Forgotten Cookies {gluten free}
First and foremost, Happy New Year, y’all!
The arrival of the New Year just makes me feel older. Even though I’m only 27, I’m finding myself in complete shock at how quickly time passes. I can’t believe my 10-year high school reunion invitations are being addressed as we speak. Don’t get me wrong though: I am not longing for the old days. No thank you to the acne that hit me in my early 20s instead of high school when it hit everyone else. Nor am I pining to relive my no-leg shaving phase or my weird, indie rock/emo clothing and horn rimmed glasses days.
On Christmas, my lovely Godparents (hi Glori & Carl!) found some photos from my awful emo phase. I distinctly remember the day when I wore cut-off army green pants and black converse to chemistry lab. My skinny ankles stuck out just enough to give a peak at my unshaven legs. (Do I even need to mention that a bra-less phase coincided with the hippie no-shaving phase?) Anyway, this blonde-haired beauty queen sat next to me that day. Her intense glares made it clear that she not only disapproved whole-heartedly of my ‘look’, but she was puzzled why a woman would want to portray herself this way. I want to thank that girl because she made me shave my legs and thus ended the razor-free streak in my life (and probably prevented futures ones as well). Her name was Summer, and I’m almost certain her last name was a season, too. (I bet Summer the beauty queen has 4 kids, bad roots and barely enough time to shave her own legs these days, just sayin’).
In the spirit of forgetting the awkward days of our youth, I want to share my grandma’s recipe for forgotten cookies.
Forgotten cookies consist of a beaten egg white with lots of goodies folded in (nuts, chocolate and coconut) that are scooped onto a foil-lined baking sheet (do not forget the foil!) and placed in a hot oven that you turn off promptly. They just so happen to be gluten-free if that’s your thing. I made the recipe as-written, but I think you could have a lot of fun here with different mix-ins: coconut, macadamia nuts and butterscotch chips? Dried cherries, orange zest and white chocolate? Lemon zest, hazelnuts and a splash of Frangelico? Have at it!
- 1 egg white, at room temperature
- ⅓ cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup chocolate chips
- ½ cup chopped walnuts, lightly toasted
- ½ cup sweetened flaked coconut
- Preheat the oven to 350. Ensure it reaches this temperature before proceeding.
- Line a cookie sheet with foil.
- In a medium bowl, beat the egg white until very stiff either by hand with a large whisk or with an electric mixer. Soft peaks will make cookies that spread—make sure you beat it until stiff.
- Next, beat in the sugar and vanilla. Fold in the remaining ingredients.
- Scoop 1½ tablespoon portions of the batter onto the cookie sheet, leaving space between the cookies.
- Place the cookies in the oven, close the door, then turn OFF the oven.
- Let the cookies sit without opening the door for 8 full hours. No peeking!
- Store cookies in an airtight jar so they stay crisp.
I love recipes like this…where you put a handful of this and that in, and it turns out into something fabulous. And I love that you kept the recipe as it was, in your grandma’s way and how she did it. That is so sweet and makes me miss my grandma.
Happy new year!
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i’m adoring this recipe…no way i’ll forget to make these!
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This is perfect for those nights when you desperately want (need?) a cookie but don’t want to spend too much time making them. I think I can handle an egg white, sugar and add-ins!
Happy New Year!
I’m on a cookie detox right now, but give me a week and I bet this will make an appearance
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I remember when flower pants were in style…but then again that was about ten years ago and I was seven, but still, as a kid I still remember the horrible fashion choices I may or may not (thanks to parents buying and picking clothes) have made. The cookies look good, I’m guessing they are called forgotten cookies because you can put in leftover and forgotten things in the pantry.
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I feel like these are mystery cookies…you totally have to trust that slapping all this stuff together is going to result in forgotten-about deliciousness.
Also, I’m so glad that somebody else had an awkward emo period. And that we both eventually realized that maybe the world doesn’t have to be black, black like our souls.
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Oh man these cookies look mighty good!
When I was young I wore converse Chuck Taylor’s that I referred to as Beaver Cleavers. I was a total embarrassment to my parents because they were always two different colors, one blue and one pink. People stared, pointed and I’m sure thought my parents were doing a horrible job of raising me. But look at us now!
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You had an emo phase!!?? Haha, I love it
I would have never guessed!
Recipes that are passed down from grandmas are THE best.
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What a unique cookie! I love how versatile these are, not to mention how easy (except for the part about being patient for 8 hours)! Once I get through the 4 dozen cookies in my freezer from Christmas, I am going to give these a try!
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I seriously cannot believe that it’s 10 years since I left school as well. I have absolutely no idea where the time has gone…
These cookies sound really fun and a great way to use up egg whites!
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Ha, I think we all had a really awkward phase where we don’t know how to put ourselves together to reflect who we are. I have to say, I can’t imagine you in that Emo phase:-)
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Such a unique cookie recipe!
And I think you’re right about Summer. I had lots of Summer-types in my high school, and you’ve pretty much described their current life right now.
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My mom made these over the holidays, which just chocolate chips. Delicious!
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I want to see a picture of you in your emo-gear.
Happy New Year!
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Hi: These cookies sound good.
I’ll leave out the coconut though (daughter allergic).
Thanks for the recipe.
Wishing for you and yours to have a New Year filled with blessings.
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Oh awkward days, you couldn’t pay me enough to be young again. You could definitely pay me to eat cookies though. These sound unique and amazing!
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I looove recipes like this…it’s practically magic!!
I had my own awkward phases. Lots of overalls…and one of the straps may have been unfastened. Ahem.
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These sound AWESOME! My son will adore them! Thanks
OH and boy did I ever have those awkward stages too;)
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agh you reminded me that my 10-year high school reunion is coming up soon… i feel so old! and you should totally share that emo picture of you hehe!
anyways, these cookies sound really good! almost like divinity in cookie form! anyway, happy happy new year! so happy that i found your blog and i look forward to all the goodies you have to share this year. and maybe our paths will cross too
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Happy New Year! Love these cookies! Can’t wait to try them!
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I used to make these all the time as a kid! Fantastic!
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Happy New Year to you as well Christina. I have never made cookies that you somehow forget about them in the oven. I’m very intrigued.
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I was hoping you would include the photos. GREG
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Love these! Somehow they remind me of that crack snack comprised of chex cereal, white chocolate, pretzels and whatever else is hanging around. Deeeeelish. Happy New Year!
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I hear you about time flying, I swear I have no idea where the last decade went! Love that these are from your grandma, those are always the best recipes.
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What a great wheat free cookie recipe! I’ll have to share this with a few friends.
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What a great recipe! I love that they are Gluten-Free {Steve’s sisters are GF and I bake a lot for them}. Ohhh and isn’t it so funny looking back at those awkward stages, I just laugh and think, “Thank goodness I’m done with that” haha
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Christina, I loved your lead-in to your Forgotten Cookies recipe. Funny how those “looks back” make you appreciate now even more. Thanks for the trip down Memory Lane!
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I sat next to a blond beauty queen named Summer Flowers in high school. I’ll never forget her and her frilly, girly, beauty queen name.
Also, I once didn’t shave in 7th grade just because it was new to me and I wasn’t good about remembering to do it and one of the mean boys totally called me out on it and made fun of my hairy legs all day. Longest. Day. Ever.
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oooh, not bad, not bad, no oil, no butter, only good fat – love it. i really love your recipes and the portions are just right. i don’t get how some people make dessert everyday and are still in shape. love your site
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I’m thinking I want to see all these emo pictures!! And, my grandma makes these cookies every Christmas! So good…
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Ahh! I can’t wait to try these! I know I’d heard of them before, but this just sounds so easy. And delicious
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Great post and I could probably top your fashion sense by having the perm mullet look, yes those days were good but the styles were too funny
Your cookies do not suffer from any style issues though, they look awesome..
Take care..
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Oh these cookies will never be forgotten by me!
They look delicious. Happy New Year!
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I’ve baked these before and absolutely love them! Happy New Year C! xx
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These cookies… Girl, you sent me right back to childhood! A friend’s mom used to make them every year for Christmas, from grade school all the way to high school. They were delish and I can’t wait to give them a try myself! I’ll have to send her a box… So glad you posted these, they look fab!
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I’ve never heard of these cookies but I want them all right now! They look soooo good.
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I will have to “remember” these next baking season
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Great recipe, it looks so fun. Awkward stages in high school are fun, I wore my hair in a bun for like a year straight because I was so frustrated with trying to keep it from frizing in Florida’s humidity.
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One of my favorite cookies but I ‘forgot’ to make them this Christmas!
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These sound absolutely delightful. I know I will have a hard time not checking on them for 8 hours, but they must be worth it! And I like how there are so many different flavor possibilities!
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oh I love your intro.. Ya I bet Summer is no longer the beauty queen of her youth, lol
These cookies are so simple for when ya just gotta have a cookie, GENIUS!! gotta love grandmas!
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Ugh I made SO many bad style choices in high school…so many. Also…platinum blonde highlights. Bad. Really bad.
What was I thinking?
I love how versatile these cookies are! I feel like you could mix anything in and they’d be delicious!
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When I think back on the days of living with friends and sleeping in until 11, I miss the old days. But when I think of how far I’ve come since then, it’s hard to deny that growing older isn’t half bad.
These cookies look great. Anything with coconut in it is a winner in my book.
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I love your site and am so glad I found it! and I love that you’ve done all the work to allow us to make small portion sized DELISCIOUS desserts! I had to post a comment to tell you that I made these for my co-workers on Tuesday (made them before I went to bed), and that I had to bring in two more batches today! they were (I’m not kidding), running to the pantry when I emailed them to say “oh, btw, I brought in more cookies” These are ridiculously easy to made, easy to eat and soooo good….. Thank you!
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Such an awesome recipe and no flour?! The coolest ever! Pinned!
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