If you’re looking for a fun afternoon date idea, Macaron Bar Indianapolis has the perfect activity: a three-hour macaron class that gives you all the tips and tricks to make these delicious pastries.

Nous aimons les macarons!

Our love affair with macarons began in Paris where we first tasted the world-famous Ladurée during our honeymoon. I won’t turn this into one of those blogs that makes you read someone’s memoir before getting to the part you actually want to read, BUT I will explain that macarons ≠ macaroons.

The latter – macaroon (pronounced mac-uh-roon) – is an American dessert that resembles a haystack made of shredded coconut, egg whites and sugar. A macaron (pronounced mac-ah-ron) is a colorful French dessert made of two round almond-flour-based cookies with a filling in the middle, such as caramel, ganache or jam.

Making macarons & memories

We’ve never baked macarons before, so I booked the Intro to Macarons class, which we found to be the perfect pace. Our instructor and Pastry Chef Jen was hilarious and patient – two necessary qualities for leading a bunch of newbies in making notoriously precise artisanal treats.

While it’s not the cheapest date, it’s well worth the price. Consider the cost of the macarons, themselves. They’re typically $3-$4 each, and you make more than 30 during the class – all of which you get to take home afterward. You also take home the recipes and macaron templates.

Plus, you get a memorable date with your loved one and the joy of learning something together – what’s better than that?!