The French macaron is a study in contrasts: a crisp, delicate shell that gives way to a soft, chewy interior, sandwiched around a filling of ganache, buttercream, or jam. National Macaron Day, celebrated on March 20, grew out of the French Jour du Macaron started by pastry chef Pierre Herme, and in many cities participating patisseries hand out macarons in exchange for a charitable donation. It is a rare food holiday with a generous streak built right in.

Macaron, not macaroon

First, clear up the confusion: a macaron is the smooth, meringue-based almond sandwich cookie, while a macaroon is the craggy, coconut mound often dipped in chocolate. They share a linguistic root but almost nothing else. On March 20 it is the delicate French version taking the spotlight, so make sure you are ordering the right thing.

Why they are tricky to bake

Macarons are famously finicky, and that is part of the appeal for home bakers who love a challenge. Success hinges on macaronage, the careful folding of almond flour and powdered sugar into meringue until the batter flows like slow lava, and on resting the piped shells until they form a skin before baking. Weigh your ingredients rather than measuring by volume, age your egg whites, and expect a few failed batches before you get the signature ruffled feet. A silicone template mat and a steady piping hand make the learning curve gentler.

The easier way to celebrate

If a multi-hour baking project is not your idea of fun, simply buy a box from a good bakery and taste your way through the flavors. Classic pistachio, raspberry, salted caramel, and dark chocolate are a great starting flight. Macarons also make a thoughtful small gift, since they look far more expensive and elaborate than almost anything else you can carry in one hand.

Fragile, fussy, and completely worth it: the macaron rewards a patient baker.

However you mark March 20, treat the macaron as the tiny luxury it is. Bake a batch to prove you can, or leave it to the professionals and enjoy the results with a good espresso and no dishes to wash. Either way, take a moment to appreciate the craft in something so small: the smooth domed shell, the delicate ruffled foot, and the soft center that yields the instant you bite in. Few desserts pack so much technique into two bites, and that is precisely why the macaron has earned a day of its own.

How to celebrate

  1. 1
    Visit a patisserie

    Macaron Day grew out of the French Jour du Macaron, and in many cities participating shops hand out a macaron in exchange for a charitable donation. Check whether a local patisserie is taking part, and enjoy a tiny luxury while supporting a good cause.

  2. 2
    Know your spelling

    A macaron is the smooth, meringue-based almond sandwich cookie; a macaroon is the craggy coconut mound. They share a root and almost nothing else. March 20 belongs to the delicate French version, so order accordingly.

  3. 3
    Attempt the shells

    Macarons are famously finicky, which is the appeal for anyone who loves a baking challenge. Weigh your ingredients, master the slow folding called macaronage, and rest the piped shells until they form a skin before baking. Expect a few failed trays on the way to those signature ruffled feet.

  4. 4
    Taste a flavor flight

    If baking is not your plan, buy a small assorted box and taste your way through. Pistachio, raspberry, salted caramel, and dark chocolate make a great starter flight, and comparing them side by side is half the fun.

  5. 5
    Give them as a gift

    Few small gifts look as elegant as a neat box of macarons, and they travel well by hand. They appear far more elaborate than almost anything else you can carry, which makes them a thoughtful, low-effort present.