I've been wanting to make my Greek Almond macaroons, or amygdalota as they are called in Greece, with some type of a filling. In Greece I had them with mastic filling (resin from the mastic trees on Chios island). It's a sweet spoon dessert that's served on a spoon over ice cold water, mostly during the summer hot months. It's chewy and very sweet. That's why you need a glass of cold water to accompany it and wash it down. Unfortunately, I didn't think of bringing a jar of the sweet mastic dessert back with me. And so far, I haven't figured out how to make that mastic spoon dessert ... well not yet any way.
Since everyone in my family loves chocolate including my granddaughter -- she is over a year old and has become my newest taste tester in my kitchen -- I thought of making my chocolate mousse filling and use that. Also, this time I thought of using almond meal instead of grinding almonds for the cookies. I used Bob's Red Mill almond meal. It's a little easier and it doesn't make any difference in the cookies, either you use almond meal or finely ground almonds (if you'd rather use fine ground almonds, here is the link for that recipe: http://greekfusioncuisine.blogspot.com/2013/12/greek-almond-macaroons-ergolavi-or.html). Also, both recipes are gluten free.
And voila -- the cookies came out tasting chewy, as that is their trademark, and the chocolate mousse filling came out creamy. So here is my take on Greek almond macaroons filled with chocolate mousse. Enjoy!
Ingredients (Makes 23 sandwiched servings – approx. 1.5 oz each )
3 cups almond meal
1 2/3 cups sugar
3 egg whites
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/4 cup sliced almonds
Chocolate
mousse filling
1 envelope dream whip
6 tbsp. icing sugar
3 tbsp. cocoa powder
Directions:
Melted butter for the cookie sheets and the
palms of your hands to roll the cookies -- about 3 tbsp.
Beat the egg whites with the sugar. Add the
almond meal, and vanilla. Mix well together. Grease 3 cookie
sheets generously with butter. Also, grease your palms with butter while
shaping the cookies. Shape them into 1 1/4" balls. Roll in slivered
almonds. Place on cookie sheet far apart. Cookies will spread.
Bake at 325 degree oven for 20-25 minutes
till the edges are brown and they are firm to the touch. Remove from the oven.
Let them cool and place them in an airtight container or they will dry out.
This recipe will make about 46 cookies. Sandwiched together with the chocolate mousse you get about 23 cookies.
Chocolate
mousse:
Beat 1 envelope of dream whip topping
according to package directions. When soft peaks form, add the cocoa powder and
icing sugar. Beat well till it's all incorporated. Refrigerate.
When the cookies are cooled take one
tablespoon (approx.) of the chocolate mousse and spread on bottom of cookie.
Take another cookie and sandwich together. When done, refrigerate them in air
tight containers.
Nutrition
Facts (the nutritional value is per sandwiched cookie--each cookie alone is about 80 cal)
Serving Size 1 serving (40.2 g)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 174
Calories from Fat 84
Total Fat 9.3g
Saturated Fat 1.1g
Trans Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 6mg
Potassium 155mg4%
Total Carbohydrates 21.3g
Dietary Fiber 2.4g
Sugars 17.9g
Protein 4.4g
