Baking season has arrived…

This year I have decided to make 25 different varieties of cookies.  Some of the cookies will be gobbled up by my family, but the majority of the cookies will be given away to someone special.

Every year Mrs. Hillbilly’s BFF has a huge Christmas open house party for all her friends, family and co-workers.  However this holiday season, she is currently undergoing chemotherapy.  Which we all know totally sucks. Mrs. Hillbilly’s friend is trying to keep things normal for her family and has decided to still have her annual Christmas party. And that is where I come in.

So pull out those stretchy pants, because it’s time to bake some cookies!

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups sweetened coconut
2 large egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 oz milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.

In a medium sized bowl combine the coconut, egg whites, vanilla and mix well.  Using a 2 tablespoon cookie scoop* drop coconut mixture on to a line baking sheet or silpat.*

Bake for 15 minutes at 325 degrees.  Cool on a wire rack.  Once the macaroons have cooled completely, melt 4 ounces of chocolate in a double broiler.  Remove double boiler from heat and carefully dip the bottoms of macaroon in chocolate and place on parchment paper to set.

Makes 8 good-sized macaroons.

Martha Stewart’s Cookies: The Very Best Treats to Bake and to Share*~ Amazon

*Direct link to an Amazon.com product