Plain, chocolate, or caramel, which is best? Everyone knows the best macaroons are crunchy on the outside and chewy in the middle. Gluten-free, perfect for Passover, and my #1 easiest cookie, anyone can make guilt-free Paleo macaroons in under 30 minutes. All you need is shredded coconut, eggs, coconut milk, and low-carb natural sweetener. To up the macaroon ante and make luscious chocolate or caramel dipped macaroons, just mix these quick sauces and dip them! And the great thing is – they don’t have to be perfect. Kids love to make them, and they taste even better slightly irregular and shaggy. These are a truly guilt-free treat, low in carbs. And if you use the zero-glycemic natural sweetener suggested, they won’t spike your blood sugar or cause weight gain. A blender is helpful but not required. For more luscious guilt-free treats, check out my book Paleo Desserts. Makes about 36 macaroons.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup medium to thick unsweetened coconut milk
- 1 1/4 cups sweetener to taste, such as Just Like Sugar Table Top natural chicory root sweetener, or 3 1/3 tablespoons PureLo Lo Han Sweetener by Swanson, or 7/8 cup raw honey, or your favorite sweetener.
- 1/4 teaspoon unprocessed salt
- 1/2 vanilla bean scrapings, or 2 teaspoons vanilla extract.
- 2 large egg whites
- 3 1/2 cups shredded unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon almond extract (optional)
- 1/3 cup granulated sweetener such as Just Like Sugar Table Top Sweetener, or 1 tablespoon PureLo Lo Han Sweetener by Swanson, or 2 teaspoons raw honey, or your favorite sweetener.
- 2 1/2 tablespoons boiling filtered water
- 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil (place jar in lukewarm water to melt oil)
- 1/2 vanilla bean scrapings or 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons pure cacao powder
- 1/3 cup Just Like Sugar Brown natural chicory root sweetener, or 1 tablespoon PureLo Lo Han Sweetener by Swanson, or 2 teaspoons raw honey, or your favorite sweetener.
- 1 tablespoon grass-fed ghee, melted
- 1/2 vanilla bean scrapings, or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons boiling filtered water, or a bit more as needed
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 pinches ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon unprocessed salt
- 2 tablespoons protein powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- In any blender, processor, mixer, or by hand, mix the coconut milk, sweetener, salt, vanilla, egg white, 1/2 cup of the coconut flakes, and optional almond extract. Pour into a large mixing bowl. Add the remaining 3 cups of coconut flakes and stir by hand.
- Chill the dough in the same bowl for 10 minutes to soak up the sweetness, so the cookies are crispy on the outside and soft in the middle.
- With a teaspoon and your fingers, drop mounds of batter 1 inch apart onto the cookie sheets. Press each one a bit so it stays intact. The cookies can be anywhere from 1 to 2 inches in diameter, and slightly irregular and shaggy.
- Bake 16 for 20 minutes. When they're a beautiful golden brown, remove from oven to a rack to cool.
- In a small heat-proof bowl, stir together the sweetener, boiling water, melted oil, and vanilla. Mix until the sweetener is dissolved.
- Add the powdered ingredients and mix until smooth. It should be quite thick so it sticks to the cookies. You can thin it out with a bit more boiling water, or thicken it with a bit more powder.
- Dip the cooled macaroons upside down into the coating so the top third of the cookie is covered. Let any excess drip back into the cup. Enjoy!
