What are Macarons? Are they like macarOOns?

Macarons are a popular dessert pastry which resembles a brightly colored, mini hamburger.  The outer shells are almond and meringue base cookies.  After baking, these colorful shells are then filled with delicious preserves, chocolate ganache, frostings and caramels.  Macarons are most readily found in France and Italy where they originate, but can also be found in a growing number of other countries across Europe and beyond, including Japan and Australia and now North America. 

They are nothing like their chewy, coconut cousins.

To better understand the difference, check out this charming info-graph from our pals at Shari's Berries:

Shared with Permission from Shari's Berries
http://www.berries.com/blog/many-differences-macarons-macaroons