A macaron is a delicate French sandwich cookie made from two crisp, colorful almond meringue shells with a smooth filling in between. The shells are made by whipping egg whites with sugar and carefully folding in finely ground almonds, creating cookies with a distinctive smooth, domed top and a slightly ruffled “foot” around the bottom edge.

What makes macarons special is their texture: the outside is crisp and slightly chewy, while the inside stays soft. The filling, usually buttercream, ganache, or jam, adds rich flavor. Macarons come in dozens of flavors and brilliant colors: vivid pink raspberry, pale green pistachio, sunny yellow lemon, deep brown chocolate.

These cookies require precision and patience to make. The batter must be mixed just right, neither too thick nor too thin. Bakers pipe perfect circles onto baking sheets and let them rest before baking so they develop their signature texture. Because they're so finicky, macarons are often expensive and considered a luxurious treat.

Don't confuse macarons with macaroons, which are shaggy coconut cookies that look completely different. The similar names trip people up constantly. Remember: macarons are the smooth, colorful French sandwich cookies you see in fancy bakery windows, often arranged in neat pyramids or in elegant boxes.