Always a hit when tucked inside boxes of Christmas sweets, chocolate dipped Coconut Macaroons are rich, sweet, chewy cookies that are almost candy-like.

Coconut Macaroons with Chocolate

I like to use dark chocolate when making these, as the bittersweet chocolate balances the sweetness of the coconut, and the flavors work very well together.

I’ve made these macaroons at Christmastime for the past 15+ years. (In addition to making them for pretty much every other occasion too.) If you love coconut anywhere near as much as we do, you will fall in love with these cookies.

How To Make Coconut Macaroons

There are a few different ways to make macaroons and I’ve tried plenty of them. Many of the macaroon recipes that I’ve seen require beating the egg whites before adding them to the mixture. I’ve tried this method myself.

In the end, I don’t find it makes enough of a difference to justify the extra effort. They will turn out just a tiny bit lighter, but like I said, for me? Part of the fun in macaroons is in how simple they are to make.

All you need to do is dump all of the ingredients in a bowl, give it a quick stir with a spoon, and scoop them out onto a tray. Easy peasy and you’ll be enjoying the macaroons before you know it.

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Perfectly crisp on top and irresistibly soft inside, these Cinnamon Cookies are a fabulous blend of warm cinnamon and sweet sugar.

Cinnamon Cookies

These cinnamon cookies are the perfect afternoon snack with your morning coffee or an afternoon cup of tea. I came up with these while playing with our family cookie recipes to create gluten-free variations for a friend.

I wanted a version of classic Snickerdoodle cookies that could be made with butter alone, eliminating the traditional shortening in that recipe. If you prefer a cookie with a more cake-like texture, simply substitute shortening for ½ of the butter in this recipe.

This cinnamon sugar cookies recipe results in slightly thinner cookies than traditional snickerdoodles. They have wonderfully crisp edges and chewy centers, and have a distinct, buttery cinnamon sugar flavor. Call me very happy.

If you’d like more gluten-free cookie recipes, be sure to check out all of the gluten free dessert recipes on this website. I’ve worked hard to create cookie recipes (and other desserts!) that will safely satisfy the cravings of my GF friends.

What are Crinkle Cookies?

You may be wondering, “What are crinkle cookies?” I can’t recall the first time I heard this type of cook

Buttery, nutty cookies are topped with the sweet jam of your choice in these simple, gluten free Pecan Thumbprint Cookies.

Pecan Thumbprint Cookies

I’ve been making thumbprint cookies for as long as I’ve been baking. From the classic peanut butter cookies with Hershey’s kisses, to every kind of jam and jelly-filled goodie you can think of. They inevitably remind me of Christmas.

These pecan thumbprint cookies are rolled in crushed nuts before baking, adding an irresistible nutty crunch to these cookies. This recipe is very gently adapted from these vegan cookies on my friend Gina’s blog.

This recipe has become a tradition for us over the past couple of years, as it gets absolute RAVE reviews from my friends who avoid both gluten and dairy. It was past time to save the recipe here for future baking, but all credit goes to Gina for the original awesomeness.

It’s always fun to make thumbprint cookies with kids, as we all get to use our favorite jams. My nieces opted for strawberry or raspberry jam this time. While apricot jam is almost always my preference. We all win.

Gluten Free Thumbprint Cookies

Yes, you’re reading this correctly. There is no flour in this recipe. These cookies are gluten-free and positively delicious, made with almond and coconut flours.

If you’re looking for a few more naturally gluten-free dessert options, I’ve got your dessert needs covered for any occasion. From sweet snacking and cookie munching to an elegant (and EASY TO MAKE) dessert, it’s all right here.

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Soft and chewy oatmeal cookies are infused with tart cranberries, sweet oranges, and fragrant cardamom in these Cranberry Orange Oatmeal Cookies.

Cranberry Orange Oatmeal Cookies

These cranberry orange cookies made me grin with each bite. I love the unexpected flavors and the way that orange zest transforms this classic oatmeal cookie into something fresh.

Fruit in cookies is a whole thing. A lot of people stick to chocolate and nuts, but if you’ve never tried something like these orange cranberry oatmeal cookies, you’re missing out. Cranberries are an amazing match for citrus and warm spices.

Cardamom is intensely aromatic (if you are familiar with the fragrance of chai tea, it is likely the cardamom that you are remembering) and it adds a distinct flavor to these cookies.

The spice works beautifully in baked goods, but don’t worry if you don’t have it. Cinnamon with orange zest is a fantastic combination on it’s own.

Orange Oatmeal Cookies

You’ll need the following ingr

Thick, chewy, fudgy brownies with generous chocolate icing are enticing enough to have me eating these Lunch Lady Brownies for dinner. 

This post was originally published eight years ago. I remade these brownies earlier this year while thinking about my friend Joan. I reshot them at the time, knowing that I wanted to share this post again on the 8th anniversary of her passing.

Chocolate for Joan

My chocolate-loving friend Joan would most definitely approve of eating brownies for dinner! This Lunch Lady Brownie recipe is one of hers that has become a family favorite for us as well.

Joan passed away unexpectedly on October 22, 2015. While crying and grieving the next day, I decided to bake in memory of her. I spent that weekend making many of her favorites and then shared the sweets with friends.

Joan was passionate about her desserts and I imagine that she would have gotten a kick out of being remembered with an abundance of chocolate.

Lunch Lady Brownies

You’ll need the following ingredients to make the brownies:

• butter
• cocoa
• light brown sugar
• white sugar
• eggs
• vanilla extract
• all-purpose flour

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