Coconut macaroons are a tropical treat of a cookie that are easy to make and are a great dessert to finish off a day of grilling.
Going Coconuts for Macaroons
Salty and sweet, moist and chewy, half confection and half cookie, soft and yet a bit firm from the coconut, macaroons are a bite of sensual experience and they add a taste of the tropics to your dinner. Coconut macaroons are surprisingly simple to make and can either be served plain, letting the pure coconut experience speak for itself, or they can be topped with melted chocolate. You can even mix the chocolate right into the macaroon. While the European macaroon is definitely a cookie, the coconut macaroon, an American creation, is closer to a confection.
The Miracle of the Macaroon
This is really simple. Not just simple-to-start but getting more complicated when you try to make it chocolate, but really simple straight through. Here is what you will need to make about 18 macaroons:
- 6 ounces sugar
- 6 ounces sweetened shredded coconut
- 3/4 ounce light corn syrup
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 ounce pastry flour
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 2 3/4 ounces egg whites (about 2 egg whites)
- In a medium saucepot, mix all the ingredients together.
- Cook over a medium heat until the mixture thickens.
- Spread onto a parchment paper and let cool.
- Portion out 1-inch rounds on parchment paper lined sheet pans.
- Bake at 350 degree Fahrenheit until golden brown.
To make chocolate macaroons, add 1/4 ounce cocoa.If you find that adding the cocoa makes the dough a little dry, you can thin out the dough with a little more egg white.
Topping Your Coconut Macaroons
To top coconut macaroons with chocolate, simply get your favorite chocolate and melt it in a bain marie. Once the chocolate is melted, dip the top of the coconut macaroons in the chocolate and let them dry on a sheet of parchment paper. If you were making coconut-encrusted shrimp as part of dinner, then coconut macaroons are a great compliment. Coconut macaroons can be refrigerated, making them a cooling and refreshing confection with a summer time taste.
