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–+ servings
A round white plate piled with chocolate chip meringue cookies.
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5 from 2 votes

Forgotten Cookies

Here's a recipe that should be in everyone's cookie file. Once made, you will never forget these cookies. Note, room temperature whites whip better than cold ones.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time1 minute
Drying time8 hours
Total Time8 hours 16 minutes
Course: Cookies, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 10 yield 20 cookies
Calories: 171kcal
Author: Sally Cameron

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 large egg whites at room temperature (important!)
  • ⅔ cup sugar superfine works best if you have it
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts pecans
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ⅛ teaspoon cream of tartar
  • 1 pinch salt

Instructions

  • Pre-heat the oven to 350°F. Line a cookie baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
  • Using a hand mixer, beat egg whites with cream of tartar and salt starting on slow speed until foamy. Increase speed and beat whites until soft peaks form. Increase speed to high and begin adding sugar gradually until all sugar is added and peaks are stiff and glossy. Gently fold the chocolate chips and nuts in by hand with a rubber spatula.
  • Drop cookie dough by tablespoons full onto the parchment. Alternatively for portioning, use a #30 cookie scoop (aka a disher, notes below). Place the cookies in the oven, turn the oven off, and allow the cookies to slowly dry and crisp overnight in the oven, door closed. Do not open the oven.
    NOTE: I've let forgotten cookies go as long as 17 hours (super crisp) and also had them ready in as little as 5 hours. Pull one from the tray and test around 5 hours to see if they are crisp enough for you.
  • In the morning, remove the cookies and taste test one. Cool cookies on a wire rack and package in an airtight container or cookie tin with a tight fitting lid. To layer cookies, place a piece of parchment or wax paper between the layers.
    Cookies keep on the counter for about a week. Do not refrigerate, as moisture is the enemy of meringues.

Notes

Variations:
  • Use pecans instead of walnuts.
  • Add some chopped coconut (unsweetened, not the sticky stuff).
  • Add a little cinnamon.
  • Use finely chopped chocolate instead of chips.
  • Add crushed peppermint or use peppermint chips for Christmas.
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Nutrition

Serving: 2cookies | Calories: 171kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 15mg | Potassium: 121mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 25mg | Iron: 0.3mg