1-Gathering and Prepping: First, prepare a piping bag with a large round tip and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats. This sets the stage for piping those perfect rounds. Next, sift 105 grams of powdered sugar and 105 grams of almond flour together to remove any lumps, then set it aside for later use.

2-Making the Meringue: Whisk 100 grams of egg whites and 100 grams of white granulated sugar over simmering water until it’s frothy and the sugar dissolves, but don’t let the egg whites cook. Transfer this mix to a stand mixer and whip it starting at low speed for 30 seconds, then bump it up to medium for 1-2 minutes, and finally high speed until you get glossy stiff peaks. This step is crucial for that airy texture in your strawberry mint macarons.

3-Folding and Piping: Gently fold the sifted dry ingredients into the meringue, and add a couple drops of pink food coloring at this point for that pretty hue. Keep folding until the batter is glossy and flows thickly; test it by seeing if you can make a figure 8 shape. Once it’s ready, pipe rounds onto your lined trays, tap to release air bubbles, and use a toothpick to pop any stragglers.

4-Resting and Baking: Let the piped rounds rest for 20-40 minutes until they feel dry to the touch this helps them develop those signature feet. Preheat your oven to 300°F and bake one tray at a time: start with 5 minutes, rotate, another 5 minutes, and check, aiming for 15-20 minutes total. The macarons should have feet and not wiggle when you touch them; let them cool fully before filling.

5-Preparing the Strawberry Jam: For the jam, combine 1 cup (283 grams) of strawberries, 3 tablespoons of maple syrup, and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice in a pot. Bring it to a boil and stir for 5 minutes while mashing the strawberries. Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 1 tablespoon of cold water, add it in, and cook for 1-2 minutes until it thickens. Let it cool and chill it; blend if you want it smoother. This jam adds that fresh strawberry punch to your macarons.

6-Making the Mint Buttercream: Cream 4 tablespoons of softened unsalted butter, then slowly add 1 cup of sifted confectioners’ sugar while mixing on medium speed until it’s fluffy. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon of mint extract and adjust with milk or more sugar if needed. You can add green food coloring for extra visual appeal, making your strawberry mint macarons pop.

7-Assembling Your Macarons: To put it all together, pipe a ring of mint buttercream on the flat side of one shell, leaving a hole in the center, and fill that with strawberry jam. Top it with another shell to make a sandwich. For dietary tweaks, like using aquafaba for vegan options, incorporate them in each step as needed. Prep time is about 1 hour, cook time 40 minutes, for a total of 1 hour 40 minutes perfect for working professionals.