Zingerman’s Chocolate Coconut Macaroons

Recipe by Zingerman’s Bakehouse
22 Reviews 4.4 out of 5 stars

It’s hard to imagine that anyone could improve upon the sweet coconut-iness of a classic macaroon cookie, but our friends at Zingerman's Bakehouse have certainly done it. They make this super chocolate-y version at their iconic Bakehouse in Ann Arbor, Michigan and have been generous enough to share the recipe with us. Because they’re both unleavened and flourless, these cookies are particularly well suited for the Jewish holiday of Passover; and they're naturally gluten-free, as well. 

Prep
20 mins
Bake
22 to 25 mins
Total
1 hr
Yield
2 dozen cookies
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Zingerman’s Chocolate Coconut Macaroons

Instructions

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  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

  2. Place the chocolate in a double boiler to melt. You can make your own double boiler by using a metal bowl that fits over the top of a pan. Fill the pan about one-third full of water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium and place the metal bowl with the chocolate on top. Make sure the bottom of the bowl isn't touching the water. Stir the chocolate until melted. Avoid overheating it.

  3. Once the chocolate is melted, set it aside to cool for 10 to 15 minutes.

  4. In a mixing bowl, by hand or with the paddle attachment on a stand mixer, stir together the egg whites, cocoa powder, sugar, salt, and vanilla. Add the melted chocolate and stir until well blended.

  5. Add the coconut and mix until evenly incorporated.

  6. Using a 3/4-ounce (22ml) portioner (or tablespoon cookie scoop), form mounds of the mixture and place on parchment-lined pans. You can also use a spoon to roll the mixture into balls, using about 1 1/2 tablespoons for each. They should be the size of a walnut in the shell. Leave some space between the macaroons for even baking. They won't spread.

  7. Bake the macaroons for 22 to 25 minutes, until they're slightly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. If you’re unsure whether they’re done, squeeze one! Transfer to a rack and cool completely.

  8. These cookies stay very moist in a sealed container or bag for up to a week. They can also be frozen for up to 3 months.

Tips from our Bakers

  • A note about the cocoa in this recipe: The bakers at Zingerman’s are strong believers in using non-alkalized (natural) cocoa in their recipes. They love its pure, unadulterated cocoa flavor. In the case of this recipe, after testing it with both non-alkalized and alkalized (Dutch-process) cocoa, we tend to agree with them. If, however, you only have Dutch-process cocoa on hand, or you prefer it, you should still bake these cookies. We promise they’ll be plenty chocolate-y! And visually you won’t notice the difference.

  • If preparing these cookies for Passover, omit the vanilla extract (or substitute vanilla that's kosher for Passover).

  • Be aware: Some of your baking ingredients can be a hidden source of gluten. Learn more at our blog post: For gluten-free baking, think beyond just flour. For additional information on King Arthur-produced products, read the complete details of our allergen program, including our contact-prevention practices.

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