A macaron is a French meringue sandwich cookie made with almond flour and filled with buttercream, ganache, or another filling.
Macaron shells are made from egg whites, sugar, and finely ground almonds. The batter is piped into rounds, allowed to form a surface skin, and baked. Two shells are then joined with a filling, producing the smooth, colorful sandwich cookie associated with modern French patisserie.
The macaron's history is older than its modern French form. Almond meringue cookies appeared in Europe centuries ago, and Italian pastry traditions influenced their development. French pâtissiers later popularized the filled sandwich version.
Macarons are often confused with macaroons. Macaroons are generally dense coconut cookies, while macarons use almond flour and have a smooth shell with a softer interior. Despite the similar names, they are separate confections with different textures and ingredients.