Macaroon Day: on March 20, show your support by eating macaroons!

Ingrid Boinet | 2/11/23

Every year, March 20 is Macaroon Day. Here we explain why this day is important (and why you should go and eat these delicious filled treats).

Do you know why March 20 is such an important date? It's Macaroon Day! On this day, for every macaroon sold, a portion of the profits is donated to a charity. Learn more about this day and the history of the macaroon!

When was the macaroon born?

The macaroon first appeared in Italy in the Middle Ages. Known as maccherone, it was a round cookie made from almonds, sugar and egg. It is said to have been introduced to the French court by Catherine de Médicis. The filled pastry is said to have delighted all palates and quickly became fashionable.

Some claim that it was pastry chef Gerbet who, in 1880, came up with the idea of gluing macaroons together with ganache. But history has only remembered the name of Louis Ernest Ladurée, who, with his wife Jeanne Souchard, invented the first Parisian tea room to serve macaroons.

Since then, Pierre Hermé has made macaroons his specialty. However, the famous pastry chef is said to have found the little round cookie tasteless. This is what prompted him to reinvent the recipe and dare to experiment with unexpected flavors and textures.

Why is Macaron Day special?

On the strength of his worldwide reputation, Pierre Hermé is behind Macaroon Day. Every year since 2006, on March 20, pastry chefs belonging to the Relais Desserts association have offered their delicious filled cakes in exchange for a donation to a charity.Macaroon Day has helped the Autistes sans frontières association, as well as victims of the war in Ukraine. In 2023, donations went to the Princesse Margot association, which supports children with cancer and helps their families through the ordeal of the disease.

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