top of page
Search

Lavender Macaron Recipe in Provence | French Pastry


Assortment of colorful French macarons made in Provence, including lavender macarons prepared with a traditional French pastry recipe
Colorful French macarons in Provence

 Learning French by baking macarons


My latest student during his French immersion stay in Provence wanted to learn how to bake macarons. That’s exactly what we did.


We took the opportunity to work on questions, verb tenses, and cooking vocabulary… Cooking is a wonderful way to improve your French.


We had a lot of fun preparing the macarons… and doing a little “interview” in French while following the recipe. We hope you will enjoy this experience as much as we did.


What is a macaron?

Pink French macaron held in hand, showing its smooth shell and creamy filling, an iconic symbol of French pastry from Provence
A classic French macaron

Today, a macaron is a small, round, delicate and soft pastry.


It is made of:

  • almond flour

  • egg whites

  • sugar


It consists of two slightly crisp shells on the outside and soft on the inside, filled with cream, ganache or jam.

Its shape and texture have evolved over the centuries, but it remains one of the symbols of French pastry.


Where do macarons come from?

Virginie in Provence tasting homemade macaron batter in her kitchen, highlighting the traditional and artisanal roots of French macaron recipes
Tasting macaron batter in Provence

The origin of the macaron is Mediterranean.


It is believed to have Arab and Italian roots. An older interpretation suggests it came from Andalusia, brought to Marrakech by the Grand Sultan Youssef Ibn Tachfine.


In Europe, macarons appeared during the Middle Ages. Catherine de Medici helped popularize them in France. Rabelais already mentioned this “small round almond pastry” in Le Quart Livre in 1552.


Since then, several cities have claimed authorship of the macaron:

  • Saint-Jean-de-Luz

  • Nancy

  • Paris


Key dates in the history of the macaron


1581: Catherine de Medici served macarons at the wedding of the Duke Anne de Joyeuse.

1660: In Saint-Jean-de-Luz, pastry chef Adam offered macarons to Louis XIV for his wedding.

1793: In Nancy, the famous “Macaron Sisters” continued the tradition.


Today, the macaron has become a true icon of French gastronomy.



Easy homemade macaron recipe

Virginie mixing lavender macaron preparation in a saucepan, an essential step in this traditional French pastry recipe from Provence
Preparing lavender macarons by hand

There are many variations of the macaron recipe.

Here is the one I have been using for years. Feel free to adapt it to your taste.


Tools you need to make macarons


  • a mixing bowl

  • an electric whisk

  • a spatula

  • a sieve

  • a 10 mm piping tip

  • a piping bag

  • a baking tray


Ingredients for 15 to 20 macarons

Ingredients needed to make lavender macarons, including eggs, sugar, almond flour and key elements of this traditional French recipe
Ingredients for lavender macarons

  • 125 g almond flour

  • 225 g powdered sugar

  • 3 egg whites

  • 30 g granulated sugar

  • powdered food coloring (optional)


How to make macarons?

Person assembling two macaron shells with filling in the center, final step in making lavender macarons in Provence
Assembling French macarons

  • Mix the almond flour and powdered sugar.

  • Sift the mixture.

  • Whisk the egg whites, gradually adding the granulated sugar.

  • Gently fold the almond-sugar mixture into the whipped egg whites.

  • Mix carefully until you obtain a smooth and glossy texture.

  • Add food coloring if desired.

  • Pipe the shells onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper.

  • Let them rest at room temperature for 2 to 3 hours to form a skin.

  • Bake between 130°C and 160°C (265°F–320°F), depending on your oven, for 14 to 16 minutes.

  • Let them cool before removing from the tray.

  • Fill and assemble the macarons two by two.


How to fill macarons?

Glossy chocolate ganache being whisked, used as a rich filling for homemade French macarons
Smooth chocolate filling

You can fill your macarons with:

  • chocolate ganache

  • jam

  • lemon cream

  • pastry cream


Personally, I love filling them with lavender pastry cream.

I infuse dried lavender buds in warm milk overnight. The flavor remains subtle, fresh and very Provençal.


Baking macarons during a French immersion in Provence

Homemade French macarons displayed on a white plate in Provence, including lavender macarons prepared with a traditional recipe
Homemade macarons in Provence

I often prepare macarons with students during their immersion stay.


Cooking is the perfect opportunity to:

  • speak French

  • expand your vocabulary

  • review grammar

  • learn naturally


In Provence, in a bright and peaceful setting, learning happens differently.We talk. We laugh. We taste. We improve. You no longer have to choose between learning and relaxing.


Also read – recipes and French immersion in Provence


If you enjoyed this macaron recipe, you might also like:


And if you come for a French immersion stay in Provence, I will help you discover the landscapes, the scents, the culture and the gastronomy… while naturally improving your French through everyday life.


See you soon in Provence 🌿

Virginie in Provence



Comments

© 2018-2025 by Virginie In Provence

bottom of page