Naturally Sweet Chocolate Coconut Macaroons
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These naturally sweet chocolate coconut macaroons are a quick dessert idea for any occasion! 
Coconut + chocolate, yes please! People keep asking me what my pregnancy cravings have been and recently the answer is, CHOCOLATE! And chocolate in just about any combination, as you can tell by many of my recent recipes. Chocolate is packed with the antioxidant flavanols, which can help promote health by increasing blood flow, inhibiting cancer causing free radicals and possibly reducing cholesterol levels. Unfortunately, chocolate is usually accompanied by sugar and lots of it! So in attempt to make more of my chocolate cravings a bit healthier I decided to tackle one of my favorite desserts, chocolate coconut macaroons.
Traditional coconut macaroons are made with sweetened coconut flakes, granulated sugar and egg whites. My version swaps out sweetened coconut for unsweetened coconut and granulated sugar for honey, a natural sweetener. These simple swaps helped cut back the sugar content by almost half. I also really like how the honey flavor complements the coconut. The honey gives these coconut macaroons an even more natural and fresh flavor than your regular macaroon. Now I call that a recipe success! 
These macaroons are so good they can be eaten plain without the added chocolate! 
- 3 cups unsweetened coconut flakes
- 3 egg whites
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder (optional)
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted (optional)
- 1 teaspoon honey (optional)
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Line cookie sheet with paarchment paper or Silpat.
- In a medium bowl mix egg white honey, vanilla and salt. Add in coconut a mix (note: if coconut flakes large can pulse in food processor before to create smaller flakes.)
- Add coconut flakes to wet mixture.
- Using small ice cream scoop, scoop out mixture into balls and place on prepared cookie sheet.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
- Let cool for 5-10 minutes then remove and set on cooling rack for an additional 10-20 minutes.
- If topping with chocolate. Mix together coconut oil, cocoa powder and honey in a small bowl. Drizzle over the top of the macaroons. Let set to harden.
