Holiday Coconut Macaroons Food

COCONUT MACAROONS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325°F. Set two oven racks near the center of the oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl, mix together the coconut, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla extract. Set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the egg whites and salt until stiff peaks form. Use a large rubber spatula to fold the egg whites into the coconut mixture.
• Using a mini ice cream scoop or two spoons, form heaping tablespoons of the mixture into mounds on the prepared baking sheets, spacing about 1 inch apart. Bake for 23 to 25 minutes, rotating the pans from top to bottom and front to back, until the tops and edges are golden. Let cool on the pans for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• If dipping the macaroons in chocolate, melt the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl at medium power, stopping and stirring at 30 second intervals, until just smooth and creamy. (Alternatively, melt the chocolate in a double boiler over simmering water.) Dip the bottoms of the macaroons in the chocolate, letting any excess drip back into the bowl, and return to the lined baking sheets. Place the macaroons in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes to allow the chocolate to set. The cookies keep well in an airtight container at room temperature for about a week.
• Note: There is a lot of variability in coconut depending on the brand you purchase. For the best results, I recommend Baker's Angel Flake (see package in the first picture on this page).
• Note: ⅞ cup = ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons
• Note: Make sure to use parchment paper (NOT wax paper) on the baking sheets. The macaroons will stick to wax paper.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The macaroons can be frozen for up to 3 months. (If you plan to dip them in chocolate, wait until you thaw them to do that.) Let them cool completely and store in an airtight container separating layers with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Before serving, remove the cookies from the container and let them come to room temperature.

FESTIVE COCONUT MACAROONS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 325°F. Grease and lightly flour cookie sheets. In large bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Beat in sugar, flour, salt and almond extract until well blended. Stir in coconut and candied cherries. Drop dough by scant tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto cookie sheets.
• Bake 13 to 17 minutes or until set and lightly browned. Immediately remove from cookie sheets.

COCONUT MACAROONS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, stir together the coconut, flour and salt. Stir in the condensed milk, orange juice and chopped pistachios until well combined.
• Using a small scoop (about 1 tablespoon), scoop out the coconut batter onto 2 parchment-lined baking sheets. Be sure to press the tops down just a little so the centers can cook.
• Bake until the coconut is toasted, 12 to 15 minutes. Allow to cool on the pans.
• Dip the bottom of each cooled macaroon in the melted milk chocolate, and lightly roll in pistachios. Return to the baking sheets and let set. Squeeze fresh orange juice and sprinkle orange zest over the tops.

PERFECT COCONUT MACAROONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Blend coconut, sugar, flour, vanilla extract, almond extract, and salt in a food processor until combined, about 30 seconds.
• Beat egg whites in a bowl until soft peaks form.
• Fold coconut mixture into egg whites until just combined.
• Wet your hands. Roll spoonfuls of coconut mixture between palms to golf ball-size cookies; arrange on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake cookies in the preheated oven until coconut is slightly golden and toasted, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool, 30 minutes.
• Line baking sheet with new piece of parchment paper.
• Melt chocolate chips in the top of a double boiler over just-barely simmering water, stirring frequently and scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching.
• Dip half of each cookie in the chocolate and place on the prepared baking sheet. Place in refrigerator until chocolate is set, about 15 minutes.

COCONUT MACAROONS III

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
• In a large bowl, stir together the flour, coconut and salt. Stir in the sweetened condensed milk and vanilla using your hands until well blended. Use an ice cream scoop to drop dough onto the prepared cookie sheets. Cookies should be about golf ball size.
• Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until coconut is toasted.

HOLIDAY COCONUT MACAROONS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325F degrees.
• Grease& lightly flour cookie sheets.
• In medium bowl, beat egg whites until foamy.
• Add sugar, flour, salt& almond extract; blend well.
• Stir in coconut& cherries (or fruit mix).
• Drop tablespoons onto cookie sheet, approximately 2 inches apart.
• Bake 13-17 minutes or until set& lightly browned.
• Immediately remove from cookie sheets& cool completely.