Coconut Macaroons

I’ve always enjoyed coconut, so it’s no surprise that I like coconut macaroons.  This is another recipe from mom’s archives.  She would either make them plain, dip them in chocolate, drizzle them in chocolate or sprinkle them with a multitude of glittery things if it was near Easter.

Once you didn’t have to break open your coconut and then grate the flesh, macaroons became much easier.  Can you even imagine what a pain in the butt it all was before shredded coconut in a bag?  I am not a totally lazy.   However, I lived in Hawaii and I know how hard it is to open one of those darn things.

And then there’s the question of flour.  These cookies are very popular at Passover since you may not eat wheat flour if you are Jewish.  I, on the other hand, do not observe Passover so I choose to add flour.  The macaroons on the left below include flour, the ones on the right do not.  The flour helps the cookies maintain their shape and the crunchy edge.  I’ve tried them both ways.  My assistant, you know the one, says he can’t tell the difference, but he’s wrong.  You’ll have to try them both ways and get back to me.

They are so easy to make; give them a try.

½ cup flour

5 ½ cups sweetened flaked coconut (1 14-ounce bag)

¼ teaspoon salt

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 egg whites, room temperature

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Line cookie sheets with parchment paper

In a large bowl, combine the flour, coconut and salt. Stir in the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Use a large rubber spatula to fold the egg whites into the coconut mixture.

Use a mini-ice cream scoop to drop dough onto the prepared cookie sheets. Cookies should be about golf ball size.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until coconut is toasted.

Cool on racks before dipping in melted chocolate, if you are going that route.

* From the Recipe Box:

Sticky, sticky, just be patient.

I use a small ice cream scoop.

I was going to say something snarky about chocolate, but then I remembered lots of people like it, so it’s up to you.  They do look cool decorated that way.

and remember:  Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self-esteem, first make sure that you are not, in fact, simply surrounded by assholes.   Big kiss, Lynn