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Coconut macaroons are a classic Christmas cookie, and a sweet treat any time of the year. Chewy and soft, they are loaded with coconut flavor, and these coconut macaroons are taken one step further, topped with a smooth chocolate ganache.
Well, folks. I had good intentions, really, I did. I have made these chocolate dipped coconut macaroons at least 6 times over the last several years. Most recently, I made them for my father-in-law on Father’s Day. They turn out perfect every time I make them. Macaroons that are crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, with a dark chocolate ganache drizzle on the top….Heaven.
With a grand idea to make my favorite coconut macaroons for all of my son’s teachers, I had little bags ready with red, black and white ribbons to seal them. I even had enough for their assistants, and 4 to spare for us. I mixed the ingredients, scooped them onto baking sheets, put them in the oven, made the ganache… and then I forgot about them.
I started helping my son with his homework, multitasking doing the dishes at the same time. A classic recipe for disaster. Forgetting to set the timer, I remembered them when I smelled a “toasted coconut” aroma wafting from the LG.
The loud, long NOOOOO that flew out of my mouth sounded a little like the Zurg character from Toy Story 2. According to my kids, that is ????
One tray of coconut macaroons was completely black. The other 3 were just kind of brown. I will eat them, but I am sure as S#!T not giving them as gifts! That would look really good….”Hey, my Mom, you know – who has the food blog, made you these yummy chocolate dipped coconut macaroon cookies”. I can just hear my sons now.
But I do want to share my recipe for coconut macaroons, because normally, these are really, really good cookies.
Total Servings 24
15 minPrep (inc. refrigeration & rest time)
10 minCook Time
25 minTotal Time
Ingredients
-
Macaroons
- 3 C unsweetened shredded coconut*
- 1/3 C sweetened condensed milk
- pinch salt
- 3/4 tsp almond extract
- 3/4 tsp vanilla extract
-
Ganache
- 1/2 C bittersweet chocolate chips
- 3 TB heavy cream
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 and lightly spray cookie sheets with non stick spray, or use a Silpat.
- Add coconut to a mixing bowl. In a separate small bowl, mix the wet ingredients and salt. Add to the coconut.
- With a spatula, mix the ingredients until the dough is sticking together.
- With a cookie dough scoop (sprayed with non-stick spray) scoop out balls of the mixture (pressed a little in the scoop to make a hard ball). Place onto prepared cookie sheet about 1 inch apart.
- Bake for 12 minutes, or until they are just barely golden brown.
- Transfer the cookies to a cooling rack to cool completely. In the mean time, prepare your chocolate ganache.
Chocolate Ganache
- In a saucepan over medium heat, or in a microwaveable bowl, heat milk to simmering, but do not boil.
- Add chocolate to the hot milk and allow it to sit for 2 minutes, then stir until chocolate is completely incorporated and the ganache is shiny and smooth.
- Allow ganache to cool slightly, then transfer it to a piping bag fitting with a small round tip, or place into a zip top plastic bag with one corner snipped off.
- Cover the macaroons with as much chocolate ganache as you prefer. You can cover the tops only, like I did, or coat them completely. Allow the ganache to set and firm up before serving them.
Important Notes
* You can use sweetened coconut, but the macaroons will be very sweet.
The finished coconut macaroons should not look like this:
Now you may say that they look OK, and to me they taste OK, but they are over baked. Which makes them too crispy and not soft enough.
Let these completely cool before you drizzle with your ganache. Put the ganache in a piping bag, or a zip lock with the tip of a corner cut off, which is what I did. I was sloppy since they were going to be staying at our house, now. ????
Too brown, but so GOOD. ???? SO, I guess it wasn’t a total loss….
I’ve told you that I want to share my culinary hits AND misses with you, and these coconut macaroons are definitely a miss for me.
I have confidence that you will hit a grand slam with them. ????
More delicious coconut recipes to try:
Coconut Chicken Fingers {Cooking Light Recipe}
