Table of contents

1. Packaging, first impression
2. Ingredients & nutrition facts
3. Unboxing Walmart macarons
4. Shape, size and color
5. Freshness
6. Quality and taste

• Packaging

These are frozen macarons from Bettergoods, a Walmart brand. You can find them at the frozen section of Walmart anywhere in the US.

I have to say, the packaging is actually good for a grocery store packaging. There is an effort on colors and style. The clear window is also great, so customers can see how the macarons look like.

About Bettergoods brand though, it is very hard to find some information. If you’ve read my best macarons review, you know how important it is to know who made them, when, and where they were baked.

The only info I found is that Bettergoods is a brand owned by Walmart. The macaron packaging says "Made in France" and "product of France". But Where, when and by whom was it made? A little more transparency would help customers relate.

• Ingredients & Nutrition facts

My motto: When there are over 10 ingredients, it's a no go. I guess for frozen macarons from Walmart, traveling all the way from France, need "special ingredients" to improve its shelf life. Let's take a look..

For example, Xanthan gum is a common food ingredient used to keep textures smooth and stable. In these Walmart macarons, it helps the filling stay creamy and prevents separation. While it's safe to eat, it is used in baked goods to improve shelf life and consistency (it's a preservative).

So these macarons are not considered fresh and contain preservatives (more on that later).

The nutrition facts are pretty common. Compared to my post about macaron calories, 12g of sugar is very high. At Pastreez, we only include 2.5g per macaron in our traditional recipe.

• Unboxing Walmart macarons

When you first open the box, the packaging is simple and clean. The macarons are neatly arranged in a plastic tray that is sealed. That's a good point to keep freshness.

That said, keep in mind it looks and feel more like a "pizza packaging" than a delicate and nice macaron gift box. I would not serve them as is on a table, it would feel cheap.

• Shape and size

Shape is perfectly rounded. Which is good for a macaron! Bettergoods macarons are most likely made with an industrial macaron depositor, which is why every macaron as the exact same size and shape.

Size is 1.4 inches in diameter, 1 inch high. It is smaller than the traditional macaron at about 1.7 inches. It might be considered a bite size macaron.

About the colors? It’s a no from me.
Most industrial macarons, like the Walmart Bettergoods ones, have dull and faded colors. They all look a bit burnt or washed out.

As a French chef, here’s what I’ve learned:
Each macaron color needs a different baking time and temperature. Bright colors, like pink or yellow, need less time in the oven. Darker ones, like brown, can handle more heat.

But in big factories, all macarons are baked the same way—same time, same temperature—no matter the color.

The result? Colors lose their pop. They look pale instead of vibrant.

I had the same issue with Costco macarons too. It’s hard to find grocery store macarons with truly bold colors, and that's because of the industrial process to make them.

• Freshness

Freshness is actually decent, especially for frozen macarons.

I followed the proper thawing steps: take them out of the freezer, open the lid, and let them sit at room temperature.

Once they're thawed and the shells look dry (no condensation), they’re good to go.

As for the filling— The fruity ones are more like jam, probably with extra pectin so they stay firm and don’t drip.

The creamy flavors use buttercream style filling. But don’t expect any quality ganache here—there’s no premium chocolate filling in these.

• Quality and taste

There is very little filling in there. Enough to feel taste a bit, but they should be more generous, as we barely see it.

Again, it might be due to the cost control and industrial efficiency. Fillings are poured with a machine. So all of the macarons will be lacking that juicy look and taste.

It affects quality and look. Most of our customers buy macarons to impress at an event. So before to even taste great, they should look great. It's not really the case here.

At this point in the review, I like to cut each macaron in half. It helps me see the texture, shell quality, and overall build.

From this view, I can say the filling is a bit disappointing. It needs at least twice as much to feel juicy and bring out the flavor.

On the bright side, the top shell is well done. It has that nice, delicate crumble—just like an eggshell. That’s a good sign!

Take a closer look—I’ve marked the empty spots inside the shells. These are called hollow macarons. It means there are air gaps inside, which is a sign that a key step was skipped.

To avoid hollows, you need to tap the baking tray after piping the batter. This helps release air bubbles trapped inside (see our authentic French macaron recipe).

In this case, it seems Bettergoods skipped or rushed that step—probably to save time during mass production.

While there are machines that can do the tapping, they’re still pretty new. A few years ago, it had to be done by hand, and most industrial producers try to avoid extra manual steps.

To summarize, I would say Bettergoods Walmart macarons are good for decoration on a cake or a dessert. But I would not serve them as is, because they lack vibrant colors, and quality is average.

Macarons are supposed to be the "master piece" of a dessert table. Get yourself freshly made, handcrafted by French chefs macarons with Pastreez!