I make them at home and think the real difference is freshness which makes the good ones better. For a party with non connoisseurs frozen is fine.

We recently did a taste test in our house and compared them from La Duree, Boulongerie Cristophe (which won style points for fancy designs), Praline, and Fresh Baguette.
The very best ones were Fresh Baguette. They were absolutely perfect.

A platter for a party, get the ones from Wegmans or Costco.

The specialty store ones are (usually) REALLY good (depends on the store, of course), but not different enough to be worth the cost for a party. Everyone will be happy with whatever macarons you set out.

I think they are more pretty. I like the chocolate and vanilla ones from Trader Joe’s. But ones at Costco and Sams are good enough for me. I think the ones at the mall Olivia’s is overpriced and overrated.

You'll have a better array of fillings when you get them from specialty stores, and since your basic macaron cookie part just about always tastes the same, that's the difference between Costco/Wegmans ones, and ones from a specialty place. IMO, not worth the price differential.

Anonymous wrote:Just get a couple of boxes from Costco. Macarons are pretty but that’s it.

+100

Just get a couple of boxes from Costco. Macarons are pretty but that’s it.

Want to get some for a party. Are the fancy ones from specialty stores really enough better to pay more for them. The ones I got from Wegmans seemed good to me. Any recs?