In one of my previous recipe posts for BitchBuzz, I mentioned my inability to eschew sweets for lent. I’m what the French would call a gourmande (which sounds a lot better than glutton or sweet-tooth sufferer) and am seemingly impervious to all religiously-motivated sugar detox attempts.
Then I went on to keep Passover which did not involve cutting out all sweets, just anything fermented made from the 5 major grains – wheat, rye, barley, oats and spelt- which means no flour or yeast. That eliminated bread, crackers, cookies and cakes right off the bat (half my diet).
Resisting French baguette, with or without the giant glob of stinky cheese, is about as easy as finding a pharmacy open on Sunday, but I fared better than expected. Going cake and cookie free for 8 days was going to be another battle. Lucky for me a friend of mine passed along the easiest, most Passover-friendly treat possible that not only allowed me to uphold my status as a gourmande but impress friends at a brunch where it was my turn to provide the dessert.
Make no mistake, these are not French macaroons. I’ve tried those in a cooking class and they’re a challenge I just don’t have the patience for. These coconut macaroons are most commonly found in the U.S. and most often consumed around Passover, but I’m making it my mission to bring them to every French dinner party from now on and convert them into lovers of this flourless-wonder. Short of buying a pre-made dessert in order to save time, this recipe couldn’t be faster or more straight-forward.
What you’ll need
Makes between 15-205 cups flaked sweetened coconut
3 egg whites (2 might work depending on how big the coconut flakes are)
½ cup granulated sugar (if the coconut is very sweet, I leave out the sugar)
¼ tsp vanilla extract
Cooking Instructions
Mix together all the ingredients. Make mounds about 1 inch high and 1 inch wide. Place the mounds about 1 inch apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for about 15 minutes or until the macaroons turn slightly brown.
Could that be any easier? No more headaches over what to bring to your next dinner party!
Lindsey is the creator of Lost In Cheeseland. She is a Paris transplant from Philadelphia, married to a Frenchman and on a permanent quest to understand the idiosyncrasies of the French. Check out her blog for more musings about food, life, love and struggles in Paris.
Photo © Lindsey Tramuta for BitchBuzz