Kaffir Lime Macaroons for #FBCookieSwap 2015

Here we are at The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap of 2015 hosted, again, by the amazing Lindsay of Love & Olive Oil and Julie of The Little Kitchen. This phenomenal event crosses borders with bloggers from all around the globe and raises fund for Cookies for Kids' Cancer, a national non-profit organization committed to funding new therapies used in the fight against pediatric cancer, which claims the lives of more children in the US than any other disease.

When I was trying to decide on my cookie, I raised the question of cookie flavor combinations to social media. I received lots of great suggestions from matcha-toffee to rose-ginger and from pumpkin-cranberry to peanut butter-pretzel. But, in the end, my cookie was determined by this...

Kaffir Limes are just too cool not to incorporate into a cookie! Have you ever used a Kaffir lime? Here's a brief intro to Kaffir limes. In addition to the fruit looking like little green brains, the leaves are doubled. So unique. I used both the zest and the leaves in this cookie creation!

Kaffir Lime Macaroons

This gluten-free coconut macaroon recipe has a triple kick of kaffir lime with the zest, the juice, and the leaves.

For this year's Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap, I was assigned to ship to Sarah of Cooking Onions, Alaina of Crumbs and Nibbles, and Leah of Leah's Life: Pearls and Oysters. I hope they enjoyed these. I'll post links to the entire round-up later. Look for it. You'll have plenty of inspiration for those holiday cookie platters!

Ingredients makes approximately 3 dozen

• 2 1/2 C finely shredded unsweetened organic coconut
• 3/4 C organic sugar
• zest from 2 kaffir limes, approximately 2 t
• 4 egg whites, whipped until frothy
• 1 T kaffir lime juice, from 4-5 kaffir limes
• 1/2 C organic powdered sugar
• 2 to 3 kaffir lime leaves, finely minced

Procedure 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and prepare your baking sheets, either by lining them with a silicone mat liner or with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, combine the coconut and lime zest.

In a separate bowl, whip the egg whites until frothy. Add the sugar and whip till peaks form.

Stir the egg whites into the coconut mixture until the coconut is evenly coated.

Using a half-tablespoon cookie scoop or melon baller, scoop level mounds of the dough on to the cookie sheet. These cookies don't spread, so put them close together.

Bake for 15 minutes at 350 or until they are golden brown around the edges. Let cool for 5 minutes on the cookie sheet, then remove the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

When the cookies are completely cool, make the glaze by whisking the lime juice and powdered sugar together until completely smooth.

Drizzle glaze onto the top of each cookie and add a pinch of Kaffir lime leaves.

Allow the glaze to harden before storing in an airtight container at room temperature. I wrapped them up individually and tucked them safely into egg cartons for shipping.

This was such a fun project...and for such a great cause. I will definitely participate in The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap 2016! Be a good cookie and join the fun next year.

Here's a special message from the Cookies for Kids' Cancer team:

"The Cookies for Kids' Cancer team wants to extend a big thank you for participating in the Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap. By simply swapping cookies, you helped raise funds for pediatric cancer research, bringing HOPE to children battling this ruthless disease. Being a Good Cookie does not have to end here. Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is a 365-day a year non-profit, with bake sales happening in all 50 states. Simply go to cookiesforkidscancer.org to learn more about the cause, to register to host an event or  send cookies to your friends and family this holiday season. And thank you for being a Good Cookie!"

And a special thanks to our fabulous brand partners for 2015, each of whom will match our donation to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, dollar for dollar (up to $3000)! Not to mention the fabulous goodies they've sent out. :) I received a silicone mat from Dixie Crystals and a measuring cup set from OXO for participating.

And if you want to join the fun next year, visit this link and sign up for a notification. I know I'll be doing this again.

Thank you to Erica of Erica's Sweet Tooth and Rebecca of It's Not Easy Eating Green for my tasty sweet treats! My boys were so happy. I didn't get my third batch of cookies. But, it's okay. I would just have to run even further to burn off those calories!