Serious Eats: Recipes
Multicultural Macaroons
[Photographs: Robyn Lee]
More Macaroon Recipes
Vicky Bijur's Macaroons
Vanilla-Coconut Macaroons
Saffron-Cardamom Macaroons
Macaroons have found themselves in the history of several cultures. Italian Jews like their version because they can make a Passover-friendly version without flour or a leavening agent.
Americans have such a love for them they've created a very popular candy bar, the Almond Joy, which is constructed of a coconut macaroon-like center and a milk chocolate coating (I'm hoping you've heard of it). Turkish sweet teeth enjoy a cookie made from ground bitter almonds and egg whites. Unlike the American version, they are light-as-a-feather and very crispy, similar to a one of my all-time favorites, the Italian amaretti cookie.
For this holiday baking season, I've decided to create a collision of cultures with this recipe for a soft and chewy coconut macaroon, made even better by adding one of the greatest ingredients ever—almond paste! The result is a not-too-sweet confection that has an intense coconut and almond flavor, with a slight hint of caramel.
So no matter what holiday you'll be celebrating this season, give this recipe a try. It's super-easy, requires not a single fancy kitchen gadget (unless you consider your hands fancy), and would be a perfect recipe to make with kids.
But be warned: these cookies are highly-addictive. After making a batch at home, I proceeded to eat about a dozen of my 18, leaving very little for others. You may want to consider a double-batch yourself.
Coconut Macaroons
About the author: Jenny McCoy is the pastry chef at A Voce in New York City. When she's not covered in flour or frying bomboloni, you can find her strolling the streets of Fort Greene, Brooklyn, with her little dog Olive.
