BAKING FOR VALENTINES DAY

Valentines Day is a wonderful reminder to pause and spend the day with the ones we love. Relaxing, playing, or one of my favorite pass times, a day in the kitchen with friends and family. 

This Valentine's day I have the pleasure of spending it with those I truly admire; colleagues, friends and my brother. The anticipation sparked a friendly reminder of one of their favorite cookies, red thumbprint cookies, or at least that is what I called them growing up, and macaroons. So I mixed them. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do. 

HERE IS WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

1 SM Jar Cherry Preserves

1 SM Banana

1/2 Cup Honey

1/4 Cup Coconut Oil

1 Tsp Vanilla Extract

1/2 Tsp Almond Extract

2 Duck Egg whites (or chicken eggs)

1 1/2 Tsp Salt

2 Cups Shredded Coconut

1/2 Cup Shredded Oats

1/4 Cup of Slivered Almonds Optional 

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Add all wet ingredients to a large bowl. Stir until smooth. Then add the dry ingredients. Stir. Now you are ready to roll and make your thumb imprint. Note: I used an over ripe banana. It created a darker batter. 

Grab a pan and parchment paper. Place the sheet of parchment paper on the pan (oil works as well). Scoop about a tablespoon of dough into your hand and roll into a ball. Place on pan.

Then make a gentle thumbprint in the middle of the cookie. Repeat until all the dough is used. Lastly, add a teaspoon of preserves to the dip in the middle. Bake for 12-15 minutes and enjoy!