Coconut Drop Cookies

So today I decided to make coconut macaroons…but the final result was…well not macaroonish enough for me. So I named them coconut drop cookies. But Mother enjoyed them greatly so I guess that’s all that matters.

 

Ingredients: 

1 pkg.  (14 oz.) Coconut Flakes {I used sweetened} about (5-1/3 cups)

2/3 cup  sugar

6 Tbsp.  flour

1/4 tsp.  salt {I never use the actual amount of salt–just a few shakes}

4 egg whites

1 tsp.  vanilla {some recipes use Almond} extract

Set the egg whites aside to rest while you mix the dry ingredients together. Add the whites and vanilla to the dry mixture.

Bake at 325 for about 20 min, the coconut will brown lightly.

I used parchment paper and just a greased pan–result- Parchment! it browns the coconut better without the cookies being over-baked.

Like I said I’m still working a perfect coconut macaroon recipe since this isn’t quite it. But for Coconut Drop Cookies–they are excellent!

 

Simple Ingredients

Egg Whites; make sure they rest!

Vanilla

Parchment vs Greased Pan

Final Product

Almond Apricot Oatmeal Cookies

So while having a “Chopped Moment” and rummaging through my cupboards for supplies for dinner I came across a bag of dried apricots. Since this was a dinner for Mother & I, it just seemed practical to come up with some way to use them.

I quickly came across a delicious oatmeal cookie recipe. So with a little tweaking I developed an almond apricot version. {The almond was because I ran out of vanilla & I didn’t have an orange to zest as suggested}

First: Cup of finely chopped dried Apricots. I suggest more than a cup. According to my mother “you can never have to much apricot!”

Next boil a cup of water and put the apricot in for about 5 min {reduces the stickiness}

Cream together 2/3 cup of shortening, 1 cup {packed} brown sugar, 1/3 cup white sugar. Then add teaspoon of almond extract and an egg. Beat until light and fluffy. Then add in 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, pinch of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon.

Once blended add in the apricots {drained}and and about 1.5 cups of oatmeal. {The recipe called for 2 cups, but I felt that it made the dough a little to loose}

Heat the oven to 350 degrees and roll dough and place on lightly greased pan, or non-stick pan. Bake for about 12-15 min {12 seemed to work well for me}

{as you can see my cookie pans are well used}

They were yummy~ Mother approved!