Be seduced by the bite-sized joy of macarons

Delicately crisp on the outside and luxuriously rich in the middle, macarons are the favourite sweet of France, where they were created by Pierre Desfontaines at the beginning of the twentieth century. Until recently seldom enjoyed outside of France, they can now be found in cafes, restaurants and at weddings around the world. Macaron, with its easy and inspired recipes, shows you all you need to create these delights at home.
 Eating a macaron is an ecstasy-inducing experience, as anyone who has tried one can attest: first you bite through a crisp, shell-like exterior to a slightly chewy almond-meringue biscuit, and finally reach the explosion of flavour carried by the buttercream or ganache filling. When it comes to indulgence, nothing can compare.

Here, pastry chef Alison Thompson shares 35 recipes for unique and utterly luscious macarons. Following her straightforward, step-by-step instructions - and with a mouth-wateringly decadent image of each macaron to inspire you - you'll soon be baking these delectable morsels like a professional.