Chocolate Orange Macaroons

Chocolate Orange Macaroons

Okay, okay...I'm guilty. I've been a little obsessed with pairing chocolate & orange together lately. And I've been eating a lot of chocolate.
 Last week I posted a recipe for Raw Orange Chocolate Cheesecake, and I've made it twice since. I promise, with spring will bring new fruity and delicious flavors...but for now, I'm stuck on this fantastic combination. 
My favorite kitchen flavor-pairing book, The Flavor Thesaurus, tells us that Terry's, the brand famous for the candy Chocolate Orange, originally started as a pairing of chocolate & apple. In 1930, the orange version was introduced and quickly took over as the brand's more popular treat, replacing the original apple/chocolate pairing all together.
And I'm sure glad it did, because it has given me plenty of dessert inspiration these last few weeks.

Dipped in melted dark chocolate and topped with freshly grated orange zest, these sweet confections are a perfect dessert for sharing...or not!

Ingredients:
2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
1/4 cup coconut oil, softened to room temp-not melted
1/4 cup coconut flour (WW works here, too)
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/3 cup maple syrup or agave nectar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon orange extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-4 teaspoons cold water
1/4 cup (about 2 oz.) dark chocolate, melted

Instructions:
Combine coconut, coconut oil, flour, cocoa powder, syrup, salt, orange & vanilla extracts. Coconut oil should NOT be melted. You want to have to fork the mixture together until the solid coconut oil has been completely smooshed up and combined with everything else. It takes about 2 minutes of dedicated forking.
Add water, starting with two teaspoons, and mix until mixture comes together and becomes sticky.
Once combined, use your hands to form the mixture into (about) 1 inch balls. Or two inch balls...because who am I to tell you how much macaroon to enjoy?
Once your macaroons are formed, set them on a paper lined cookie sheet in a cool place. The fridge will work beautifully here.
While the macaroons are chillin', melt about 2 ounces of chocolate. To keep the recipe raw use the bain-marie (the double-boiler) method. To do this, fill a large saucepan with water. Bring the water to a boil, and cover with a heat safe bowl, never allowing the heat safe bowl to come into contact with the water. Gently melt the chocolate.
Once chocolate is fully melted, remove macaroons from cooling area. Dip macaroons carefully into the chocolate, being careful not to coat them, but rather add the chocolate as more of an accent, 'cause these babies are rich! (Sometimes we use a piping bag to add a little decorative chocolate to the tops.) This is most easily done using a spoon and/ or your fingers (I used my fingers so I had a reasonable excuse to lick the chocolate off of my fingers after...).
Once a little chocolate has been added, place the completed macaroons back onto lined cookie sheet and refrigerate for about 30-60 minutes, allowing chocolate to set. This process can be sped up by placing the entire cookie sheet into the freezer until the chocolate cools completely. 
Once the macaroons are hardened and the chocolate has set, pull them out of the fridge and enjoy! They're best after coming to room temperature but equally delicious cold.

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Store the macaroons in an airtight container for up to two weeks to keep 'em fresh.

Like this recipe? Try our recipe for Coconut Macaroons, one of the most popular dessert recipes on the blog. And for more orange & chocolate together, try our Raw Orange Chocolate Cheesecake!