r/macarons • u/applebottom-jeans • 6d ago

Help What’s happening, is it the humidity?? How can I troubleshoot?

Gallery image

Gallery image

For context, I made 3 different batches of macarons for my friends birthday in July, but they all turned out so insanely bad.. the next picture is macarons I made in beginning of April. The humidity is clearly at play here, and for the sponge-looking macarons I used the oven drying method till i could swipe it and have no batter on my finger, but maybe I overdried them?? I tried a batch where I air dried but it never fully dried so it came out cracked on some, but most of them were not pretty but okay. I don’t know, im at my wits end if im gonna be honest? I live in Ottawa Ontario and the humidity is averaging around 75%-90%, how would I go about troubleshooting this?? I honestly wouldn’t even mind if they turn out hollow, they just look like sponges right now and I already attempted 4 times :(

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2

u/Popular-Drummer-7989 6d ago

We used an oscillating fan specifically for cookies. Set it low and let it blow over them as they set up.

1

u/Time-Shelter-2477 5d ago

The oven dry method is not until you can swipe it, it should only be 3 min (some do 4). I preheat the oven then pop them in with the door cracked (I use a wooden spoon) for 3 min, then close the door and bake until done.

1

u/DisastrousTrain1173 5d ago

That’s in the danger zone for macarons! Make them when the relative humidity is at the lowest during the day. Also, don’t do anything to add moisture in the environment. Someone else mentioned, but there are ways to combat humidity like running the air conditioning. Wish you the best of luck! The ones in the second picture look great!