Exquisite Orange Walnut Macarons: A Seasonal Delight with Spiced Cream Cheese & Cranberry Filling

A Heartfelt Introduction to Holiday Baking Magic

Today, we are absolutely thrilled to welcome a very special guest to our kitchen, my dear friend Allie from Baking a Moment. Allie possesses an extraordinary passion and unparalleled talent for baking, and her creations consistently leave me in awe. These delightful Orange Walnut Macarons, meticulously crafted with a subtly spiced cream cheese and a vibrant cranberry filling, are a testament to her incredible skill and creativity. Every dessert she touches turns into a masterpiece, like her famous Vanilla Malt Layer Cake. Beyond her culinary genius, Allie is truly the sweetest and most generous soul, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have connected with her over these past few months. You are going to adore her and all her stunning desserts, just as much as you’ll adore these captivating macarons. Get ready to be inspired!

Hello there, wonderful Blahnik Baker readers! My name is Allie, and I share my baking adventures over at Baking a Moment. Zainab and I first connected through our shared love for the art of dessert blogging, and I honestly couldn’t be more delighted about it! From our very first interactions, she’s proven to be such a sweet, warm, and incredibly generous person. You, her loyal readers, undoubtedly already know this about her, don’t you?

But beyond her charming personality, Zainab is also one of the most brilliant individuals I know. Her work in neuroscience is truly on another level of intellectual prowess, which, amusingly enough, brings me to why I’m here today. Zainab is currently away from her beloved oven, attending a cutting-edge conference for neuroscientists. Am I even pronouncing that right, Zainab?! Regardless, I am absolutely thrilled and honored that she invited me to be a guest contributor in her absence, and I’m incredibly excited to share this unique and festive macaron recipe with all of you!

I understand that for many home bakers, macarons can seem a little daunting, even intimidating. Their reputation precedes them, often whispered about as temperamental and tricky. However, I also know firsthand that they are one of Zainab’s absolute favorite things to bake. She masterfully creates these delicate confections with such grace and precision. So, I thought, if she, with her incredibly sharp mind, loves making them, and if you, her discerning readers, also appreciate fine desserts, then surely a delightful macaron creation from me would be a perfect fit!

And what better way to celebrate the transition from late fall into the cozy embrace of early winter than with a macaron rendition designed specifically for the season?

When I think of the holiday season, walnuts invariably come to mind. There’s just something inherently warm, comforting, and subtly toasty about their flavor that instantly evokes the festive spirit. For these particular macaron shells, I decided to venture beyond the traditional almond flour and incorporate finely ground walnuts. This substitution not only infuses the shells with a wonderfully distinct nutty depth but also provides a unique texture that pairs beautifully with the other seasonal elements. A crucial tip for your shopping: be sure to look for walnut “pieces” rather than “halves.” Walnut halves tend to be significantly more expensive, and since you’ll be grinding them down anyway, pieces are a much more economical and practical choice. My trusty food processor recently decided to retire, so I actually ended up using the chopper attachment of my stick blender – it worked perfectly! The key is to pulse the nuts until they reach the finest possible consistency, almost like a flour, but exercise caution not to over-process them, as you’ll quickly end up with walnut butter, which isn’t what we’re aiming for here. Achieving that fine, powdery texture is essential for the delicate structure of the macaron shells.

To introduce a vibrant burst of freshness that wonderfully offsets the warmth of the walnuts and spices, I also added a generous amount of fresh orange zest to the macaron shells. This citrusy pop provides a bright, aromatic counterpoint, elevating the overall flavor profile. And for that extra touch of holiday magic and sparkle, a delicate sprinkling of gold disco dust gives these macarons an irresistible festive glimmer. It’s a small detail that makes a big visual impact, transforming them into true edible jewels for any celebration.

Now, let’s talk about the filling – a truly sensational combination designed to complement the unique shells. We start with a luxuriously simple cream cheese frosting, which is then subtly “spiked” with a hint of warm cinnamon spice. This addition transforms the frosting into a creamy, comforting embrace that perfectly echoes the season. Once your macaron shells are ready, pipe a neat circle of this spiced cream cheese frosting onto one shell. The magic happens next: into the small well created by the frosting ring, dollop a juicy, glistening drop of our homemade whole berry cranberry compote. This delightful pocket of tart, fruity goodness creates a happy little surprise when you take that first bite, offering a wonderfully tart and vibrant counterpoint to the sweet, delicate shell and rich cream cheese. It’s a textural and flavor journey in every mouthful!

Speaking of cranberry sauce, I confess that it was only last year that I discovered just how incredibly easy it is to make fresh, homemade cranberry compote. Before that revelation, I was completely beholden to the canned variety, but once I tried my hand at making it from scratch, there was simply no turning back! Seriously, we’re talking about three basic ingredients and a mere ten minutes of your time, and you’ll have a vibrant, flavorful cranberry filling that far surpasses anything from a can. The fresh, bright taste of homemade cranberry sauce truly elevates these macarons. That being said, I understand that life can get busy, and if you find yourself in a rush during the bustling holiday season, there is absolutely no shame in reaching for a quality whole berry canned cranberry sauce. It will still provide that essential tart counterpoint, allowing you to enjoy these seasonal delights without added stress. The goal is to savor the flavors and the moment!

You are going to absolutely adore the harmonious contrast of flavors and textures in every single bite of these Orange Walnut Macarons. The bright, tart fruitiness of the cranberry filling cuts through the sweetness, while the melt-in-your-mouth, marshmallowy macaron shell provides a delicate base. The warm, toasty notes of the walnuts in the shell, coupled with the bright, aromatic citrus zest, will delightfully tickle your taste buds and awaken your senses. Finally, the rich, smooth spiced cream cheese filling, with its subtle hint of warming winter cinnamon, rounds out all the flavors in the most exquisitely delicious way. Imagine these gorgeous, jewel-toned macarons gracing your holiday dessert table – they would undoubtedly be a showstopper! Or, consider them as elegant and thoughtful party favors for your guests to take home, a sweet reminder of a wonderful celebration. They’re more than just a dessert; they’re a culinary experience.

I sincerely hope you all enjoy crafting and savoring these fun and truly seasonal Orange Walnut Macarons! I had such a wonderful time putting this recipe together and am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to connect with all of you amazing Blahnik Baker readers. A huge thank you to you, Zainab, for inviting me! You are truly a dear friend, beautiful both inside and out, and an absolute inspiration. Happy baking, everyone!

Thank you so, so much, Allie! These incredible macarons have absolutely knocked me off my feet, and I genuinely cannot wait to try my hand at making them myself. Isn’t she just lovely? I told you that you would fall in love with her talent and her spirit! For more incredibly creative and inspiring recipes like this one, be sure to head over to her wonderful blog, Baking a Moment. Just remember, I loved her first! Her desserts are truly moments of pure joy, and I encourage everyone to explore her delicious world.

Yield: ~30 macarons

Orange Walnut Macarons with Spiced Cream Cheese and Cranberry Filling

Orange walnut macarons are filled with spiced cream cheese and a cranberry filling.

Prep Time
1 hour

Cook Time
12 minutes

Total Time
1 hour 12 minutes

Ingredients

For the Cranberry Filling:

• 1 12-ounce bag fresh cranberries
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup water

For the Shells:

• 155 grams powdered (confectioners) sugar
• 50 grams walnut pieces
• 50 grams almond meal/flour
• zest of half an orange
• 3 egg whites
• ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
• pinch of kosher salt
• 55 grams granulated sugar
• Gold Disco Dust, optional

For the Spiced Cream Cheese Filling:

• 4 ounces softened cream cheese (I used ⅓ less fat)
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• ¼ cup powdered (confectioners) sugar
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• pinch of kosher salt

Instructions

Make the Cranberry Compote:

Place the cranberries, water, and sugar in a medium pot and bring to boil.
Lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
Cool completely.

Make the Macaron Shells:

Place the bowl of the food processor on a kitchen scale and zero it out.
Weigh out the nuts, almond flour, and confectioners sugar, add the orange zest, and process finely.
Sift the mixture, re-process any large pieces that may remain, sift again, and set aside.
Place the egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt in a large mixing bowl, and whip on medium speed to soft peaks.
Gradually whip in the granulated sugar, turn the speed up to high, and continue to whip to stiff, glossy peaks.
Add the nut mixture all at once. Fold together just until the mixture falls from the spatula in one thick, long, continuous ribbon. Do not overmix.
Fill a pastry bag with the batter, and pipe 2-inch diameter circles on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with gold disco dust, if using.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Allow the piped batter to dry until a thin membrane has formed over the surface (about 20-30 minutes).
Place one tray of macaron shells in the hot oven, and immediately drop the temperature to 325 degrees F. Bake for 11-12 minutes, remove from the oven, and raise the temperature back to 375 F before putting the next tray in and immediately lowering again.
Cool the shells completely, on the baking sheet, before filling.

Make the Spiced Cream Cheese Filling:

Place all the Spiced Cream Cheese Filling ingredients in a small mixing bowl and beat until fluffy and smooth.

Assemble the Macarons:

Pipe a ring around the bottom of one macaron shell.
Fill the center of the ring with about ½ teaspoon of Cranberry Filling.
Sandwich another macaron shell on top.

Notes

You will have (a lot of) extra cranberry filling.
Canned Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce can be substituted for the Cranberry Filling.

Making this Recipe?

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