Macaron d'Amiens

01 / ABOUT THE DISH

About the dish

Macaron d’Amiens is a soft almond cookie from Amiens made with ground almonds, sugar, honey, egg whites, a small amount of butter and flour, and flavorings such as vanilla and bitter almond. It originates in the sixteenth century, when almond-based sweets became established in the city, and it later gained wider recognition through local confectioners who refined the recipe into a defining specialty associated with Amiens. Preparation involves finely grinding almonds and mixing them with sugar and honey, incorporating well-beaten egg whites and flavorings to form a thick paste, shaping the mixture into individual rounds, and baking gently so the cookies remain pale and soft rather than crisp or meringue-like, with some versions including a small quantity of fruit marmalade blended into the dough. Variations mainly concern the choice and balance of flavorings or the optional addition of marmalade. Macaron d’Amiens is eaten at room temperature as a small dessert or sweet accompaniment, often purchased individually or boxed, and it pairs well with coffee, tea, or lightly sweet white wines.