Mad about Valentine’s Day Sweets
While on vacation last month, I had this grand plan to bake Valentine’s Day themed cookies when I got home: hearts, roses, butterflies, the works. But Chinese New Year celebration (and of course, the mandatory recovery period from all the over-indulgence festivities) got in the way and Valentine’s Day has come and gone with no cookies in sight.
To make up for the slack, I decided to try baking heart-shaped Ispahan macarons, something I first saw on Flickr (at Pierre Hermé) and then again at Carousel at Royal Plaza at Scotts. I also wanted to try out the age-old flavour combination of strawberries and cream with this Pierre Hermé inspired dessert.
In keeping with the original PH Ispahan flavours, I paired fresh raspberries with raspberry cream (instead of the usual rose cream) and lychee bits. For the experimental version, I used fresh strawberries with vanilla cream and buttery shortbread pieces in the middle and assembled this combination with both 3″ heart-shaped and 3.5″ round shells. I even managed to put together a small heart-shaped macaron.
I’m completely thrilled with the results; the visual impact of both raspberry and strawberry versions is undeniable (in my opinion anyway)! I’m also very glad to report that both versions are equally wonderful tastewise! Afterall, how can one go wrong with strawberries and cream? 
I definitely won’t be waiting for Valentine’s Day to roll around before making these gorgeous little desserts again!
February 16th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Karen, these are absolutely stunning, sooo perfect!! The photos are also gorgeous, as always. Looks like you’ve had a really tasty Valentine’s Day.
February 16th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
omg.. u’re crazy!!! how divine
if i do decide to move here, we have to get together n throw a baking party or something..
February 16th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
wow! These are absolutely amazing!
February 17th, 2008 at 12:12 am
I can’t believe how flawless those look! Absolutely beautiful! Wow. Wonderful work!
February 17th, 2008 at 1:34 am
They are beautiful! How did you keep the colours of the shells so fresh looking without them turning brown under the oven heat?
February 17th, 2008 at 11:40 am
I gather one thing - that baking macarons is second nature to you. I’m jealous!
These are just picture perfect. Well done!
February 17th, 2008 at 11:59 am
These little miracle creations don’t just look gorgeous but they also taste absolutely divine.
February 17th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
These are so gorgeous. They look incredibly tasty as well. Thanks for the inspiration.
February 17th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
This looks so good! I like the photos a lot.
February 17th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Miri, Mandy, Joy, Helen, Ashley & Amelia: Thank you very much! I’m really pleased with how the photos (and the desserts) turned out.
Danielle: Thanks! I guess that’s why the “mad” in “Mad Baker” makes complete sense.
I’d love to get together to bake if you do move here. I’m keeping my fingers crossed!
macaron fever: Try baking on a lower rack or placing an aluminium foil on another rack above the one you’re baking on.
Thanks, Schatz! You’re really sweet. XOXO
February 17th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
karen..your creations are absolutely divine…well done.
Pls give us some tip on how to pipe the heart macs freehand..wow all the shape ..looks so consistence..
February 18th, 2008 at 3:29 am
Amazing! I’m impressed…these look so perfect! They are too pretty to be eaten…!!!
February 18th, 2008 at 8:07 am
Karen, these look gorgeous! You are so right nothing like classic Strawberries and cream.
February 18th, 2008 at 10:01 am
I can only say wouv! Everything beautiful!!
February 18th, 2008 at 11:07 am
That is the most appealing valentine’s day sweet I have seen so far and it doesnt’ even consist chocolate! SUPPPERRR CUTE! LUVS IT
February 18th, 2008 at 11:53 am
Thanks for your little tip! You certainly create very pretty macarons!
February 18th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Wow, you don’t get much prettier than that! Those are absolutely exquisite, nice work.
February 18th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
These are absolutely adorable!
February 18th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
wow, those look incredible - so sculptural. and i love the idea of the strawberries and cream.
i hereby declare that i will learn to make macarons before the month is out.
February 18th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Wooooow. Those are adorable and for sure very delicious. Great photos
February 18th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
These are lovely, would you mind describing how you get the macarons to be heart shaped though?
February 19th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Ali, Veronica, Kaman, Madeline, Cindy, Michelle & Joanna: Thank you very much!
Süsse-mahlzeit: Vielen Dank! Sie haben auch wunderschöne Bilder auf Ihrer Website.
Sandii & Christina: Simply pipe the batter in a heart shape instead of a round one. Draw the heart shapes on the back of the parchment paper as a guide if you feel the need to do so. You might also want to pipe them smaller than you’d like the final size to be since the batter might spread after piping.
February 20th, 2008 at 4:00 am
Hi~
♥simply gorgeous♥
Your pictures of these lovely ♥ -shaped macarons are so ♥tantalizing♥ *Q*
February 20th, 2008 at 10:24 am
These have a major “Wow” factor…I am floored! Absolutely gorgeous!
February 21st, 2008 at 1:56 am
Hey!
Super great photos also/ Åza
.just have to say that your skills in baking are just amazing! I´m a pastry chef in Sweden and just love what you do and visit your site often. Be proud
February 21st, 2008 at 11:35 pm
Wow, those are pretty stunning. The colors on them are amazing too.
The actually look like a mouth with teeth. Kinda cool.
February 22nd, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Hey Karen,
I e-mailed you a several time.
But it seems like you never got them?
Please let me know if you have gotten them.
btw, these heart shaped Ispaphan look so beautiful!!!!!!!!!!
February 22nd, 2008 at 5:39 pm
Hello Mel!
It’s really good to hear from you. I’ve actually sent you a few emails, but didn’t get any reply. In fact, I just sent one 5 mins ago!
I only received one email from you on 10 Feb when you first got back to Taiwan. Will you be coming to Singapore? You can try sending e-mail to sauleng[at]gmail[dot]com instead. It might work better since you’re using gmail.
Hope to hear from you soon!
February 23rd, 2008 at 12:28 am
Dear Karen
Thanks for your help and inspiration. You’ve been tagged! Please check out the link here. http://yuribake.blogspot.com/2008/02/meme.html
February 25th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Hi, Karen! You’re creations are so beautiful! I feel like I could almost pluck them from my screen. I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve tagged you for a meme. I’d love to hear more about you!
http://stickygooeycreamychewy.blogspot.com/2008/02/its-raining-memes.html
February 28th, 2008 at 8:34 am
There look SO SO SO GOOD. So good, in fact, that I’m thinking of eating my arm. Maybe I should go make myself a snack.
February 28th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
OMG, these look INCREDIBLE.
Really, absolute gorgeousness.
I need this in my house every day.
February 29th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Venus, Helen, Aza & Cheryl: Thank you very much!
Adeline & Susan: Thank you for the meme tags! I’ll have to find time to answer.
David & Robin: Thank you so much!
March 2nd, 2008 at 5:59 am
I’m a new fan, but these are beautiful! Not just the pastries but the photography too. Did you take classes to learn how to take these photos? I would love to learn the secrets!
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Dear Karen,
Is it possible to order these beautiful heartshaped macarons from you? I understand that you are fully booked until end of March. Do let me know when is the earliest I can order? Thanks so much
Great job done on your website. I enjoy browsing through it. Your baking and photography skills are indeed really good!
Cheers,
Jo
March 4th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Jennie: Thank you! I haven’t taken any classes, neither pastry nor photography-wise. :o) I haven’t really got any secrets to impart. Just a lot of exploration and experimentation!
Jo: Thank you! I’ll be sending you an email shortly.
March 9th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
I have finally taken the plunge and started experimenting with macarons. I approach it like I would synthesise my polymer in the lab. Still tweaking and think I am becoming more consistent but you’ve really provided the inspiration for me to look up to…. looking forward to more postings from you….
March 14th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
I am so glad that I just randomly found your blog through Flickr! Your photos are beautiful and the baked goods look even better! You’re so talented and your blog is definitely my new favourite. I’m going to go and drool over all of your macarons now.
March 14th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
OMG every photo you have is so jaw-droppingly gorgeous! Yum Yum Yum! Two thumbs up!
Definitely adding you to my blogroll and daily feed!
March 31st, 2008 at 3:23 am
WOOOAAAWWW!!! gorgeous!
your whole blog is just SO inspiring, I love it
and your macarons are the best…
April 21st, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Hi, do you have the recipe for the Valentine’s day sweets?
June 6th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
hi can i still order these for an anniversary?
June 29th, 2008 at 6:19 am
Hi, it’s all so beautiful ….. Can you give me the recipe??????