National Macaroon Day
May 31, Saturday
How is a macaroon different from a macaron?
It is important not to confuse a macaroon with the French macaron:
* A macaroon is a dense, chewy cookie, often with coconut
* A macaron is an elegant French pastry made from almond flour with filling between two halves
Origin of the macaroon
The macaroon has a long history:
* It comes from the Italian word maccarone, meaning "fine dough"
* It was first made in Italy during the Middle Ages
* It later became popular in France and then in the United States
How is the holiday celebrated?
On this day:
* People bake and share macaroons
* Recipes are shared on blogs and social media
* Tastings are held in cafés and bakeries
* New flavors and dessert variations are tried
Popular macaroon flavors
* Coconut (the classic)
* Chocolate
* Almond
* With additions: nuts, fruits, spices
Interesting fact
In the United States, coconut macaroons are especially popular during the Jewish holiday of Passover, because they contain no flour or leavening.