Living in Hawaii, these grain free coconut lime macaroons have quickly become one of my favorite desserts, snacks or even breakfasts!  As the sun shines brightly here in the tropics, I often find it is too hot to bake, so chocolate macaroons and ice cream are often our go to treats!

A dense cookie made mostly with shredded coconut, these grain free macaroons are slightly sweetened with honey and fresh lime juice.  If you are new to grain free baking, macaroons are the perfect way to start as you really can’t go wrong! Make these with friends or your children for a fun dessert making adventure.

Nothing says summer like sweet coconut and tangy limes.  A lime’s fragrant bright green zest coupled with its tart juice provides a refreshing flavor.  The healthy fats found in this tart dessert will also provide a natural source of sunscreen and keep your complexion safe throughout the sunny days!

Enjoy this bite sized taste of the tropics and the warming days of Spring and Summer ahead! 

Bon appétit! 

Tangy Coconut Lime Macaroons

Tart and refreshing coconut and lime macaroons. A grain free, gluten free, refined sugar free & paleo macaroon cookie perfect for a warm summer day!

Makes 18 small macaroons

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups finely shredded coconut, dried and unsweetened
• 1/2 cup almond flour
• 3/4 cup coconut milk, full fat & unsweetened
• 2 tbsp raw honey
• Zest of 1 lime
• 2 tbsp fresh lime juice, about 1 lime juiced
• Pinch of Celtic sea salt

Directions

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a medium bowl, gently whisk coconut, almond four, lime zest, and sea salt.
• Pour in the coconut milk, honey, and lime juice and mix together with a spatula.
• Using a cookie scoop (1 1/2 tbsp size), drop small macaroon balls onto parchment lined baking sheet.
• Bake for 40-45 minutes
• Allow macaroons to cool briefly and then transfer to refrigerator to cool for 1 hour before serving. Macaroons will firm up in the refrigerator turning into a dense coconut cookie.
• Macaroons are best served chilled. Enjoy!

This & That

• The texture and constancy of these macaroons greatly depends on the fineness of the coconut. I highly recommend using Lets Do Organic finely shredded coconut for this recipe.  A coarser shred of coconut will not stick together as well and will require a different amount of liquids.
• When you remove the macaroons from the oven, they will still be very soft and can fall apart easily, which is why I recommend allowing them to cool completely and then serve slightly chilled.

Nutritional Information

Coconut is high in fatty acids—fats provide a source of slow burning energy and regulate glucose entering the blood.  Coconut is also a fruit found in the tropics where the sun shines brightly.  There is no coincidence that this tropical fruit grows in hot locations as the high fat content acts as a natural sun protector.  Increasing your intake of quality fats (grass-fed butter and lard, coconut oil, olive oil) will allow you to soak up the sun without burning!

Limes are high in vitamin C and antioxidants that will boost your immune system.  Like lemons, limes are natural detoxifiers and help with fat metabolism.  A squeeze of lemon or lime juice in the morning will refresh and cleanse your body.  Limes aid in liver detoxification, the reason why many alcoholic drinks are paired with a slice of lime.  Limes also are anti-bacterial (great for kids!) and the antioxidants can help prevent the division of bacterial or cancerous cells.

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{Shared with Gluten Free Wednesdays}

Originally posted in August 2013. Photography reposted April 7, 2014. Same original recipe.