fitfool

One of my macaroon-loving friends loved these so much he says they're better than the ones he gets at Whole Foods Market. I made these as gifts though I sampled a few myself too.

Got this recipe from:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/recipe_views/views/2045

Island Macaroons

These cookies have a wonderful texture; chewy yet crunchy-just like a candy bar.

3 cups sweetened flaked coconut
1 cup unsalted macadamia nuts, chopped

2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 egg whites
Pinch of salt

6 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped, melted

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Place coconut and macadamia nuts on large cookie sheet. Bake until lightly toasted, stirring frequently, about 12 minutes. Cool. Maintain oven temperature.
Line 2 large cookie sheets with parchment paper. Grease parchment. Combine condensed milk and vanilla in large bowl. Mix in coconut and macadamia nuts thoroughly.
Using electric mixer, beat egg whites and salt until stiff but not dry. Fold whites into coconut mixture. Drop batter by rounded tablespoons onto prepared cookie sheets. Bake until macaroons just turn golden brown around edges, about 14 minutes. Cool completely on cookie sheets.
Line another cookie sheet with waxed paper. Dip cookie bottoms into melted chocolate. Place cookies, chocolate side down, on prepared cookie sheet. [Alternatively, I spooned the melted chocolate into a plastic bag, then snipped the corner to make a piping bag. Then squeezed out a z-stripe of chocolate on top to make them look cool.] Refrigerate until chocolate is set, about 15 minutes. (Can be prepared 4 days ahead. Store cookies in airtight container in refrigerate.)