Let Them Eat Macarons!

The Sweet History of a French Cookie—and Why It Makes the Perfect Holiday Treat

Parisian macarons are everywhere. Le macaron est à la mode.

This classic French cookie — a delicate meringue-based confection made with egg white, sugar, almond meal, and a little food coloring — appears just as often in upscale patisseries as it does on the shelves of Trader Joe’s.

They’ve become an ideal gift and a deliciously decadent craze that now has its own international holiday.

Oui, c’est vrai.

Mark your calendars: National Macaron Day is celebrated annually on March 20th. This date was chosen to coincide with the first day of spring and the International Day of Happiness.

The tradition began in 2005 when Parisian pastry shops started offering free macarons and donating a portion of their proceeds to charity. The idea soon spread to New York City, and today, dozens of cities participate each year.

Yet for all their popularity, the history of this little treat is often misunderstood — and its recipe is still confused with another dessert entirely: the macaroon, with two o's.

To clear things up, let’s first turn to Hollywood.