Forgotten Cookies

These cookies are so easy to make! They're pretty hard to mess up, too. I think somebody came up with this recipe with me in mind, because I am really terrible about forgetting about cookies in the oven and burning them. Here, though, you're supposed to leave them in the oven, and as long as you remember to turn the oven off, there's no risk of burning them.

Simply put, Forgotten Cookies are soft, slightly chewy meringues packed with chocolate chips and nuts. The meringue really just functions as a light, very sweet vehicle for the chocolate and nuts. I used dark chocolate chips and pecans.

There isn't much to them: beat two egg whites, sugar, salt, and vanilla; then stir in nuts and chocolate chips. Silly me, I had the whites all whipped up before I realized I'd forgotten to add the sugar, but I don't think it made a difference in the outcome. There are penciled-in notes that include adding a half-teaspoon of cream of tartar, which I may try next time just to see if it changes anything, but I followed the recipe without the notes and was very pleased with the result. Since they don't rise or expand, you can set them very close together on the cookie sheet (make sure it is greased!).

I suppose the only drawback is that they are not a last-minute treat; you need to be able to leave them in the oven overnight (which I did), or at least be sure you don't need to use the oven for a couple of hours.

Next time you have a couple of egg whites you don't want to let go to waste, give these a try!
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Forgotten Cookies

Preheat oven to 350°
Beat 2 egg whites until foamy (do not use a plastic bowl)
Add ⅔ cup sugar (or ¾ cup)
dash of salt (⅛ tsp)
1 tsp vanilla
(½ tsp cream of tartar)
Beat together until stiff
Fold in 1 cup chocolate chips and 1 cup chopped nuts*
Drop on well-greased cookie sheet [heaping teaspoon]
Put in oven and turn oven off immediately
Leave at least 2 hours or overnight

*You could alternatively use all nuts or all chocolate chips by increasing the total amount to 2 cups
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