If at first you don’t succeed,

{Sad, stumpy, lumpy macaron attempt #1}

Try, try again!

{Happy, smooth, perfect macaron attempt #2}

I’m going to blame the residual effects of Pete the Cat on my choice to not have a minor breakdown when my macarons came out of the oven looking like (for lack of a better word) poo, and instead chose to dust myself off, separate some more egg whites, and try again.

And it’s a good thing I did! Macarons are so darn temperamental. Some still ended up looking like volcanos:

But for the most part, batch number two was pretty adorable. I followed this recipe from Eat, Live, Run (new fave blog!), but swapped the raspberry and rose for 1/4 tsp pumpkin spice in the macaron batter and pumpkin for the filling.

Some were filled with a mixture of chocolate and pumpkin puree (uh, YUM).

And others, Trader Joe’s pumpkin cream cheese (which should definitely become a staple in your household - thanks Miss Tracey!).

Macaroon, french macaroon, macaron - whatever you want to call it, these little guys are SO cute and SOO tasty.

And if at first your macarons don’t succeed - try, try again! It will be worth it - bon appetit!