Easy Sweet Recipes at Home: Bake a Special Sweet Batch of Chocolate Macaroons

These are often confused because the terms macaron and macaroon are used interchangeably but of course, the two are completely different desserts although both of them are similar in size and are bite-sized. It’s not as painstaking to make as the French macarons in their colorful glory, that is an art in itself.

What are macaroons?

Macaroons are little cakes or cookies made with flour, egg whites, condensed milk, sugar and of course, coconuts. The last ingredient is what makes macaroons, macaroons that is, segregated into small portions and then baked to their golden glory. They always have a chewy texture and are a popular fixture at tea time, making multiple features in English storybooks, like in the stories of Enid Blyton.

History of these balls of sweetness

These coconutty balls of sweetness trace their origins back to 8th or 9th-century Italian monasteries, and the name is said to be derived from the Italian word 'maccarone,' meaning “paste”. The monks from this monastery soon after moved to France, joining King Henry II’s royal kitchen as pastry chefs; this was in the year 1533.

Centuries later when the French Revolution was at its peak, two nuns called sister Marie-Elizabeth and Marguerite were selling macaroons, to be able to make rent. They soon earned the name of the “Macaroon sisters” and their province became famous for these chewy cookies throughout Europe. These small cakes or cookies, back then, were made primarily with almond powder, egg whites, and ground sugar, with additional flavors added to suit different tastes. But it wasn't until 1725, that the first known macaroon recipes appeared in Robert Smith's "Court Cookery".

It was Mrs. Esther Levy, however, who brought macaroons to American households with her 1871 publication “The First Jewish-American Cookbook”, originally featuring the recipe in the cakes chapter due to its cake-like quality. As coconut palms took root in Florida, due to a boat mishap that floated coconuts to the area, coconut substituted almond flour, cementing macaroons into an early locavore delight.

By the 20th century, the standalone macaroon cookie had become a beloved treat and National Chocolate Macaroon Day celebrates this indulgent fusion of chocolate and coconut flavors, best enjoyed with a cup of tea or crisp white wine. Chocolate in macaroons came much later when the Europeans brought back the cocoa beans from their adventures in the ‘exotic lands’.

Chocolate Macaroon: Easy Sweet Recipe at Home

Ingredients:

• 200 gm coconut flakes (sweet)
• 45 gm sugar
• 2 egg whites (room temperature)
• 2 Cadbury chocolate bars, melted (approx 55 gm)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions:

1. Gather the listed ingredients, then preheat the oven to 180°C and take one baking tray, lining both with aluminum foil, taking care not to crinkle them.
2. Take a bowl, and toss coconut flakes with sugar, until the sugar coats the coconuts.
3. Add chocolate to a heatproof bowl, and melt in intervals of 20-30 seconds stirring to mix in between. Set aside.
4. Now, whisk the egg whites in another bowl, and pour the chocolate once it cools. This will prevent the egg from cooking. Add the vanilla and salt then whisk again. Sprinkle the coconut-sugar mixture and mix again.
5. Take a spoon and drop rounded 30 ml portions onto the prepared baking trays, with ample space between each batter splotch. There should be 15 of them with this amount of batter.
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes, until they set. Then remove the chocolate coconut macaroons from the trays and let them cool on a clean surface.

Tips and Tricks

Macaroons can be a tad hard to come by, but given how easy it is to make them, if handling eggs doesn't make you queasy, that is, you should make a bunch of them. You just need an oven and being baked, it takes minimal oil and butter. These tiny morsels of desserts are great to chew on on those days you crave something sweet but don’t want a full-blown dessert like a cheesecake or chocolate cake slice. Put your mittens on and order, or head to your nearest grocery store to try this recipe today. What’s more, the coconut flakes can be made at home itself and don't need to be bought.