Article: French Macarons for Every Celebration
French Macarons for Every Celebration
How Many French Macarons Do You Actually Need?
A size guide for weddings, parties, and corporate gifting — from a dozen to a dessert table for a hundred.
Standing in front of a dessert table trying to guess how many macarons will cover forty guests is a very specific kind of stress. The good news: the math is simpler than it looks — you just need to match the box size to the occasion.
French macarons have become a fixture at weddings, showers, birthdays, and corporate gift lists precisely because they scale so well — a handful for a small gathering, dozens for a reception. This guide walks through how much to order for different occasions, what actually separates a well-made macaron from a mediocre one, and how to choose between smaller boxes and a larger option like the 48-piece French macaron gift box when you're planning for a crowd.
01 — The BasicsWhat Makes a Macaron Worth Serving
A French macaron is a sandwich cookie built from two almond flour meringue shells with a filling — ganache, buttercream, or fruit — between them. The shell should be smooth and slightly domed, with a thin, crisp exterior that gives way to a soft, chewy center. That contrast in texture is the whole point, and it's the hardest part to get right.
Because the shells are built on almond flour rather than wheat flour, French macarons are naturally gluten-free by construction. Andy Anand's macarons are made fresh daily at the Chino, California kitchen using aged egg whites, premium almond flour, and real ganache and buttercream fillings — never frozen.
02 — Why It WorksWhy Macarons Suit Large Celebrations
- Individually portioned — no cutting, plating, or serving utensils required.
- Wide flavor range, so a single box can offer something for nearly every guest.
- Photograph well, which matters when the dessert table is also part of the décor.
- Travel and hold up better than many fresh pastries over a few hours of setup.
- Naturally gluten-free, simplifying planning for mixed dietary needs.
03 — By OccasionHow Many Macarons Do You Need?
There's no single formula that fits every event, but a few patterns hold up across most celebrations.
2–3 per guest
Especially when macarons share table space with a cake or cupcakes. For 20–25 guests, a 48-piece gift box covers the table comfortably, with room for seconds. Larger receptions should scale up with a group order.
1–2 per guest
Cake is usually the centerpiece, so macarons serve as a secondary treat. A 24-piece box comfortably serves 12–20 people; a 48-piece box gives more room for larger celebrations and flavor variety.
Curated & smaller
A 24-piece gift box is often right for 15–20 guests, while a 12-piece box suits a smaller, more intimate gathering.
Shared vs. individual
One 48-piece box gives a whole team plenty to share. For individual client or employee gifts, smaller boxes multiplied across a list tend to work better — see business gifting.
04 — The Grand BoxWhy the 48-Piece Box Works for Bigger Gatherings
The 48-piece French macaron gift box is built with larger events in mind — weddings, big birthday parties, corporate gatherings, and other occasions where a dozen or two won't stretch far enough. Because it's made up of four dozen macarons, it naturally provides a broader assortment of flavors than the smaller boxes — useful when you want something for every guest's preference rather than repeating the same two or three flavors across the table.
It's also a practical choice logistically. Ordering one larger box instead of several smaller ones simplifies both the ordering process and the presentation — one cohesive box, rather than several assembled separately on the table.
A single 48-piece box covers a full range of flavors in one order.
Crisp shells, chewy centers, and generous ganache and buttercream fillings.05 — Compare SizesChoosing Between the 12-, 24-, and 48-Piece Boxes
If you're not sure which size fits your event, it usually comes down to guest count and how central macarons are to the dessert spread.
The same craftsmanship, just scaled to fit your event.
Small gatherings & individual gifts
Best for a handful of people, or as a single considered gift alongside a larger dessert spread.
Shop the 12-piece box →
Parties & showers
A solid middle ground for gatherings in the 15–20 guest range.
Shop the 24-piece box →
Weddings, corporate & group gifting
Built for events where flavor variety and volume both matter.
Shop the 48-piece box →For events that fall between sizes, it's worth erring slightly larger — a mostly empty tray looks worse than a few macarons left over at the end of the night. The full French macaron collection shows all available sizes side by side if you want to compare before ordering.
06 — ServingTips for Serving Macarons at a Wedding or Event
Four things that make a real difference
- Let them come to room temperature. Macarons taste best when they're not cold from the refrigerator — pull them out 20–30 minutes before guests arrive.
- Arrange by color, not just flavor. A dessert table reads more cohesively when macarons are grouped or gradiented by shell color.
- Use a tiered stand for larger quantities. With a 48-piece box, a tiered display makes better use of table space than a single flat tray.
- Keep them out of direct sun or heat for outdoor events — the fillings are delicate and soften quickly in warm conditions.
07 — Corporate GiftingMacarons for Client & Employee Gifts
Macarons have become a popular choice for corporate gifting because they hit a specific gap: they feel more considered than a generic gift basket, but they don't require guessing at someone's exact taste the way a single-flavor gift might.
For teams or client lists, Andy Anand's business gifting page is built around bulk, multi-recipient ordering, and the group orders page covers the logistics for larger office or event orders. Both are worth reviewing before placing a large order, since timing and delivery coordination matter more at volume than for a single gift box.
08 — In ShortPutting It Together
Match the box size to the event, not just the guest count. A 12-piece box suits a small gift or an intimate gathering, a 24-piece box covers most parties and showers, and a 48-piece gift box is the practical choice once you're planning for a wedding, a large party, or a corporate order where variety matters as much as volume. Whichever size fits, the French macaron collection is the place to compare options side by side before deciding.
09 - FAQ
Common Questions
What are French macarons?
French macarons are sandwich cookies made from two almond flour meringue shells with a filling — typically ganache, buttercream, or fruit — between them, made using traditional French macaronage technique.
Are French macarons gluten-free?
Yes. Because the shells are made with almond flour rather than wheat flour, French macarons are naturally gluten-free. Andy Anand's macarons are also described as naturally gluten-free.
How many macarons do I need for a wedding or party?
As a general guide, plan for two to three macarons per guest at a wedding dessert table, and one to two per guest for a birthday party or shower. Adjust the quantity based on whether macarons are the main dessert or a secondary treat.
Are macarons a good choice for a wedding dessert table?
Yes — they're individually portioned, come in a wide range of flavors and colors, and can hold up well over the course of an event, making them a practical and visually appealing addition to a dessert table.
What size box should I order for a corporate gift?
It depends on whether you're sending one shared box to an office or individual gifts to a list of clients or employees. A single larger box works well for shared office settings, while smaller boxes typically suit individual recipients.
What's the difference between macarons and macaroons?
They're different desserts despite the similar name. French macarons are made with almond flour and have a light, delicate, sandwich-cookie structure, while macaroons are typically made with coconut and have a denser, chewier texture.
Are Andy Anand's macarons made fresh?
Yes — they're made fresh daily at Andy Anand's Chino, California kitchen and are never frozen.
Ready to size your order?
Compare every gift box, from an intimate dozen to a grand 48-piece spread.
