Macaron vs Macaroon - What's in a name anyway?

Most of my life, my name has been mis-pronounced as Resh-meee, with the resh like in mesh. I mis-pronounce my own name and am habituated to it. Reshmi in Hindi means silken and is pronounced Ray-shmeee. See? How easy was that? I can only blame my parents for spelling my name in misleading phonetics. And also naming me after a popular kebab from the starters section in Indian restaurants.
I've heard Rush-meee, or even worse, Rash-meee. Unless you were from the Asian sub-continent you would not think to say Ray-shmeee. So I gave up trying to correct the rest of the world, when really it's the spelling of my name that's just off. In any case, whichever way you pronounce my name, I know you're referring to me. To-may-toes, to-mah-toes.
macaroon

Macaron, however, is proving to be a bit more problematic. I was studying in France when I first came across them, so I say mac-a-rons, as the French do. However, in the UK they're commonly referred to as "macaroons". Initially I had dismissed it as a language/accent issue and was a bit of a stickler for technicalities. After all 'Macarons' by definition are almond-meringue pastry cookie "sandwiches" (at the risk of sounding crass) with a filling of sorts, right? Whereas 'macaroons', while also made of a meringue often have desiccated coconut and look and taste very different to the aforementioned.

Here's a hilarious comparison diagram I came across at I Do Believe I Came with a Hat

and another one from The Macaron Master

Having set up Anges de Sucre (a whole other can of worms when it comes to pronunciation) in the UK I'm only just getting more relaxed and referring to them as both. You see, I dread coming across as a pretentious little toe-rag insisting on calling them "mac-a-rons" when the non-French public are aware of what they are and choose to refer to them as "mac-a-roons" out of habit or ease, when in reality, it is simply a case of different languages! Like Chocolat vs Chocolate, or Cacao versus Cocoa. Then again, I'd hate to be thought as a philistine by purists who would want to rub stinging nettles into my eyeballs upon hearing me call them "mac-a-roons".

To make peace and sort of meet in the middle, I have considered using "mac-a-runs" only to be told by my co-director that that's rather unappetising and may be perceived as having insalubrious connotations. Hence myself, and a lot of fellow Brit bakers, have adopted the term 'French Macaroons' to avoid all doubt, where a macaroon could either be a macaroon or a macaron, but a French macaroon is most definitely a macaron.

MacDaddyCake-London_Surrey_Berkshire_2000x

So, what's in a name anyway? I say, to-may-toes, to-mah-toes, mac-a-ron, mac-a-roon. You may call me Resh-mee, Ray-shmee, or even Rush-mee, but please refrain from Rash-meee. Now that really does have insalubrious connotations.

Now that's cleared up, have a look at our extensive macaron cakes collection for cake with a side of macarons at your next special gathering.

Love,

Reshmi xoxo

11 Responses

Carol

Carol

December 16, 2024

Macarons and Macaroons are two different entities. Macaroons are made with either coconut or almonds and are a flattish biscuit. Macarons have a filling and are a bit of a waste of time.

Kelly

Kelly

November 29, 2024

Ah, what a literary feast this article turned out to be! Truly, it is the epitome of eloquence and wit—a veritable delight for both the intellect and the soul. Not only did I revel in its humor and informative depth, but it also managed to resolve a long-standing familial conundrum that has plagued our holiday gatherings for years. Bravo, and my heartfelt thanks for this masterful contribution!

Leiann Maharjan

Leiann Maharjan

September 23, 2024

BAD

Zareena

Zareena

May 28, 2024

I certainly love this post of yours, Reshmi, as I l too, am a stickler for pronunciation.
Do you think it has something to do with our Southeast Asian roots and the fact we long to sound we can fit in, perhaps? Or it is just a linguistic side of us two? Haha!
Anyway, I really enjoy your wit and style of writing! :)

Heather

Heather

April 18, 2024

Scottish Macaroon Bars are different again and made with Boiled potato and icing sugar mixed to a fondant, covered in chocolate and dippedmin toasted coconut. So yummy! 😋

Ludo

Ludo

February 28, 2023

Your coloured meringue sandwich is a French Macaron, your moist coconut cookie is a coconut macaroon.. but additionally there is the English Macaroon which is a beige slightly crispy flattish biscuit usually made with almond and regular flour and topped with a cherry or half almond and there is also a Scottish Macaroon which is sugar mixed with mashed potato, covered in chocolate and toasted dessicated coconut
FOUR very different sweets

Lauren

Lauren

February 07, 2023

I love both MACARONS and MACAROONS <3 <3 <3. It’s hilarious that we have two delicious cookies SO DIFFERENT separated by ONE LETTER UGH LOVE MACARO/O/Ns

Stephanie Shockley

Stephanie Shockley

January 12, 2023

My mom thinks this is wrong. She keeps calling both of them macaroons thinking they’re the same thing made different ways. I tried to tell her that no the first one is pronounced as macarons but she gets mad at the very suggestion.

Lisa Paglieroni-Jasalavich

Lisa Paglieroni-Jasalavich

January 25, 2018

I never realized there was so much “a do” about macarons/macaroons. I love both. But I think I like the macaron just a little bit more!!!Mmmmm…

Alex

Alex

March 17, 2016

I can certainly pronounce them differently (I pronounce the french one like ‘roan’), but there’s no reason to disparage the macaroon for being what it is.

Lucie

Lucie

October 04, 2015

Biscuit facist!

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