Crunchy Coconut Macaroons


By Emma
Certified Culinary Professional
Ingredients
- 4 large egg whites
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut toasted lightly in dry pan
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon vegetable shortening
About the ingredients
Method
Preheat Oven & Prepare Pans
- Set oven at 320°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats. No flimsy foil — moister bakes, less crisp.
Whip Egg White Mixture
- Whisk egg whites, sugar, cinnamon, and salt on high speed in stand mixer bowl till thick white, almost cloud-like, about 90 seconds. Stops sliding off whisk. Undermixing leaves runny blobs; overwhipping dries mixture useless.
Fold Coconut & Flour
- Gently but thoroughly fold toasted shredded coconut and flour into the egg mixture with spatula. Keep those air bubbles intact but no clumps. Flour gives structure, stops flat blobs later. Toasting coconut tempers raw flavor, adds crunch.
Shape Macaroons
- Use a 1 1/2 tablespoon scoop or slightly rounded spoon. Compact tightly. Loose shapes end with cracks and crumbly bits. Place balls spaced well on pans. Gaps needed for airflow and crisp edges.
Bake, Rotate
- Bake 23-28 minutes at 320°F, rotating pans halfway. Watch color; crispy edges brown golden, centers still pale white. A faint coconut smell rising means near done. The tops should crack just a bit but hold shape.
Cool Slightly
- Let cookies rest on sheets 2 minutes. Then transfer to wire rack. If warm dipped too soon, chocolate slides and blobs. Patience saves you sticky mess.
Melt Chocolate Coating
- Top of double boiler melt chocolate chips and shortening until fluid but not hot — too hot scorches chocolate, makes gritty. Shortening thins so dip coats edges instead of sitting in thick globs. Stir till glossy.
Dip & Drain
- Dip bottoms of cooled macaroons in chocolate, swirl gently so it creeps up sides a bit. Lift, let excess drip. Place on parchment lined tray; spacing like before, no puddles. Chocolate sets shiny, firm with fridge slap if in a hurry.
Set & Store
- Chill dipped cookies 10 minutes till firm or at room temp 30 minutes. Store airtight. Moisture kills crisp edges fast. If soggy, toast in low oven 5 minutes refreshes.
Notes
- Don't skip cinnamon — gives warmth over plain vanilla riff. Sub toasted almond flour for regular flour for nuttier chew. Egg whites from room temp eggs whip up easier, tighter peaks.
- If chocolate seizes, add teaspoon warm cream or shortening to soften. No double boiler? Microwave small bursts 20 seconds, stir between, careful not to burn.
- Avoid mixing coconut and flour too roughly or you’ll lose fluffiness. If mixture feels too wet, a teaspoon more flour tossed in helps hold shape.
Cooking tips
Chef's notes
- 💡 Whip egg whites just till thick white and cloud-like, around 90 seconds. Underwhip leaves blobs; overwhip dries out, no glue for coconut. Watch texture, not timer. Should stop sliding off whisk. Adds volume and chew.
- 💡 Toast shredded coconut lightly in dry pan before folding. Brings smoky notes, cuts rawness that ruins crack texture. Fold gently with flour; keep air bubbles. Toss flour slowly, no lump clumps. Keeps shape, stops flat, crumbly bits.
- 💡 Use tightly packed 1 1/2 tablespoon scoops or rounded spoons. Loose balls crack, crumble during bake. Space macaroons for airflow; air circulation builds crisp edges. Don’t crowd pans; gaps let heat hit all sides evenly.
- 💡 Bake at 320°F, watch color, smell, texture more than minutes. Tops crack lightly, edges golden brown, pale on inside. Coconut aroma rising means near done. Over baking dries centers; underbaking soggy bottoms kill crunch.
- 💡 Cool macaroons on racks before dipping. Warm macaroons ruin chocolate coating; slides, blobs, mess. Melt bittersweet chips with shortening in double boiler or careful microwave bursts, stir till glossy. Thick dip but fluid, coats edges not pools.
Common questions
How to know when macaroons are done?
Look for golden edges, cracked tops, pale centers. Smell coconut rising. Color beats timer. Crunch starts forming, not dry or wet. Texture matters more than minutes.
Can I substitute cinnamon?
Yes, vanilla works but loses warmth. Or nutmeg for a twist. Cinnamon adds subtle heat. Almond flour swap for flour adds nuttier chew and flavor. Adjust moisture if switching flours.
What if chocolate seizes while melting?
Add teaspoon warm cream or shortening to fix glossy texture. Stir well. Avoid overheating chocolate, use double boiler or microwave in small bursts. Seizing happens if too hot or water contact.
How to store macaroons?
Airtight container is key, moisture kills crisp edges fast. Room temp good for 1-2 days. Fridge can toughen texture but speeds chocolate set. Toast stale cookies 5 min low oven to revive crunch.