Mango Macarons with a Mango Swiss Meringue Buttercream Filling (Italian Meringue Recipe)

I just love the taste of mangoes...ever since I was a little girl I loved those Mango Smoothies from this local smoothie shop. I would never get another smoothie besides Mango Madness. Mangoes are also good for you, high in Vitamin C and Vitamin A! And they taste great. I know a couple people who don't like mangoes, but after you try this recipe you will love them. (You better)

It really irks me when people don't include pictures of the inside of the macarons when providing a recipe! How are we supposed to know if it works and doesn't turn out hollow?? That is why I will always provide you guys with the insides of the macaron as well so you can decide whether it will work or not. I see many macarons on recipes looking very nice, but I can tell the insides would be hollow. They just don't want to say anything...probably embarassed. No need to be embarassed! Just tell us if it will work or not, that's all we need to know.

Anyways, the insides of these are really moist and chewy, and not in a bad way chewy. Like a good, light soft chewy. And they are really fragrant of mangoes and taste just like it. Because I put fresh and freeze-dried mangoes in the shells! Basically just follow my regular macaron recipe and I will include a Swiss meringue buttercream recipe at the end. :) 

Mango Macarons (Italian Meringue Method) makes about 24 filled macarons, or 48 shells

Ingredients:
Mass:
-150g almond meal/flour (I use Trader Joe's Blanched Slivered Almonds and grind them in a food processor)
-130g powdered sugar
-20g freeze dried mangoes (I use the ones from Trader Joe's)
-50g egg whites (do not have to be aged)
-Gel food coloring (optional)
-2 tsp cornstarch (if weather is humid)
-pinch of salt

Italian Meringue:
-120g granulated sugar
-55g egg whites (do not have to be aged)
-40g water

Materials:
-Candy thermometer
-Kitchen/postal scale
-Piping bags/large round tip (These give the most perfect results if that's what you're going for)
-Good insulated baking sheets (I use Nordic Ware Baker's Half Sheet)
-Parchment paper or silpats (I prefer silpats but parchment is nice too)
-Stand mixer (recommended, but it is possible with a hand mixer, just takes longer)
-Rubber Spatula/pastry scraper

1. Process together your freeze dried mangoes, almond flour, and powdered sugar in a food processor until finely ground. Sift together into a large bowl.
2. Add the 50g egg whites and mix until it becomes a dough-like consistency, and add in your food coloring. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside.
3. For the meringue, beat your 55g egg whites in the bowl of your stand mixer until frothy, then add a pinch of sugar if you'd like to stabilize the egg whites. Beat until soft peaks form, then turn the mixer down to low or 'stir' so that they don't deflate. DO NOT OVERBEAT EGG WHITES AT THIS STAGE. VERY IMPORTANT...if you do, your macarons will be hollow.
4. At the same time, put the water and sugar in a small saucepan over the stove at medium-high heat and attach your candy thermometer. When the mixture gets bubbly with no spots of unboiled sugar or 240 degrees Fahrenheit on your candy thermometer, take the sugar syrup off heat and slowly pour it into the egg whites, while turning up your mixer to medium-high speed. Let it beat until the bowl of the stand mixer is body temperature, and holds a nice 'beak'. The meringue should be stiff, shiny, and smooth.
5. Then add 1/3 of the meringue to the mass just to lighten it up, making it easier to fold into the meringue. Fold with a rubber spatula just a bit until no white spots of meringue are left.
6. Then add the rest of the meringue and fold with a fold, press, and turn the bowl motion (I have a video on my main recipe).
7. Once the batter will fall of the spatula with a thick ribbon-like consistency, you are ready to pipe them. Pipe 1-1.5 inch diameter circles onto baking sheets lined with parchment paper or Silpat. Now is a good time to preheat your oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
8. Once you are done piping, drop the sheets a couple times on the counter to get rid of air bubbles and flatten out any peaks on your macarons.
9. Now let them rest for 15-20 minutes, or until the macarons are dry to the touch.
10. Bake for 10-13 minutes, depending on how solid you want your macarons. I recommend 12.
11. Let them cool completely before taking them off the baking sheets with an offset spatula.

Mango Swiss Meringue Buttercream (makes more than enough for 24 macarons, so freeze the excess for later)

Ingredients:
-1/2 cup granulated sugar
-2 egg whites
-1 1/2-2 sticks of butter, softened
-2/3 cup mango puree, to taste
-1 tsp orange juice, if needed

1. Set up a water bath over medium-low heat. (a small amount of water in a pot, with a smaller bowl over the pot)
2. Add the egg whites and granulated sugar into the smaller bowl, and whisk constantly to prevent mixture from cooking.
3. Once the mixture reaches 140 degrees Fahrenheit on your thermometer or if you put your fingers in the mixture and rub them together, no sugar crystals remain, take it off heat.
4. With a hand or stand mixer, beat the egg whites until they become thick and white.
5. Now add in your butter a stick at a time (if it is not softened, heat it up in microwave for 8 seconds). Beat for about 2 minutes, or until the buttercream has become a light and fluffy texture. It may look curdled while beating, but keep beating until it becomes smooth.
6. Add in your mango puree and orange juice, and keep adjusting to your taste. I don't really have a set amount for the mango since all mangoes have different ripeness and flavor.
7. Now sandwich similar sized shells together and store in the fridge for at least 24 hours, so that the flavors meld and it softens up the shell a bit. Serve a room temperature for a better taste experience.