Name: Ambrosia Macaroons
Yield: Makes about 45
Ingredients: 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature; 3/4 cup sugar; 1/8 teaspoon salt; 2 teaspoons finely grated orange peel; 3 large eggs; 24 ounces sweetened flaked coconut (about 6 cups firmly packed); 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted

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Ambrosia MacaroonsHans Gissinger

We southerners love ambrosia, a mélange of sliced juicy-sweet oranges and grated coconut. The sweet salad has been a part of southern Christmas traditions for the better part of two centuries, and I thought it would be fun to use the coconut-orange combo in a new way. I added some finely grated orange peel to classic coconut macaroons, then drizzled the cookies with bittersweet chocolate for a festive finish.

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