Light and Delicious Holiday Cookie Recipes

Almond Snowballs

Ingredients

2 Egg Whites

1 Pinch of Course Salt

1/3 Cup of Sugar

1 1/2 Cups Shredded Coconut

1 Teaspoon Almond Extract

1/4 Teaspoon ground nutmeg

3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour

                                                      9 Candied Cherries, halved

                                                      1/4 cup sliced almonds

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees 
In a mixing bowl, beat egg whites and salt to soft peaks, then add sugar and beat again until peaks are stiff.  Beat in almond flavoring.  Using a rubber spatula or a wooden spoon, stir in half of the coconut.  Sprinkle nutmeg and flour, stir, then fold in the remaining coconut.

Using a melon baller or small scoop, or working with 2 spoons, form 9 "snowballs" a couple of inches apart on 2 cookie sheets.  Bake 12-15 minutes until lightly golden.  Remove from oven and garnish each with half a cherry and a couple of slivered almonds.  Transfer to a rack or serving plate to cool.

Per serving, based on 18 servings:  Calories: 64; Total Fat: 4 grams; Saturated Fat: 3 grams; Total Carbohydrates:  7 grams; Sugar: 5 grams; Fiber: 1 gram; Sodium: 24 milligrams

Courtesy of Rachel Ray's "Holiday Party Bites"




Chocolate Macaroons  



Ingredients

2 egg whites
1 cup ground almonds
3 tablespoons cocoa
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees, and line a baking sheet with parchment or preferably, a silicone pad.

Mix egg whites (unbeaten) with the ground almonds, cocoa and powdered sugar until you have a sticky but cohesive mixture.

Fill a large bowl with cold water and dip your hands in it to wet them before rolling the mixture into little balls the size of walnuts.  You will probably have to re-dunk your hands to keep them moist as you go.

Arrange the macaroon balls on the lined baking tray and put in the oven to bake for 11 minutes.  It's hard to tell when they are ready, as they will seem soft, but they crisp up as they cool.  They should be a little moist inside when they are done baking anyway.

Per Macaroon:  Calories:  54; Total Fat:  2 grams; Saturated Fat: 0 grams; Protein: 1 gram; Total Carbohydrates: 8 grams; Sugar: 7 grams; Sodium: 4 milligrams

Courtesy of The Food Network and Nigella Lawson