5 Best Parchment Papers For Macarons
Making macarons is one of those kitchen skills that takes time to master, but is well worth the effort! Many factors can affect the success of your macarons, and one of these is the parchment paper you use.
Forget that roll of cheap value parchment paper you’ve been using for baking — macarons deserve the very best!
But how do you choose the best parchment paper for macarons? To bake the perfect macarons you need thick moisture-resistant parchment paper that will not wrinkle when the batter is piped onto it. Parchment paper that is pre-cut and marked will help to take the guesswork out of evenly spacing your macarons.
With such a huge choice of parchment papers for macarons available, we’ve got the ultimate guide to help you choose the best one for your needs!
What Is Parchment Paper For Macarons?
Parchment paper is a type of kitchen paper commonly used to line cake pans and baking trays. It has been treated with an incredibly thin silicone coating, making it non-stick.
Parchment paper is also resistant to moisture and heat, making it more versatile than other types of kitchen paper.
Top bakers use parchment paper because it creates a perfect non-stick surface on which to cook delicate baked goods. It also cuts down cleaning up time, as any messy residue will be discarded alongside the parchment paper!
And although we’ve all seen or maybe even own a top-quality non-stick baking sheet, these can’t quite match the effectiveness of parchment paper.
Using parchment paper will also protect the delicate non-stick surface of your bakeware, keeping it in pristine condition for longer.
Why Should You Use Parchment Paper For Macarons?
Making the perfect batch of macarons is a tricky business, and one of the keys to success is providing a flat, non-stick surface on which to bake them.
The aim when baking macarons is to create the perfect round shape, with a smooth domed appearance on top and a flat, wrinkle-free bottom.
The batter for macarons is semi-liquid and is dropped onto the cooking surface using a piping bag. Here it should quickly form a skin on the surface, enabling it to retain the perfect shape.
The type of cooking surface makes a huge difference in how well macarons hold their shape, and many bakers prefer to use parchment paper. However, the parchment paper must be thick and high-quality to get the best results.
Poor-quality thin parchment paper will absorb moisture quickly and become wrinkled. This will make the macaron batter spread unevenly, resulting in an odd-shaped macaron with a wobbly bottom.
It’ll still taste great, but not the perfect dome shape we are all striving to achieve!
It’s important to get the right parchment paper — it will help the batter hold its shape while that all-important skin forms on your macarons.
Once your delicious macarons are baked to perfection, they will peel easily away from the parchment paper, leaving nothing behind!
How To Choose The Best Parchment Paper For Macarons
There is such a wide variety of parchment paper available that sometimes it becomes overwhelming to choose one for baking perfect macarons.
From the most basic value roll right up to an eco-friendly durable paper, there really is a huge range to choose from!
If you are on the hunt for the best parchment paper for macarons, here are some factors you should take into consideration.
Type Of Parchment Paper
There are two different types of parchment paper: bleached and unbleached. The bleaching process means the paper has been treated with chlorine, turning it white. Unbleached parchment paper is brown in color and free from chlorine.
In reality, there is no fundamental difference in the effectiveness of bleached vs unbleached parchment paper when cooking macarons. Both have the same properties and can be used in the same way.
While there are no studies to show that chlorine causes any harm when used to bleach parchment paper, many home bakers prefer the unbleached version to reduce the number of chemicals used in its production.
However, unbleached parchment paper does tend to be more expensive, so this decision will come down to personal choice.
Parchment Paper Size
Parchment paper for macarons comes in a myriad of different sizes, either on rolls or as pre-cut sheets. Buying it on a roll means you can cut it exactly to the size you need, but pre-cut sheets are easier and hassle-free.
Whether you opt for rolls or pre-cut parchment paper, make sure it will work with the size of your baking sheets!
There is no point in buying pre-cut sheets if they are going to need trimming to size anyway, and a super-wide roll can often result in more waste than a standard-width one.
Special Features
Surely parchment paper is just a type of kitchen paper, right?
Not at all — there are huge differences in the quality of different types of parchment paper, as well as some special features that make certain brands stand out from the crowd.
One feature that many bakers look for is the eco-friendly credentials of the brand. Responsible sourcing of materials and reducing the number of chemicals used is a great way to improve our impact on the environment.
Some manufacturers also include pre-printed shapes on their parchment paper, which is ideal if you struggle to get your macarons evenly spaced on the baking sheet.
The final thing to consider is the thickness of the parchment paper — thicker paper equals fewer wrinkles! Another advantage of thicker paper is that it is more resilient and could be reused several times before needing to be discarded.
Parchment Paper Packaging
When buying parchment paper for macarons in rolls, look for one with a good-quality tear strip to enable you to create a neat edge.
A box with an effective closure system is also handy to stop that roll from escaping into your kitchen drawer!
Ideally, precut sheets should be stored in a way where they don’t get creased or crushed, as this makes it harder to get them to lie flat on the baking sheet.
The Best Parchment Paper For Macarons
From the most basic value roll right up to an eco-friendly durable paper, there are so many different parchment papers to choose from! Below are our top picks for the best parchment papers for macarons.
Rank | Product | Key Features |
---|---|---|
1 | If You Care Unbleached Chlorine Free Parchment Paper Roll | A good quality parchment paper with excellent eco-friendly credentials |
2 | Reynolds Kitchens Parchment Paper Roll | A versatile parchment paper that represents excellent value for money |
3 | Comfylife Unbleached Parchment Paper Sheets | Precut parchment paper sheets stored in a flat box to prevent curling |
4 | ChicWrap Culinary Parchment Paper Refill Roll | Top quality super-thick professional grade parchment paper |
5 | Katbite Heavy Duty Flat Parchment Paper Sheets | Thick, heavy-duty parchment paper suitable for macarons and a myriad of other kitchen tasks |
1. If You Care Unbleached Chlorine Free Parchment Paper Roll
Our top pick for the best parchment paper for macarons is one of those products that demonstrates why eco-friendly doesn’t mean you need to compromise on quality!
This deluxe parchment paper is non-toxic and free from bleach and heavy metals. It has excellent heat-resistant properties and is greaseproof and non-stick.
And the best part is that when it has reached the end of its useful life, this parchment paper is compostable! So you can use it safely with the knowledge that every piece can be disposed of responsibly.
2. Reynolds Kitchens Parchment Paper Roll
For a good value all-around parchment paper, you can’t go wrong with Reynolds Kitchens!
Unlike some other cheaper brands, this parchment paper is thick enough to be used up to three times and will turn out perfect macarons thanks to its super-smooth non-stick surface.
We also love the pre-marked grid lines, which help to pipe out evenly spaced domes of macaron batter.
3. Comfylife Unbleached Parchment Paper Sheets
The most annoying thing about precut parchment paper sheets is when they are stored in a roll — they simply won’t lie flat on a baking sheet!
Comfylife got around this problem by packing their precut parchment paper sheets in a flat box, meaning they lie perfectly smooth, ready for your macaron batter.
The thickness of each sheet and the waterproof coating also mean they can be used several times over.
4. ChicWrap Culinary Parchment Paper Refill Roll
This parchment paper for macarons is the brand favored by many professional chefs, and is a worthwhile investment if you want to get serious about baking!
It is unbleached and supplied in a refill pack, designed to fit a purpose-made ChicWrap parchment paper dispenser.
Alternatively, you could just cut it to size as you need it.
5. Katbite Heavy Duty Flat Parchment Paper Sheets
When it comes to baking macarons on parchment paper, thicker is always better!
These heavy-duty sheets are stored in a flat box, and each one is cut to perfectly fit a half-sheet oven pan.
The silicone coating ensures that the paper does not absorb water easily, and your baked macarons will peel easily away from the paper.