Crispy On the Outside, Chewy On the Inside

Here is a cookie with two textures and can be varied with many kinds of nibbles

I was conducting a cookshare class in my home when one of my fellow cooks, Lynn Warnicke, brought some home baked Spicy Macaroons. Wow, it had 1/2 TBS of ground pepper and 1/3 cup of grated ginger root. In addition, the cookie was shaped by a small ice cream scoop with a crispy skirt that was caramelized. The interior was moist and chewy with a great ginger-peppery pucker!

I was hooked and always wanted to try a chocolate chip macaroon. BINGO!

INGREDIENTS: Makes 30 Cookies

• walnuts – 1 cup, roasted 325º for 7 minutes, chopped [or pecans, almonds]
• ginger root – 3 TBS, grated or finely minced
• ground ginger – 1 tsp [optional]
• chocolate chips – 7 oz
• cherries, fresh – 1 cup, minced [optional]
• salt – 1/4 tsp
• pepper – 1/2 tsp [optional]
• sweetened condensed milk – 1 can
• shredded coconut – 7 oz [sweetened or unsweetened or a mixture]
• vanilla extract – 1 1/2 tsp

Unfussy to make, quick to stir and form

INSTRUCTIONS: I have this lovely 2 tablespoon ice cream scoop [above] that makes easy work. Otherwise, with moist hands, pull 2 tablespoons of dough and lightly roll into ball, then flatten one side and pull out the bottom a bit to create a skirt

1. Combine ingredients and mix well
2. Preheat the oven to 350º
3. Line a baking sheet with parchment [or I prefer silicon mats]
4. Place 2 TBS scoops of dough on sheet pan [there’s no slump so you can squeeze them in]
5. Bake for 21-23 minutes, at the 15 minute mark, turn the pans
6. Bake until there is caramelized spots on the skirt and the cookie is lightly golden
7. Leave on pans until cool

FUTURE MIXOLOGIES: I’m excited to try>

• A dollop of almond butter along with the chocolate chips
• Dried blueberries with grated lime zest
• Chopped dates with orange zest

---

In•Cite:

I recall a cartoon by Gary Larson in his “Far Side” collection. It shows two polar bears dining over a crushed igloo. The caption: That’s what I like about these—crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside.”