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Perfectly classic Coconut Macroons with a drizzle of chocolate are the perfect treat to make for your family. Just wait until you take that first bite, and the second and third…
Hi, Oh Sweet Basil friends! I’m Laney and I post over at Life is But a Dish. I create easy, approachable recipes for the everyday home cook and I love empowering home cooks to use what they have on hand to make food they’re proud of. I’m also Jewish, so a lot of my recipes line up with that calendar of holidays! I love hosting and celebrating with the people I love.
I grew up celebrating Jewish holidays and traditions but didn’t really know a lot of the meaning and symbolism behind it all. Once I got married and had my own family, I knew I wanted to give them (and myself!) a foundation of understanding for these holidays. I’ve really been learning about the history of my Jewish culture alongside my two little girls and it’s been so much fun!
The Story of Passover
The story of Passover is all about a journey from slavery to freedom.
In ancient Egypt, Pharoah enslaved the Jewish people. Moses, their leader, went to Pharoah and warned him that God was unhappy with his behavior. Moses told Pharoah that plagues would come if he didn’t free the Jews. Sure enough, water turned to blood, frogs came, wild animals ran in and out of homes, hail fell, locusts ate all their food…basically, insanity! Each time a plague appeared Pharoah would promise to free the Jews, but each time he went back on his word, a new plague appeared. Finally, Pharoah ordered the Jews to leave Egypt. They frantically packed their belongings (they didn’t even have time to let their bread rise!) and fled.
Moses led them out of Egypt until they reached a sea too wide to swim across. With Pharoah’s army at their back, they were desperate…and then, the miracle of the parting of the Red Sea!
They crossed the sea safely on foot before the water crashed back in on the pursuing army.
What is Passover
Passover is all about that journey from Egypt long ago.
We read a short book and eat from the Seder plate, which has 6 symbolic foods. The Passover meal is filled with symbolism and little intricacies related to everything we eat and do.
What’s on a Seder plate?
- Charoset – represents the clay and mud bricks the Jews used as a part of their labor in Egypt
- Bitter herbs – to remind us of the bitterness of the slavery the Jews endured
- Shank bone – represents sacrifices made by the Jewish people
- Hard boiled egg – to represent spring and the circle of life
- Parsley – dipped in salt water this represents the tears of the Jews enslaved in Egypt
- Lettuce – Another bitter herb which symbolized the pain of the Jews
I’ve been hosting Passover dinners for almost a DECADE now. That’s crazy! We usually have 25-30 people in our home, mostly made up of my husband Zach’s family who live near us in California (my family is all back east). It’s become a beautiful tradition and something I really look forward to every year. It’s also a LOT of work! That’s why I appreciate a menu item that’s low-stress while looking impressive. Enter Coconut Macaroons!
Traditional Passover Dessert
Coconut Macaroons are a super traditional Passover dessert since they contain no flour.
For 8 days during Passover we abstain from foods with leavening (yeast or flour) as a reminder of the ancient Jew’s exodus out of Egypt. Coconut Macaroons are my favorite way to honor that tradition. They’re also made with pantry staples! Hooray!
More Passover Recipes
- Slow Cooker Brisket
- Sticky Chicken
- Citrus Baked Chicken Thighs
- Crispy Smashed Potatoes
- Roasted Root Veggies
- Easy Instant Pot Applesauce
- Charoset
Thank you for having me here to share a little more about my favorite springtime tradition and one of my favorite desserts! Enjoy!
Coconut Macaroons
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large bowl, separate the egg whites from yolks and discard yolks. This is easiest done using COLD eggs. They will separate easier this way! Add in the sugar, salt, and vanilla and whisk until well combined. Add the coconut and mix until coconut is well coated with the mixture egg white mixture.6 Egg Whites, 1 Cup Sugar, 1/4 teaspoon Salt, 3 teaspoons Vanilla, 4 Cups Coconut
- Drop mixture by 1 heaping tablespoon mounds onto prepared baking sheets and shape into pyramids. Bake for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, melt the chocolate chips either in a double boiler, or in 30 second increments in the microwave, stirring frequently until melted. If you need to thin out the chocolate, add a splash of warmed milk or cream until you reach desired consistency. Using a spoon, drizzle chocolate over fully cooled macaroons. Store in the fridge for up to 5 days, or covered at room temp for 3 days.1 Cup Chocolate Chips
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I like the recipe and followed it exactly but they turned out rather gooey and spread on cookie sheet. I will make again, but what do I need to change for them not to do this. I can’t add flour.
Hi Debbie! This was a guest post, so it’s not my recipe, but if I had the same issue, I would try doing one less egg white. Maybe the size of your eggs was larger than the ones used for the recipe. I hope this helps!
Discard the egg yolks!!??? I don’t think so –that’s very disappointing to see. How about using them in another recipe.
You can definitely do that! I’d recommend our best cheesecake! https://ohsweetbasil.com/best-cheesecake-recipe/
how long can i store these for?
You can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. If you want them to last longer, you can individually wrap them in plastic wrap and store them in an airtight container for up to 3 months in the freezer.
I have never tried coconut macaroons, thank you for the nice recipe.
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Enjoy!
Can you use a carton of egg whites instead? And if so, how much?
One egg has about 2 Tbsp of egg whites, so you’ll want 12 Tablespoons.