Milo and Rich Chocolate Ganache Macaroons

This month's We Should Cocoa challenge has left me with some surplus ingredients, namely egg whites and some Rich Chocolate Ganache.  I had been planning on making some macaroons, I was craving after some Aussie inspired flavours and had an idea to make milo flavoured shells with a milo enhanced buttercream.  However, due to the surplus ganache I ended up subbing that in place of the buttercream and it ended up being pretty delicious (even if I do say so myself)!

Milo and Rich Chocolate Ganache Macaroons
175g icing sugar
125g ground almonds
3 large free range egg whites
75g caster sugar
2 tsp milo
Rich Chocolate Ganache

Preheat the oven to 160C/fan 140C. Whizz the icing sugar and ground almonds in a food processor to a very fine mixture, then sift into a bowl.

In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites with a pinch of salt to soft peaks, then gradually whisk in the caster sugar until thick and glossy. Sift in the milo.
 
Fold half the almond and icing sugar mixture into the meringue and mix well. Add the remaining half, making sure you use a spatula to cut and fold the mixture until it is shiny and has a thick, ribbon like consistency as it falls from the spatula. Spoon into a piping bag fitted with a 1cm plain nozzle.
 

 
Line 2 baking sheets with baking paper. Pipe small rounds of the macaroon mixture, about 3cm across, onto the baking sheets. Give the baking sheets a sharp tap on the work surface to ensure a good 'foot'. Leave to stand at room temp for 10-15 mins to form a slight skin. This is important - you should be able to touch them lightly without any mixture sticking to your finger. Bake for 15 mins. Remove from the oven and cool.
 

 
When the Macaroon's have cooled use 1 tsp of ganache to sandwich pairs of them together.
 
Makes 20
Adapted from Delicious - April 2010

I think my Macaroon baking is developing, each batch seems to be getting a bit easier to make but I am still struggling to get that 'perfect dome' that is so typical of well made macs.  I think I might need to hunt out some other recipes to help me on my way to 'perfection'!