Macaroons 101

• Macaroons are one step away from meringues cookies. Meringues are made with a mixture of egg whites and sugar beaten to stiff peaks. Macaroons simply add a light and relatively dry ingredient to the mix, such as shredded coconut. One of the secrets to replacing coconut in macaroons is to look for something that has a similar dainty texture. You also want the ingredient to be somewhat sweet so that it tastes right in cookie form.

Tasty Nuts

• Any nut works when it comes to creating a tasty macaroon. For the best results, stick with finely shredded or ground nuts, as using large chunks ruins the delicate texture of the cookie. Go with walnuts, hazelnuts or pecans for a mellow, yet slightly bittersweet, flavor. Throw cashews, almonds or pistachios into the cookies to add a refined taste. Go for a kid-friendly twist by mixing peanuts into the macaroons, or stick with a tropical flavor by using macadamia nuts.

Yummy Seeds

• Ground seeds are just as versatile as ground nuts when it comes to creating macaroons. Add sunflower seeds for a subtly nutty taste or pumpkin seeds to create a moderately sweet flavor. Go with flax seed for a rich taste that pairs with plain, vanilla or chocolate macaroons. Try sesame seeds for a mellow flavor or poppy seeds for some zip.

Tantalizing Dried Fruits

• Dried fruit adds a burst of natural sweetness to macaroon cookies. Like nuts, the dried fruit must be very finely chopped to be light enough to work with the whipped sugar and egg white mixture. Stir dried cranberries into the cookie for a tangy taste or use dried apricots for a sophisticated flavor. Add dried raspberries, blueberries and strawberries for a mixed-berry taste. Try a Caribbean-style treat by using dried pineapple and papaya. Stick with dried cherries for a traditional flavor.

Savory Additional Ingredients

• Many ingredients work as a flavor complement for nut, seed or dried fruit macaroon cookies. Add lemon or orange zest to almond macaroons for a tangy taste. Stir finely chopped apple peel into sunflower seed cookie dough to help enhance the subtle sweetness of the recipe. Go for a spiced flavor by sprinkling ground cinnamon into dried apricot macaroons. Try a classic combination by mixing cocoa powder into walnut-based cookies.