Monday, December 15, 2014

Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons


For many, many years, it has been my habit to try at least one new (new to me) Christmas cookie recipe. Some become beloved must-haves, and some fall by the wayside. This year I had coconut on the brain. I found a recipe on Food Network for Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons. They called out to me, not just because of the chocolate, but because they contain no egg yolks. I love meringue, so I was intrigued.

They rate this as intermediate difficulty but I think it's easy-peasy. So easy, in fact, that it would be a great cookie to make with kids. For starters, it's a dump recipe. Dump everything but the chocolate into the mixer! And then there's scooping the dough out with an ice cream scoop. Not to mention the fun of dipping the cookies in chocolate! So if you're planning to bake with a little one this year, keep this recipe in mind!


Where can you go wrong? I'm guessing, from reading the comments, that some people used too much egg white. Interestingly, the recipe specified a scant half cup of egg whites, which is about three egg whites. But eggs come in different sizes. I found myself peering through eggs for a very small one for the third egg. I took a photo to show you exactly how much egg white I used. So take the time to measure instead of just popping three egg whites in the bowl.


The original recipe calls for sweetened coconut and 3/4 cup sugar. I used Bob's unsweetened coconut and 1 cup of sugar, which turned out fine. I also dared to add just a pinch of salt.


If you're making these for an office party or for a buffet with other desserts, make them on the small side. I found that about 1/2 an ice cream scoop makes about a 2.5-inch cookie.


For what it's worth, the original recipe calls for 4 ounces of chocolate chips. Oink Oink! I needed about 10 ounces of semisweet chocolate chips for dipping. I will admit that I like it when a little edge of chocolate shows up on the coconut.


Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons
from Food Network
recipe by Gale Gand


scant 1/2 cup egg whites
1 cup sugar
pinch of salt
2 1/2 cups unsweetened coconut
10 ounces good quality chocolate chips (your mileage may vary here)


Heat the oven to 350 and line baking sheets with parchment paper. Mix together the egg whites, sugar, and salt (just a little to be sure the salt is blended), add the coconut and mix. Use an ice cream scoop to place little mounds on the parchment paper about two inches apart. Bake 12-15 minutes. The cookies should be light golden.

Cool completely on the pans. Don't throw out the parchment paper! Melt the chocolate (I used the microwave in brief 40 second bursts, stirring with a fork in between). Dip the cookies in the chocolate, letting just a bit come up over the edge of the cookie if you like. Dry on the parchment paper.


Makes little mounds.
Bake until light golden.
Dip in chocolate!







13 comments:

  1. Your cookies look lovely. Here is a (dumb) question.....I recently bought one of those cartons of egg whites to make omelets. Do you think that would work in the macaroons? I need another use for all those egg whites - one can eat only so many omelets!!!

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    1. If they are real egg white, I don't see why not. You'll have an easier time measuring the right amount, too!

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  2. Oh my, those look wonderful Krista! Must put on list to try... xo

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    1. I think you might like these, Lucy. They're sweet but not tooth-achingly sweet.

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  3. Nicely done. Easy-peasy, indeed! (spell check loves that word!)

    What an amazingly small list of ingredients. And no whipping the egg whites.
    Fun for all to make and eat.

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    1. Isn't that tiny list of ingredients amazing? I was stunned that I didn't have to whip the whites.

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  4. Very nice! And I agree 10 oz of chocolate is much better than 4 oz. As I always say the more chocolate the better. Thanks for the easy recipes, I always buy Macaroons when we visit Atlantic City, I think I will try making them. Happy holidays and happy writting.

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    1. Let me know what you think, Margaret. We're loving them! Happy Holidays!

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  5. I'm drooling--love coconut and chocolate. I'll have to try these with my granddaughter!

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    1. I think she would love making a mess with the chocolate!

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  6. Krista, at this very minute, I am making a macron with toasted coconut and white chocolate. It's a recipe for FUDGING THE BOOKS. Great minds think alike. :) PS. I'm loving The Ghost and Mrs. Mewer. :)

    Darl / Avery

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    1. Aww, that's very sweet of you to say. Mmm, love toasted coconut! I bet that's delish!

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  7. You can not go wrong with coconut and chocolate. Thank you as always for sharing your wonderful recipes with us.

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