Sweets are not my strong suit, so when another blogger offers to let me publish one of their cookie recipes, I’m all about it. Because I know you guys like cookies, right? These Chocolate Glazed Orange Macaroons (OMG YUM) come to you today courtesy of Sally McKenney from Sally’s Baking Recipes. She’s one of my favorite dessert bloggers that I stalk in lieu of making my own sweets, so check her out if you haven’t already. Her Instagram is absolutely drool-worthy.
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What Makes These Chocolate Glazed Orange Macaroons Top Notch
I love macaroons because A) I love anything coconut and B) they’re super easy to make. These macaroons are extra special because the combination of vanilla extract, almond extract, and fresh orange zest makes the most fragrant and flavorful cookie you’ve ever had. Seriously, when I was stirring up the batter I wanted to just stick my nose in it because it smelled so good. I need someone to make that smell into a perfume or home fragrance ASAP. And, of course, the finished macaroons tasted every bit as good as they smelled.
This recipe is taken from Sally’s first book, Sally’s Baking Addiction: Irresistible Cookies, Cupcakes, and Desserts for Your Sweet-Tooth Fix, which she just re-released with the addition of eight new recipes. You can find her on Amazon. This recipe is reprinted here with permission from Race Point Publishing.
Chocolate Glazed Orange Macaroons
Ingredients
ORANGE MACAROONS
- 3 cups* (packed) shredded sweetened coconut ($1.79)
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar ($0.11)
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour ($0.03)
- 1/4 tsp salt ($0.02)
- 4 large egg whites ($1.08)
- 1/2 tsp almond extract ($0.14)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract ($0.84)
- Zest from one large orange ($0.92)
CHOCOLATE GLAZE
- 3 oz semi-sweet chocolate ($1.94)
- 1/4 tsp coconut oil** ($0.05)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325ºF. In a large bowl, stir together the coconut, sugar, flour, and salt.
- Separate the white and yolks of four large eggs. Save the yolks for another use and pour the whites into the bowl with the coconut. Use a large spatula to stir until everything is evenly mixed.
- Add the vanilla and almond extract to the coconut mixture. Use a small-holed cheese grater or zester to zest the orange straight into the bowl (to catch all the fragrant oils). Stir the mixture until the extracts and orange zest are evenly incorporated. There should be no liquid on the bottom of the bowl. Add more coconut, as needed, to make sure the thick mixture evenly coats the coconut and does not drip to the bottom of the bowl.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop the coconut mixture into heaping tablespoons onto the baking sheet, 1-2 inches apart. Bake the cookies for about 20 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown slightly. Remove the macaroons from the oven and allow them to cool.
- While the macaroons are cooling, place the chocolate and coconut oil in a small bowl. Microwave in 20 second intervals, stirring well in between, until the chocolate is melted. Drizzle the chocolate over the cooled macaroons and let sit until the chocolate has cooled and set.
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Notes
Nutrition
How to Make Chocolate Orange Macaroons – Step by Step Photos
Start by preheating the oven to 325ºF. Add 3 cups (packed) shredded sweetened coconut to a bowl with 2/3 cup sugar, 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, and 1/4 tsp salt. Stir until they are well combined.
Separate four large eggs. We’ll only be using the whites, but don’t let those delicious yolks go to waste! With a little prep, you can actually freeze egg yolks. Get more info on that here.
Pour the egg whites into the bowl with the coconut. Use a spatula to stir it all together.
Then add 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1/2 tsp almond extract, and the zest from one orange. Zest the orange straight over the bowl so that all the fragrant oils go into the bowl with the zest.
Stir everything together really really well. Make sure there is no gooey liquid pooling on the bottom of the bowl. If so, add a little more coconut and stir until everything is coated in the sticky mixture and nothing is left on the bottom of the bowl.
Line a baking sheet (or two) with parchment paper. Scoop heaping tablespoons onto the baking sheet, 1-2 inches apart. I used a 1 Tbsp scoop and got about 21 cookies, but the original recipe estimates 15. The number of cookies you get depends on the size (this will also affect baking time).
Bake the macaroons for about 20 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown. Let the macaroons cool.
While the macaroons are cooling, break up 3oz. semi-sweet chocolate into a bowl and add 1/4 tsp coconut oil or shortening. Microwave in 20 second intervals, stirring well in between, until the chocolate is melted and smooth.
Drizzle the chocolate over the cooled macaroons. I’m kinda messy at that… oops.
Let the Chocolate Glazed Macaroons sit until the chocolate has cooled and set. Or just eat them right away and get chocolate all over your fingers. There are no rules.
Seriously heaven.
I bake a lot, and typically don’t use this site for baking recipes. But I come back to this simple, delicious, and beautiful cookie recipe every single year.
Dodn’t really care for this one. They smelled delicious though. Everyone tried one and said they were good but no one went back for seconds.
These look amazing! Would chia seeds work as a substitute for egg whites, do you think?
I’m not sure. That would change the chemistry of this recipe quite a bit, so there’s a good chance things could go awry.
Mother of god these have to be one of my favorite cookie, nay, favorite dessert recipe. I love coconut, orange and chocolate but I had serious reservations about these 3 flavors working together. I was sooo wrong.
Only two suggestions: take macaroons when cool and place them all close together on one sheet before you drizzle the chocolate. Just makes it easier. And once you have the chocolate drizzled I placed the whole tray in the fridge for 20-30min. The chocolate just wouldn’t set even after an hour at room temp and this caused it to firm up even when brought back up to room temp. But I lived in Florida so maybe the humidity was a factor.
These are amazing! The orange zest… wow. I used unsweetened coconut from Trader Joe’s and lowered added sugar to slightly over half a cup, and still found them a bit too sweet. I have a major sweet tooth, but tend to cut sugar in recipes because to me it sometimes overshadows over flavors. In any case, will definitely make this again, also with unsweetened coconut, and with probably just half a cup of sugar. Had a hard time drizzling the chocolate, so I just plopped some chocolate on top of each macaroon.
Whipped up a half batch of these tonight. No surprise, they’re insanely delicious. They’re also super easy to make, so win/win.
That chocolate drizzle! And now I want these macaroons for lunch haha.
Do most macaroon recipes have flour? I only ask because my mom has Celiac and she often gets a macaroon assuming they are normally gluten free. I think she normally asks so it’s safe but I thought about making these but now I have to figure out a GF way!
These are delicious! Thank you for sharing, I will definitely be making these again. 😊
I just made these, and they’re fantastic!! The orange zest gives it such a unique and wonderful flavour. I love the chocolate on top because I’m a chocolate fiend, but I think you could also eat these without the chocolate and they’d still be delicious.
The way you described and wrote the recipe is really interesting as if i can smell all those fresh oranges with vanilla. I have never tried ORANGE MACAROONS before but after reading this recipe i am going to try it ASAP :D thank you so much
It seems that you are a magician in cooking. there is no doubt that it is very tasty. The photos have been taken very well too. The only thing that we should be concerned is that it is not an ideal food for any diabetic patient. can you suggest a light version of it?
Unfortunately you can’t make this one low sugar because the sugar is needed to get the right texture and consistency. :(
Just made a double batch of these and they came out great! I used two limes instead of oranges (it’s what I had on hand), and replaced the chocolate drizzle with white chocolate drizzle, colored pale green with a little food coloring to play up the line aspect. They look very Christmas-y!
My only suggestions would be that 1) if you don’t have a tablespoon disher, pack a tablespoon full of batter and use another spoon to push it out as neatly as you can. Don’t try to use your hands as the batter is extremely sticky. And for the drizzle, 2) put the chips- white or chocolate- and shortening/whatever in a plastic baggies and immerse (well sealed) in a bowl of hot water, kneading and reheating occasionally until fully melted. When you’re ready to drizzle just snip a tiny corner from the bottom of the bag and squeeze out- no messy spoon business required.
Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Great suggestions! Thank you! I bet that lime was amazing.
Sally has done it again! These look amazing, my mouth is ACTUALLY watering. Love your subs because I don’t have shortening either but I need these macaroons in my lyyyyyyfe right now!
I typically use unsweetened coconut, do you think this would still work? I try to cut back on sugar where ever possible. :)
Hmm, that’s a good question. I’m really not sure how much the sugar on the shredded coconut affects the flavor and the texture of the macaroons.
I used unsweetened organic shredded coconut turned out delicious and so very easy to make
I love Sally’s blog, too! These cookies look to die for =)
These macaroons look delicious, and I’ve never seen them with orange zest before. Seems like exactly what they’ve been missing! haha. I also simply adore the fact that you helped me take care of the leftover yolks. I’ve literally never seen a recipe help you not waste the leftover ingredients. Meringue? “Discard yolks”. And I’m like DISCARD SIX YOLKS?!?! So anyway… thank you for that!
Seriously, the yolks are the best part! Hahaha I could never just throw them away. :)
I just LOVE that you work with Sally!! My favorite cooking blog and favorite dessert blog working together! <3
Was literally JUST looking for a macroon recipe to make my mom for Christmas (she LOVES them!) and saw this post in my blog feed…perfect timing! Making them today after I send off presents at the post office. Thank youuuu!
I make a lot of Sally’s recipes. She is an amazing baker. Last night I made her peppermint mocha cookies and they were to die for! I’ll have to try these next. Thanks for all of your savory recipes too – I really enjoyed the warm brussel sprout salad.
I LOVE macaroons!!!! :-)