Forgotten Cookies Recipe
Delightfully crisp and airy, Forgotten Cookies are a unique meringue-based treat made by slowly drying egg whites, sugar, chocolate chips, and nuts in a turned-off oven overnight. This easy-to-make cookie requires no traditional baking time and yields wonderfully delicate, crunchy cookies perfect for snacking or gifting.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes (oven off drying method)
- Total Time: 5-17 hours (mostly inactive drying time overnight)
- Yield: Approximately 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Cookies
- 2 large egg whites at room temperature (important!)
- ⅔ cup superfine sugar (best if available)
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 pinch salt
Instructions
- Prepare Oven and Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a cookie baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil to prevent sticking and facilitate easy clean-up.
- Beat Egg Whites: Using a hand mixer, beat the egg whites with cream of tartar and a pinch of salt starting at a slow speed until the mixture becomes foamy. Gradually increase the speed to beat until soft peaks form.
- Add Sugar Gradually: Increase the mixer speed to high and slowly incorporate the superfine sugar a little at a time. Continue beating until stiff, glossy peaks form, indicating that the meringue is perfectly aerated and stable.
- Fold in Mix-ins: Gently fold the chocolate chips, chopped walnuts or pecans, and vanilla extract into the meringue mixture using a rubber spatula, carefully preserving the airy texture.
- Form Cookies: Drop the cookie mixture by tablespoons full onto the lined baking sheet. Alternatively, use a #30 cookie scoop (disher) for evenly portioned cookies.
- Dry Cookies Overnight: Place the baking sheet in the oven, then immediately turn the oven off without opening the door. Let the cookies slowly dry and crisp overnight, anywhere from 5 to 17 hours depending on desired crispness. Do not open the oven to keep moisture out.
- Cool and Store: In the morning, remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool completely on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container or cookie tin with parchment or wax paper between layers to keep them crisp. Cookies will keep at room temperature for about a week. Avoid refrigeration as moisture will soften the meringues.
Notes
- Superfine sugar works best to incorporate smoothly into the egg whites, but regular granulated sugar can be used if necessary.
- Be sure to keep the oven door closed overnight to maintain a moisture-free environment for perfectly crisp cookies.
- Cookies dry faster in higher humidity environments so adjust drying time accordingly.
- For best results, use room temperature egg whites to achieve maximum volume when beating.
- Walnuts or pecans can be substituted based on preference, or omitted for a nut-free version.
- These cookies are delicate and best enjoyed within a week stored at room temperature.
Keywords: Forgotten Cookies, meringue cookies, chocolate chip cookies, nut cookies, no traditional baking, overnight cookies, crispy meringue cookies
Find it online: https://messykitchenmagic.com/forgotten-cookies-recipe/
