Macaroon Trees (a gluten-free, dairy-free recipe)

By Kathy C.

by EMILY FROM FRUGAL LIVING NW on JANUARY 1, 2015.....This is quite possibly the easiest dessert recipe I have ever shared with you. The five ingredients are mixed together in one bowl, shaped directly on the pan, and baked for just 12 minutes. From start to finish, it took maybe 30 minutes to create a sweet little forest of coconut trees.

And this was my first time ever making macaroons. I saw the original recipe in a Martha Stewart Living magazine. I had always thought of macaroons as a fussy dessert, like meringue or souffle. But that couldn’t be farther from the truth. They are just simple scoops of coconut and sugar, crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside. So good.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 c. finely shredded unsweetened coconut
• 3/4 c. sugar
• 2 egg whites
• 4 t. vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt
• Powdered sugar, for dusting
• Melted dark chocolate, for drizzling (optional)

Details

Servings 18
Adapted from frugallivingnw.com

Preparation

Step 1

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, stir together the coconut, sugar, egg whites, vanilla, and salt.
2. Scoop and drop about 2 tablespoons of the mixture, 1 inch apart, onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Shape into 2-inch-tall “trees” with your fingertips. They don’t need to be perfectly smooth, just go for a pointed top and round-ish base.
3. Bake until edges are golden and trees are firm, 12-14 minutes. Let cool on baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack or serving plate. Drizzle with chocolate and/or dust with powdered sugar before serving.
makes 18