The first order of business is to give a big Happy Birthday shout-out to my son, who turns 8 today. It’s hard to believe that the long-legged, sweet young man who inhabits my home was once a little babe in arms, my firstborn. Naturally, there will be a gratuitous photo of said child at the end of this post, because he’s a handsome guy and a sweetheart to boot. He has requested a Harry Potter birthday, so this morning I will be attempting some Harry Potter themed cupcakes. If they are good, they will likely get a feature here. I make no promises.
The next order of business it to crow a little about my feature article in The Diabetes Experience digital magazine. I was so thrilled when they contacted me about some freelance work, and they really couldn’t have offered me a better assignment. So if you have a free moment, I’d love for you to check out my piece Gluten-Free Holiday Baking Tips.
Finally, to the recipe which uses both my homemade sugar-free dried cranberries AND my homemade low carb sweetened condensed milk. I told you both of those little recipes would come in handy! These are my much healthier version of a beloved macaroon from Au Bon Pain. When I first moved to Boston for work, I frequented Au Bon Pain quite regularly and I had a weak spot for their cookies. The regular cookies, like chocolate chip, were only okay but they had two cookies that always had me coming back for more. The first was a generous slab of shortbread dipped in dark chocolate…what’s not to love about that? The second was the Cranberry Almond Coconut Macaroons, sweet, soft clusters of coconut with dried cranberries and slivered almonds. And dipped in dark chocolate. Can you sense a theme here?
I’ve made low carb macaroons before, but they came out really hard and crunchy. They were good, they just weren’t the soft, tender macaroons I wanted to achieve. But once again, developing my own sweetened condensed milk really solved that problem, because it keeps the macaroons soft even when they include stiff egg whites. These were exactly what I wanted them to be, and they were really good on their own, even without the chocolate. But if you know anything about me, you know I can rarely resist chocolate ganache. So I dipped the majority of these lovely macaroons and it just made them all the more special.
Cranberry Almond Coconut Macaroons
Ingredients
Macaroons:
- 2 large egg whites
- 1/4 tsp cream of tartar
- 2 cups shredded coconut unsweetened
- 2/3 cup Low Carb Sweetened Condensed Milk
- 1/2 cup slivered almonds
- 1/2 cup Sugar-Free Dried Cranberries chopped
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 20 drops stevia extract
- Pinch salt
Chocolate Dip:
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 oz unsweetened chocolate chopped
- 3 tbsp powdered Swerve Sweetener or powdered erythritol
Instructions
For the macaroons:
- Preheat the oven to 325F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, beat egg whites with cream of tartar until stiff peaks form.
- In a large bowl, combine shredded coconut, condensed milk, almonds, cranberries, almond extract, stevia extract and salt and mix well.
- Fold in egg whites.
- Drop by rounded teaspoons onto prepared baking sheet. Bake 18 minutes or until set and lightly browned. Let cool on pan.
Chocolate Dip:
- Melt butter and chocolate together in a small saucepan over low heat. Add powdered erythritol and stir to dissolve.
- If chocolate thickens too much to dip macaroons, add more butter or oil until it smooths out again.
- Dip half of each macaroon in chocolate and return to pan. Let set 20 minutes.
Helen says
Any suggestions for subbing the sweetened condensed milk? I’m in Oz ….. two choices: full fat loaded with sugar, or low fat loaded with sugar!
Full fat is fine by me … But I simply don’t eat sugar of any kind ….
Thanks.
Carolyn says
I don’t think you understand…this takes my own homemade condensed milk, which has no added sugar! Just click through for the recipe.
Deborah says
Is there a substitute for making the condensed milk? Wanting to bake macaroons but making the condensed milk first is too much effort
Carolyn says
No subs, sorry.
Heidi says
Hi Carolyn!
Just stumbled onto this recipe on Pinterest – looks absolutely divine!!
I love your blog and often browse on here for recipes and ideas – well done!
Can’t wait to try these.
Heidi xx
Michelle says
Do you know if these can be frozen and if they thaw well? I am wanting to make these for a cookie swap and in advance, but i wont make them now if they dont hold well after being frozen.
Carolyn says
I honestly do not think these would freeze well, what with the egg whites and condensed milk. So many cookies would, but not these.
JulieD says
Carolyn, looks fantastic!!
Roxana | Roxana's Home Baking says
Happy Birthday to your son. Hope the cupcakes turned out as great as these macaroons!
Tiffany is born on November 6 🙂
claire @ the realistic nutritionist says
OH MY GOSH!!! Carolyn, these are divine!!!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says
Happy Birthday to the handsome young man and do you have any of these left? ? They certainly caught my eye in a big way.
Kammie @ Sensual Appeal says
Mmm these macaroons totally grabbed my attention.. delicious. Happy birthday to your pride and joy as well. You are a wonderful writer. 🙂
Dita MacDonald says
I have been following your site for a good while. I read your article about gluten free holiday cooking. The tips in it are spot on. Low carb & gluten free are certainly challenging when you first start baking and cooking this way.
Happy Birthday to your darling 8 yr old. I’m sure whatever you make he will love, since you are such a great cook. Thanks for all your recipes. Each one is a treasure.
Carolyn says
Thanks, Dita!
Pat Baker says
These look marvelous! Your son is a doll! Happy Birthday to your son! Going to read the article now. Thanks for all the recipes and for using ZipList it is the bomb.
Rae says
Do 20 drops of stevia equal about a 1/2 tsp?
Carolyn says
Actually, it comes out closer to about 1/4 tsp…somewhere between the two.
Sandi B says
Found your blog featured on I Breathe I’m Hungry blog… Your recipes look amazing!!
Carolyn says
Thank you!
Judy@lifeonthefoodchain.com says
Oh, dear. I was just about to head to bed and then spotted these. Will have to make these immediately (OK, Sunday when I’m off). But I will definitely have sweet dreams. These. Look. Wonderful.
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc. says
I can’t’ wait to try these!
Sarah says
Happy Birthday to the 8 year old! I’m sure he’ll love his cupcakes!
Gail @ Faithfulness Farm says
These will make the holiday baking list (which is growing every time I visit you, lol). Happy birthday to your dear one — they grow up WAY too quickly 🙂
Blessings!
Gail
Barb says
I don’t use Stevia….do you know how much sweetener if any would replace the drops or what else I would need?
Carolyn says
I’d put in an additional 1/4 cup erythritol.
Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies says
Happy Birthday to your son! And good luck with those cupcakes. If all else fails, you can always whip up some macaroons, right? 🙂
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective says
LOVE Macaroons! Your son is such a cutie–Happy Birthday to him!!
Brian @ A Thought For Food says
First, Happy Birthday to your son! That’s a big one! And congrats on the article!
Now, I’m a big fan of macaroons… but, amazingly, I have yet to make them! I’m officially inspired!