Easy Cherry Macaroon Parfaits Food

CHERRY MACAROONS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and extract; mix well. , Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in the coconut and cherries (dough will be very stiff). , Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 in. apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire racks.

CHOCOLATE-DIPPED CHERRY MACAROONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. Spread chopped cherries out on a paper-towel-lined plate. Set aside. In a large bowl, stir together coconut, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Then fold in the chopped cherries. This will turn the mixture a light pink color-just fold until the whole mixture is evenly colored. Sprinkle flour evenly over the mixture and then fold again to incorporate. With a stand mixer or hand mixer, with the whisk attachment, whip egg whites and salt on high speed until there are medium-firm peaks. Very gently fold egg whites into coconut mixture. Using a medium-sized cookie scoop (the one I used is 1-3/4 inches in diameter), pack the coconut mixture fairly tightly into the scoop, and drop the batter onto prepared baking pans. Place both pans in the oven and bake for about 30-33 minutes, or until golden brown and set, alternating pans halfway through the total baking time. Remove pans from oven and let macaroons cool on the pan for 5 minutes before removing them to a rack to cool completely. Line a pan with parchment paper and set aside. In a very small microwave-safe bowl, gently melt the chocolate in the microwave. Heat for 15-20 seconds at a time, stirring in between, taking extra care to make sure the chocolate doesn't scorch. Dip the bottom of each macaroon into the melted chocolate, so chocolate reaches about ¼ inch up the sides. Wiggle the macaroon so excess chocolate will fall back into the bowl. Very gently scrape the bottom of the macaroon across the lip of the bowl, from inside of bowl to outside, to let excess chocolate fall back into the bowl. Place chocolate dipped cherry macaroon on parchment paper lined pan. Repeat until all macaroons are dipped. Let macaroons sit at room temperature until chocolate is set, or place in refrigerator for 10 minutes to speed up the process. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days. These also freeze very well in an airtight container with parchment paper separating any layers of macaroons.

PRETTY CHERRY PARFAITS

Steps:

• Combine pie filling and extract; set aside. In a large bowl, combine sour cream and milk. Stir in pudding mix; beat on low speed for 2 minutes or until thickened. , Spoon half into parfait glasses; top with the pie filling. Repeat with remaining pudding mixture. Garnish with whipped topping, almonds and mint if desired. Refrigerate until serving.

COCONUT CHERRY MACAROONS

Steps:

• Arrange the oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
• Whisk together the sugar, cherries, orange zest, vanilla, egg whites and salt. Add the coconut and toss until completely coated. Spoon heaping tablespoons of the batter onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1-inch between each. Moisten your fingertips with water and shape each macaroon into a tall and rounded mound or pointed pyramid.
• Bake until the macaroons are toasted and the edges are lightly browned, rotating the pans halfway through the baking time, 16 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool. Store macaroons in an airtight container for up to a week.

CHERRY CREAM PARFAITS

Steps:

• Whip cream to soft peaks.
• Slowly add sugar, salt and vanilla.
• Beat to stiff peaks.
• Fold in sour cream.
• Spoon half the pie filling in parfait glasses.
• Top with the cream mix.
• Repeat the layers.
• Sprinkle with nuts.

EASY CHERRY MACAROON PARFAITS

Steps:

• Prepare pudding with milk as directed on package.
• Combine cherry filling and extract.
• Alternate layers of pudding, crumbled cookies, and filling in 6 parfait or dessert dishes. Garnish with topping.
• Makes 6 servings.