My Annual Holiday Baking Extravaganza Part Four (a series...with recipes!)

In Which I Offer An Easy Gluten-Free (Or Not!) Option

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I don’t know about you, but I know exactly…zero people who don’t like coconut macaroons (not to be confused with macarons, a different - but also gluten-free - cookie. Or a Macron, who is not, as far as anyone knows, even a cookie). I often make these as a gluten-free addition to a cookie plate - and they are usually the first cookie to disappear.

This tried and true recipe is actually from the back of the Baker’s sweetened shredded coconut package. I use about half the sugar, and substitute the flour with a gluten-free option, usually white rice flour. You can find many variations of this cookie online - options include using unsweetened coconut, natural sweeteners, eliminating egg whites (usually subbing coconut oil or similar), maybe adding some almonds. It’s a versatile cookie, so you do you!

And because chocolate never ruins anything, I dip the bottom of mine in a bit of dark chocolate. You know, just to dress them up a little.

Coconut Macaroons

  • 1 bag sweetened shredded coconut

  • 1/3 cup sugar

  • 6 TBS rice flour or other flour

  • 1/4 tsp salt

  • 4 egg whites

  • 1 tsp vanilla

  • dark chocolate for melting and dipping (I use Trader Joe’s “pounder plus” dark chocolate bar, but chocolate chips work just fine)

Oven to 325.

Dump coconut into a large bowl and break up the lumps. Add sugar, flour, salt and mix. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites and vanilla until blended. Add egg whites to coconut and mix until well blended - mixture will start to bind together.

Using a tablespoon, measure macaroons and roll into balls (pro tip: use food prep gloves to prevent sticking, and for smoother surface). Arrange on cookie sheet lined with parchment. Bake for 20 minutes or until coconut starts to get golden.

When macs are cool, melt chocolate in microwave on medium-low setting. Pour some melted chocolate on a plate. Dip bottom of cookie into chocolate and return to parchment to set.