Hazelnut Macarons

Ingredients

• 300 g hazelnuts (ground)
• 3 egg whites
• 250 g powdered sugar
• 1 packet vanilla sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 40 whole hazelnuts
• 100 g dark chocolate couverture

Instructions

1. 1.

   Beat the egg whites with powdered sugar and vanilla sugar until very stiff; set aside 4 tablespoons.

2. 2.

   Fold in the ground hazelnuts and cinnamon, then shape walnut-sized balls from the mixture. Press a small dent into the center of each ball and place on parchment paper. Brush the balls with beaten egg white and insert one whole hazelnut into each center.

3. 3.

   Bake in a preheated oven at 150°C for about 25 minutes, then cool on a wire rack.

4. 4.

   For decoration melt chopped couverture in a double boiler; use it to coat some or all of the macarons completely or partially, as desired.