Coconut Macaroons (Matterhorn Macaroons)

During the quarantine, we decided to recreate some of our favorite Disney Treats and have a mock Disney Day.  We went for a walk and listened to Disney music, hung a sheet in the garage and used a projector to watch all the rides on You Tube.  We did our own Animation Academy and learned how to draw Mickey & Stitch.  We finished off by watching the Paris Disney Fireworks show, Illuminations.  It's worth the watch if you've never seen it.


Now, one ride we did NOT watch on You Tube was the Matterhorn.  It's not a family favorite.  Last time we rode it in real life, Korry could barely walk afterwards and he had permanent indentations in his knee caps.  It put a damper on the rest of our day in the Happiest Place.  Being 6'5 and having a bad back were contributing factors.  From now on, Korry and I will wait on the bench and people watch while the kids enjoy the Matterhorn.

Here's an official Matterhorn Macaroon from
our Disney trip over Thanksgiving.

That said, we ARE big fans of the Matterhorn Macaroon.  Our tradition is to buy them at the Jolly Holiday Cafe, perched just at the end of main street and at the entrance to Adventure Land.  It's our favorite lunch spot for a turkey or grilled cheese sandwich and bakery items.  It's a great place to catch the parade or fireworks show too.

Here's our version of the Matterhorn
Macaroons.  Sweet & Tasty! 

These homemade Matterhorn Macaroons turned out SO DELICIOUS!  My kids said they may even be better than the original.  They were surprisingly easy to make.  If you've never had these, TREAT YOURSELF!

Matterhorn Macaroons

1 (14 oz.) package shredded coconut
2/3 cups sugar
6 T.  flour
1/4 tsp. salt
4 egg whites
1 tsp. almond extract
2 cups white chocolate chips

In a small bowl, mix the coconut, sugar, flour and salt.  Stir to combine.  In another small dish whisk the egg whites and almond extract.  Pour the wet ingredients in with the dry and stir until everything is combined.

Form the coconut mixture in to balls (about the size of a racquetball) and then shape into a small Matterhorn mountain.  Bake at 300 degrees for 25-30 minutes.  Watch the coconut to make sure it is getting lightly browned, but not burned.  Cool to room temperature.

**You can also make these into smaller, regular macaroons, just cook them for 20 minutes instead of 30.

Melt 2 cups white chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 second intervals until smooth and melted.  Dip the tip of each cookie in white chocolate.  Can also sprinkle on some sanding sugar for an added sparkly effect.

Tigger Tails

"Don't swing on a swing, it's much too frail,
the best kind of swing is a Tigger's tail!"  ~Roo

Our favorite gift shop/bakery in Disneyland is Pooh's Corner in Critter Country.  We always stop in after a ride on Splash Mountain.  You can watch live through a glass window as chocolatiers make caramel apples, dip shortbread, and make Tigger Tails.

We recreated this recipe for our Mock Disney Day.  We didn't want to go through the hassle of making caramel from scratch, so we used meltable caramel that we found in the baking aisle. They turned out really cute and were tasty too!

Tigger Tail Instructions

1.  Thread 3 large marshmallows on skewer.  This recipe made 10 Tigger Tails.  

2.  Melt 1 package Kraft Caramel Bits in a small glass canning jar (according to package directions).  Stir until smooth, melted and ready to dip.  

3.  Dip Marshmallows in caramel and place on pan covered with a piece of parchment paper.  

4.  Refrigerate the tails to help caramel harden (20-30 minutes).

5.  Use kitchen shears to trim off excess caramel from the sides of each tail and refrigerate again.

This is what the tails will look like after you've
trimmed the excess caramel from the edges of
each Tigger Tail.

6.  Melt 1 pkg. Wilton Candy Melts (orange color, vanilla flavor) in a small glass canning jar.  Stir until smooth, melted and ready to dip.

7.  Dip refrigerated tails in the melted chocolate and place back on the parchment paper.  

8.  Place 1 cup semi-sweet or milk chocolate in a ziploc baggie and microwave in 30 second intervals until chocolate is melted.  

9.  Cut one of the corner tips from the Ziplock baggie and drizzle the dark chocolate over the tails to look like stripes.

 10.  Once cooled, you can wrap each tigger tail in a cellophane bag and tie with a ribbon.

Simple Baked Oatmeal

I've always loved oatmeal for breakfast.  This baked version is simple and so good.  The leftovers can be refrigerated and warmed up the next day.  

If I'm keeping it simple, I just pour a little milk on top and eat it plain.  When I'm serving it for a special occasion, we drizzle it with syrup and top with berries.  

SIMPLE BAKED OATMEAL:

3 cups quick cooking oats

1 cup brown sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 cup milk

2 eggs

1/2 cup melted butter

Mix oats, brown sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.  In a separate bowl, whisk the milk, eggs and melted butter.  Pour met mixture in to dry mixture and stir until combined.  Pour in a 9" baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray.  Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes.

Serve plain with milk or drizzle on syrup or honey.  Top with berries.  During the fall, it's delicious with fresh sliced peaches and drizzled with a little cream.