Naturally sweet coconut complimented by the bright citrus combination of lemon and lime makes these macaroons a perfect sweet simple 5-ingredient snack!
My one and only health food store is a bit of a drive away. Only about 30 minutes, but I do have to cross the ocean to get there. Okay it’s technically a bay and the bridge is only a few miles, but that somehow makes it feel like a bigger effort. That bridge is a good deterrent really, otherwise it is likely I would end up going every day for one thing or another (not to say I still don’t make the drive at least weekly). But only health food store = expensive health food store, so I try to stay away as much as possible.
Last time I made the journey over there I only needed 3 things: gum-free coconut milk, coconut butter, and tapioca starch. The problem with health food stores is the unforeseen distractions. The kombucha case, the snack bar section, and if it happens to be near a holiday and all the vegan chocolate is out then I probably just shouldn’t go in at all. Because even if a single peanut butter egg is only 99 cents, 12 of them is still overpriced. I blame Reese’s for this lifelong inability to resist chocolate things filled with peanut butter in seasonal shapes.
The first time a person ever goes into a Whole Foods it is understandable to come out with seventy dollars of unnecessary snacks and fun finds. Maybe even the second time if said person doesn’t live near a Whole Foods so only gets to go maybe twice a year and the excitement still hasn’t quite worn off. But I’ve been going to this same health food store for years now. Seeing much the same selection of expensive organic products for years now. So I try to stick to just the necessities. Yes two jars of coconut butter is absolutely a necessity.
All was going as planned (except the unexpected second jar of coconut butter, but when that stuff is on sale you buy two!), but then I found myself slowing and lingering near the cookie section on my way from coconut butter to tapioca starch. The cookie section is on an entirely different aisle, by the way. And whaddya know the cookie section shows up again on my trajectory from tapioca starch to coconut milk. It may be a small store, but trust me there are plenty of alternate cookie-free paths.
Do you ever do that? Just find yourself subconsciously grocery store stalking an item you really want but know you don’t need?
In a world where dark chocolate and ice cream exist, most packaged cookies are of no interest to me. But it was the Coco-Roons I had my eye on. Those little guys I love!
What all this coconut cookie creeping told me was that I needed to make another batch of homemade macaroons asap. So I grabbed a pack of the vanilla maple, checked out, and ate half of them on the way home while brainstorming macaroon flavor ideas. My coconut cookie cravings aren’t that patient.
Inspired by some recent (and terribly unsuccessful) frozen yogurt attempts, Lemon Lime Macaroons were the bright, citrusy, spring idea that came to mind. Two zesty fruit flavors that I love both alone and together, and they compliment coconut perfectly.
With just 5 ingredients these homemade macaroons are almost as easy as tearing open that colorful store-bought package. Almost. They are also oil-free though, and a much more cost effective way to get your bite-sized coconut cookie fix!
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Naturally sweet coconut complimented by the the bright citrus combination of lemon and lime makes these macaroons a perfect sweet simple 5-ingredient snack!
Ingredients
- 2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1/4 cup oat flour
- Zest of one lemon
- Zest of one lime
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl.
- Mix until well combined and sticky (hands work best!) It should stick together when squeezed.
- Shape into mounds and arrange on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes at 350F.
- Let them cool for at least 10 minutes before eating.
- Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for optimal freshness.
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What a drive to get to the health food store! Dang… if I can’t walk to a place by foot, I don’t like to frequent it. Lol. But seriously YES on the walking into a store looking for a few things and coming out with like 100. Snacks are the worst! And the best, of course. ? And naturally, you HAVE to buy at least two of something when said something is on sale. It’s only common sense! Love that you were inspired to make these beauties after your grocery store adventures. They look SO good, Nat. What can I do about getting a batch of these sent my way (across that bridge, the ocean and all of that)? 😉 Muah! xoxo
I’m the one with the more mild climate down here and yet you are the one who walks everywhere like a super awesome eco-minded minimalist–hmmm there is something wrong with this picture? Yikes, I need to work on this? I admire your car-free life! Oh yes, the double edged overpriced “healthy” snack product sword. And despite how tempting they are I know deep down that homemade is always better anyways. Exhibit A: 3 ingredient peanut butter granola bars. Exhibit B: your entire no-bake directory and recipe archives. Health food stores have nothing on you? Thanks my dear! <33
I can TOTALLY identify with your health food store experiences! We don’t have one super close where I live either, but I keep praying we’ll get one soon! Although, I’ll probably save more money without it, haha. I have been seriously craving all things sweet and spring today, and these macaroons are the epitome of spring sunshine and fun! They look amazing, Natalie!!
I know right, a big part of me would LOVE a whole foods to open nearby…but then again I am probably safer without 😀 Mmm yes, springy flavors are all I can think about lately too. Thanks Sara, have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks for all the recipes you share with us and especially this one (as my hubby is a lemon dessert addict 🙂 )
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Absolutely!! Thank you for the lovely comment, it means a lot to me?
Natural/health food stores are soooo dangerous!! Even if you go in with a list, they get you with all of the fun new things…things you don’t need, but have to try! I totally thought of you the other day when we ran to Costco because they now carry a 2-pack of organic, raw coconut butter jars for the same price as one in regular stores! I literally squealed with joy when I saw that! OK, but let’s talk about these macaroons! There’s something so pretty about citrus zest – always makes me happy and combined with coconut is just heavenly. These look amazing! And cheaper than the Coco-Roons…which, btw, I’ve always been tempted to buy! 🙂
Omg what a find!!! Dang it now I wish I had a Costco AND a Whole Foods lol. I literally spent so much on food when I was in Oregon and it was almost all at health food stores not restaurants…there are too many fun ones up there? Oh don’t do it!! I tried coco-rooms once since they are grain free and maple syrup sweetened and all that and now they tempt me every time it go. But almost 9 dollars for what usually ends up being about 2 servings…um not a good habit to start. Plus way to easy to make!! Still have my eye out for the Siete tortillas though, I told myself if they show up locally I will go for it?
I totally know what you mean about going to Whole Foods and then wanting everything in there because they have the BEST vegan snack options and that whole wall of chocolate that makes it so tempting to want to buy everything. I don’t really visit health stores specifically since I’m able to get everything at the main grocery stores I visit, but I bet they are totally cheaper! Now, these cookies….I LOVE citrus and zests in baked goods so much. I love, love lemon and the fresh bright flavor it adds. I’m also a HUGE sucker for orange. It’s probably my favorite. And lime, well, these are honestly making me salivate as we speak. I’m looking at those pics and thinking and imaging the lime smell and taste and with the maple syrup, I bet it’s perfection!
The chocolate aisle–where all self control disappears! And I’m not even talking about dessert self control here I’m talking about budget self control, chocolate eating self control is a whole different issue 😀 I don’t have the best mainstream grocery store options here either (the joys of living in a tiny beach town) but when it comes to funky organic stuff “cheaper” is a relative term lol. Best bet is just make recipes with non-unusual ingredients 🙂 I love all the citrus flavors, but I realize I don’t use lime nearly enough. Mmmm orange macaroons would be so good! Next batch I might have to try that, or grapefruit even. Bright and tangy and coconutty–that’s all that matters. Thanks Brandi!
Alright, these look stinking delicious.Seriously just the cutest most perfect little balls of citrus-y bliss! Definitely need to try them!
Oooh I like your description even better! Thanks Karly 🙂
Oh my gosh, I’m a hopeless health food store drifter ? I can’t leave without picking out an overpriced new snack or two to try. Definitely buy the entire shelf of coconut butter if on sale, and definitely find myself staring at the cookie aisle and the most important aisle of all — the chocolate aisle — even though I’m staring at the same selection I see weekly. And there’s always something seemingly useless that turns mega useful on the clearance aisle. Yep, I spend an hour when I only should have zipped in an out ?
P.S. I love the lemon AND lime route here ??
The chocolate aisle: the most dangerous aisle of them all? Luckily (or unluckily?) for me it’s actually just a little end of an aisle at my store, not too crazy. But at some stores it can suck you in and not let go until you have at least 5 bars to try lol. Oh yes, the clearance rack! Somehow it seems like a free for all or something–if it’s on that shelf then you SHOULD buy it even though it still costs something and is 100% unnecessary. Gah I hate realizing that I totally fall prey to health food store marketing…but I do?
Haha I know what you mean about Whole Foods, or any other health food store for that matter. I always try and justify it by telling myself I can’t get these things in the regular supermarket. I was gifted some raw macaroons similar to these and they were DELICIOUS. Fab recipe Natalie!
Ooh what a good friend you must have to gift raw snacks!! Hehe I like your logic, I try to think of it he same way. Although when it’s every week somehow it seems less justifiable??
Hi Natalie! I made these just now and they are too good! Have to stop myself from munching thru the lot! Only thing I would say is I had to add more oat flour as my mixture was literally dripping wet as I tried to shape the balls. This may be an issue with measuring spoon differences between US/UK sizes. I’m in Australia where they sell both and I have both in my drawer! Hmmm. Usually it won’t make a lot of difference to a recipe, and in the end these worked out fine; I can usually tell if I need to make an adjustment! Your comment that they will be “sticky” rather than “drippy” is therefore extremely helpful! Thanks for your recipes!
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It could definitely be a difference in measuring spoons/cups–too much maple syrup perhaps? I am glad you still got them to work, maybe next time start with 2/3 the amount of maple syrup and just add it slowly until you have that perfect sticky texture. And now I suppose it only makes sense to make another batch to test it out 😉
Of course! 😉
These are excellent! They will be made again and again. I so appreciate having the cookie recipe without oil which I can’t use at all. So, this is a wonderful treat for me. My husband liked them as well. I did cut the maple syrup in half and it was still sweet for me. Thank you so much. Keep cookies the coming.
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I am so happy you liked them Debbie!! And great to know that the decreased maple syrup still worked, the coconut is naturally sweet so that makes sense 🙂 Thanks for the feedback, more cookies–got it!
I made these yesterday and had to use more oat flour. I still couldn’t get them to stick together, so I added about a teaspoon of almond butter. That did the trick! Next time I will cut back the maple syrup. They turned out perfect with the additions!
The batter is meant to just barely form balls pre baking, after they bake and cool they will hold together just fine. But a little almond butter sounds like a great addition for structure and yumminess😋 Enjoy, thanks Linda!
Absolutely love the lemon/lime citrus flavor. I have tried a few macaroon recipes before, but this one is the definitely best.
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Woohoo!! I had almost forgotten about these, I am so glad you reminded me because I love the citrus + coconut flavor too😋 Thanks for the feedback Beth!
It just so happens that I bought several pounds of lemons and limes that were drastically reduced at my grocery store and needed to use them quickly before they went off. Your recipe is amazing. I’ve had to swat my husband’s hands away from eating more! Luckily, as I was searching for desserts, I found the brilliant idea of squeezing the juice of all of these lemons and limes into ice cube trays and using them in the future. I’ll definitely be back to your site for more recipes! Thanks 🙂
Before I finished reading your comment I was about to suggest juicing and freezing as cubes, yes that works great for excess citrus. But I’m so happy you turned some of them into macaroons too! Thanks for the feedback and happy lemon pie/ade/cookie/cake/everything to you 🙂
I tried to make this today but couldn’t get anything to form even a mound, just crumbs. I tried more juice, more syrup, even a whipped egg white, scrunching them together with my hands – nothing worked. I really like all things citrus, shame it didn’t work.
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Aw bummer, I’m sorry they didn’t work for you Helen!