French Macaron Recipes That Are Truly Fantastique!

Pastry crazes may come and go, but the macaron's appeal is timeless. This Parisian import seduces through playful elegance; and based on its reception, nothing is lost in translation.

Once only found at high-end patisseries, we’ve perfected the art of making these chic sandwich cookies at home (for less than a quarter a pop, no less). Bonus: they're gluten-free and oh so Instagrammable. Read our test kitchen Q&A, visit our step-by-step guide, and choose a recipe from this collection, then say bonjour to your new favorite treat.

Our basic recipe nails the technique but leaves details up to you. There are endless options--between color, flavor, and filling--for creating a masterpiece.

Have some espresso with your cookie -- or rather, baked inside. Make ours a triple, as we wouldn't forfeit the buzzy buttercream or the subtly dusted exterior.

Can a cookie be refreshing? This is as close as it gets. We’ve paired mint cookies with bittersweet ganache, but if your teeth fall on the sweeter side, white-chocolate buttercream would be a lovely match.

Ground almonds are the standard base for these naturally gluten-free cookies, but hazelnuts make a sumptuous substitute -- especially when paired with rich chocolate-hazelnut ganache.

Now that we’ve given you three routes to a chocolate fix, it's vanilla's moment in the spotlight. This macaron classic is flavored with real vanilla bean, which makes it extra chic -- polka dots are so hot right now.