One of the simplest and tastiest raw desserts is macaroons. If you’ve never tried them, macaroons are dense, chewy, sweet, and satisfying mounds of sweet chewy coconut. Although the spelling is similar, French macarons are completely different; light and airy, macarons are basically a sandwich cookie with a creamy center.
The macaroons in this recipe have the addition of an amazing herb from Peru called maca, the sweet-tasting root of a plant that grows high in the Andes mountains. Maca belongs to a special class of herbs known as adaptogens; that means they help protect your body from the harmful effects of stress. Maca is commonly used by athletes to build energy and muscle, as it’s a natural anabolic. Maca is also used to support hormonal balance and fertility in both men and women. It has a flavor that’s similar to hazelnuts, and blends up well in desserts and smoothies.
We’re also using raw cacao powder. This is chocolate in its most natural form, full of rich dark flavor, and loaded with antioxidants.
Bring a plate of these to your holiday gatherings for a sweet treat that’s loaded with extra health benefits.
To attain a chewy texture, the recipe instructs you to dehydrate the macaroons for 6 hours, so make sure to plan ahead.
You will need:
- 4 cups coconut flakes
- 1 cup raw cacao powder
- 3 tablespoons maca powder
- 1 cup agave nectar or maple syrup
- 1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon Himalayan salt
Combine all ingredients except for the coconut oil and blend well. Once the ingredients are completely mixed, add the melted coconut oil and mix by hand.
Once everything is all blended up, you’re going to form this “dough” into spheres. The easiest way to make them uniform is to use a 2” ice cream scoop, but you can also form the balls by hand.
If you have a dehydrator, place the Maca-Roons on the dehydrator sheets. Dehydrating them creates a cookie-like chewy texture. Dehydrate at 115 degrees for six hours.
If you don’t have a dehydrator, you can use your oven instead. Place the Maca-Roons on a parchment-lined cookie sheet and bake in the oven set to the lowest possible setting for 6 hours.
You can also eat them without dehydrating them. Simply place the spheres on a parchment-lined sheet and refrigerate.
Wishing you a deliciously healthy holiday season!
Kita