french macarons at big joy family bakery / clairemont – san diego, ca

I used to frequent Big Joy Family Bakery back in the day but hadn’t been there in quite some time. To be honest, I kind of forgot about it. Until I saw these beautiful, brightly colored french macarons on CC’s (one of many posts!) and CAB’s blogs, reminding me all about this place!

Course, it took me awhile to finally make it over here. But so glad I did!

I love, love, love the colors on these beautiful little airy cookies.

Let’s see if I can remember the flavors (from the top, on the red one, clockwise): Red Velvet, Pistachio, Chocolate, Mocha, Green Tea, Sea Salt Caramel, … I don’t remember (Almond, I think) and in the center is a Strawberry one.

I got one of every flavor that had that day since I couldn’t decide. I don’t remember the prices exactly, but I know the Red Velvet cost extra (in the $2 range) while the rest cost $1.75.


I love the crunch of the exterior of macarons. And then that chewy, light, airy center. And the fillings! Macarons are just a lovely dessert to have whenever you can get your little hands on them.

They also make for some really pretty picture taking.

My favorites? The pistachio was my top. Then the red velvet and the sea salt caramel. The only ones I didn’t really care for was the Green Tea and the Mocha. The mocha was just “okay” and I didn’t enjoy the flavor of the Green Tea one at all.

That’s about all I have to say about these for now.

You should go get some! They are good for the belly.

Big Joy Family Bakery & Cafe
4176 Convoy St
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 627-0888

Big Joy Family Bakery & Cafe on Urbanspoon


6 thoughts on “french macarons at big joy family bakery / clairemont – san diego, ca

  1. I looove french macarons. Unfortunately the price across the board is pretty high which makes me appreciate them more. I agree about green tea flavors in general in any type of dessert — the taste is just to astringent for me.

  2. yay! love their macarons there. one of my favorites is the red velvet and the blueberry. They also make really good mocha coffee, and I’m not really coffee drinker either. i like the laid back atmosphere too.

    oh, my posts are in my September archives: “Happy Happy Joy Joy”, “Return to Big Joy Bakery”, “Three is a Magic Number” and “Fantastic 4”. Can you tell I was totally obsessed with going there that month?!

  3. I got macarons and some pastries there last week. The macarons are almost too cute to eat! At $1.75 each, I try not to get macarons very often. One of the workers told me that they make the macarons Thursday to Sunday.

  4. Hi Darlene – Yeah, I think I just don’t like Green Tea desserts, either. Totally great as a beverage! Just not in my desserts, please!

    Hi CC – I was trying to do a search for your posts, but it didn’t work or something. I knew you posted about it more than once, I just couldn’t remember when! They didn’t have the blueberry when I was there that day, but that sounds like a good flavor.

    Hi Sandy – Yeah, they are a little pricey for cookies, but they’re worth it! Good to know what days they make them. I believe CAB said on certain days you can try to ask for day old ones for a cheaper price.

  5. Indeed their steep price is hard to understand when one knows how cheap it is to make. But apparently everybody is willing to pay for the most beautiful, versatile and best gluten-free cookie in the world…

  6. Oh delicious maracrons! I’m with you on the pistachio and red velvet as my favorites. I didn’t care for the green tea or mocha either. The blueberry one was okay as well as the strawberry.

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