Coconut Macaroons



The current issue of REAL SIMPLE magazine

has an incredibly easy macaroon recipe.

Just in case you missed it, here it is.

Coconut Macaroons

Five ingredients are all you need.



Heat your oven to 325 and

line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Whisk together 3 large egg whites,

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 t. pure vanilla extract

1/4 t. kosher salt

until glossy and the sugar is almost dissolved.

Fold in

1 14-oz. pkg. sweetened, shredded coconut

(about 5 cups)



Using a small ice cream scoop,

I'm using a new one I got for Christmas...



...drop the batter in mounds

(about 2T. each) 1-inch apart on

the prepared baking sheet.

Bake, rotating the sheet halfway through,

until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes.

Let cool completely.

The macaroons will keep for up to

5 days at room temperature

in an airtight container.

Makes 16 cookies.

Enjoy!



Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

"These intense peanut butter cookies are the best we've ever had."

That's pretty high praise, particularly considering the source.

It's what GOURMET MAGAZINE, (sadly now defunct)

said when they published this recipe in 1999.

The interesting thing about these cookies is that they contain no flour

and have only four ingredients! 

Could it get any simplier?

1 c. peanut butter (creamy or chunky)

1 c. sugar

1 large egg

1 t. baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease baking sheets.

In a bowl with an electric mixer beat together peanut butter

and sugar until well combined.

In a small bowl, lightly beat egg and beat it into

the peanut butter mixture with the baking soda

until well combined.

Roll level teaspoons of dough into balls and arrange about

one inch apart on baking sheets. 

With tines of a fork flatten balls to about

1 1/2 inches in diameter,

making a crosshatch pattern.

(Note--I skipped this step for the cookies pictured

and just dropped teaspoons of dough on the

cookie sheet and flattened with a fork.

I've done it both ways and rolling the dough into balls first

makes a prettier cookie.)

Bake cookies in batches in middle of oven

until puffed and pale golden, about 10 minutes.

Cool cookies on baking sheets 2 minutes

and transfer with metal spatula to racks

to cool completely.

Cookies may be kept in an airtight container

at room temperature 5 days.

(GOURMET said this recipe makes about 70 cookies,

but I've never gotten more than 40.)

This week I'm sharing at

What's Cookin' in the Cottage Kitchen at Etsy Cottage Style

Tasty Tuesdays at 33 Shades of Green

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Cherry Filled White Chocolate Blondies

It's holiday baking time and this is my all-time favorite cookie.

So, if nothing else, it will get baked for the holidays!

Cherry-Filled White Chocolate Blondies

1/2 c. butter

1 (12-oz) pkg. white chocolate morsels, divided

2 large eggs

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 t. almond extract

1 c. all-purpose flour

1/2 t. salt

1/2 c. cherry preserves

1/2 c. sweetened flaked coconut

1/2 c. sliced almonds

Melt butter in a saucepan over heat, stirring just until melted.

Remove pan from heat,

and add 1 cup white chocolate morsels.

DO NOT STIR.

Beat eggs at high speed with an electric mixer

two minutes or until foamy.

Gradually add sugar, beating until blended.

Stir in white chocolate mixture and almond extract,

stirring until blended.

Add flour and salt, stirring just until blended.

Spread half of the batter into a lightly greased

and floured 8-inch square pan.

Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes

or until light golden brown.

Melt 1/2 c. cherry preserves in a small saucepan

over low heat, stirring often.

Spread evenly over partially baked

blondies in pan.

Stir together coconut, remaining

1 c. white chocolate morsels,

and remaining half of batter.

Spread over melted cherry preserves,

spreading to edges of pan.

(Can you tell my pan is "well-used"?)

Sprinkle batter with 1/2 c. sliced almonds.

Bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

Cut into 16 bars.

Heaven on a plate.

You'll find me partying at

Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum

Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Tasty Tuesdays at 33 Shades of Green