they were tricky buggers! I actually had to fiddle with them for quite a while to get them right!

    Shanon - Aww thank you! Your kitty sounds so cute :)

    Irina @ Sunshine's kitchen - Thank you!!

    Mai - Thanks so much!

    cupcait - Hahaha I think we all have a bit of crazy cat lady in us :)

    muppy - Haha! That's prob for the best, I don't even know if I could make these as cute if I tried again!

    Shirley @ Kokken69 - Oh really? I hadn't seen any others!

    hsunamisweets - Thanks!

    Anonymous - :D YAY!

    Caffeine - "Eww, you can be Lisa's" :D

    Jun - Thank you!

    Kulsum@JourneyKitchen - Thanks so much!

    shaz@feedingmykidsbetter - Thanks!

    Samantha - I think she really liked them! I hope so at least :)

    ollieandthegirl - Thank you!!

    Alex - Aww thanks!

    Jenn Brigole - Thanks so much! They were fun to make :)

    Julia @Mélanger - Awww you're too sweet! Thank you!

    Sue - Heehee thanks so much!

    féenoménale - Thank you!

    LucyL - Wow you must be piping them super small! Unless you mean you end up with 24-30 single shells? 48-60 single shells sounds crazy!!!

    Lora - Thank you!

    Hannah@ Bake Five! - :) Thanks!

    sugarpuffi - Hehe thanks! Had to have the ball of yarn :D

    Anne Thanks!

    Jennifer (Delicieux) - Thank you! haha hilarious episode

    Ladybird - Thanks! It's my fav too :)

    Anonymous - well that's good.

    Tina@foodboozeshoes - poor two bummed pet :( Thanks!

    Red - Haha Catdog! apparently the simpsons ep aired first ;)

    Mabel - Same here, I didn't have the heart to eat any myself!

    A qué huele mi cocina ...- Thank you!

    Su-Lin - Thanks :)

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  49. Oh. My. God. These are the cutest things EVER! My best friend is moving to my city this month and loves carrot cake, cats, and is gluten free. I'm going to make these for her as a welcome gift! Thanks for the awesome idea :)

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  50. lickthebowlclean - You're more than welcome! I hope your friend likes them!

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  51. Sooo Cute!! and your pictures are just amazing!

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  52. Gosh! You never stop impressing me - these are just the cutest ones yet I think. :)

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  53. Sneh | Cook Republic - Thank you!

    Stéphanie B. - Aw shucks! Thanks so much!

    Yo. - THank you!

    Emily - :) I might have to agree with you there, thank you!

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  54. So cute ! I'll show your realisations on my french blog on the 16th of november. Congrats !

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  55. Gorgeous Gorgeous Macs. You have a beautiful blog and I am glad that I stumbled upon your space today. Looking forward to see more recipes from you.

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  56. You just made my day! Thank you! :)

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  57. These are adorable! I'd love to make a puppy version for my daughter's 2nd birthday. Have any ideas?

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    1. It shouldn't be too hard! I'd do a white shell with brown floppy ears and probably do decorations for the face similar to my pupcakes http://www.raspberricupcakes.com/2009/08/cupcake-day-for-rspca-pupcakes.html

      I might try it myself in the future! :)

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  58. How much would 100g of eggwhites be?

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