Forgotten cookies / Chocolate & pistachio meringue cookies

These are Chocolate and Pistachio Meringue Cookies also known as "Forgotten Cookies"
 
These gorgeous bite size morsels are lovely delicate meringue cookies that are jam packed with pistachio nuts and chunks of dark chocolate.

Forgotten by name but unforgettable by nature.

This is the perfect recipe to let you know that I haven't forgotten you all!

The "forgotten" part alludes to the ridiculously low maintenance way of cooking them - as soon as you get your cookies in the oven, you can turn off the heat and forget about them until the next day.

Yip, just leave them in the oven.  All on their lonesome. And they will just hang out, getting light and crispy and airy.

They are so delicate and light but absolutely packed with flavour.

New favourite cookie.

 

By way of explanation for my terrible tardiness between posts: it has been a real topsy turvey year.  From some truly amazing moments to some really low ones.

The good: I did my first obstetrics and gynaecology run and had the opportunity to help deliver a baby.  These very two hands typing out this post pulled a little person into this world.  My goodness what an incredible life-changing moment.

The bad: Have you guys ever heard of Maslow's Hierachy of Needs? It's a theory in psychology that humans have a pyramid of needs essential for human life and well-being. You need to have the basics in order to build up to the top.  The bottom rung includes the fundamentals for survival:  air, food, water, sleep and shelter. Safety, including the safety of your family is in the second most fundamental tier for life, only one step up from breathing.

My family has been through the wringer in the last little while. My aunty and my darling mother both bravely fighting health battles through the last harrowing months.

I kinda get what Maslow means now. When the safety to your family is threatened everything else falls away.

So I have not forgotten about this blog and my lovely readers -  I've just been concentrating on family and breathing in the last little bit.

But you know what you can forget? These cookies and they will still turn out just perfect.

Seriously they are one of THE most easiest cookies I have ever made.  And yet they are also one of the prettiest cookies I've ever made.  I mean just look at them!  They are like little clouds,  chocolate-filled nutty fluffy clouds.

They kinda remind me of macarons but a million times less fussy to make. To top it off they are also gluten free and dairy free.

How could you not love them?

Forgotten cookies aka Chocolate and pistachio meringue cookies

Makes ~ 28 cookies | gluten-free + dairy free (if you use dairy free dark chocolate)

2 large egg whites
120g caster sugar

Big pinch salt

1/4 tsp cream of tartar

120g pistachios or hazelnuts, chopped very finely (NB: set ~2 Tbsp aside for topping)
150g dark chocolate, chopped very finely (NB: high quality dark chocolate is usually dairy free, please check the packaging if you have allergies)
1 tsp vanilla extract

1. Preheat to the oven to 180oC (160oC fanbake), making sure the oven racks are at bottom of oven. Line 2 cookie sheets with tin foil. Definitely DO NOT SPRAY with baking spray or butter or anything to lube up the foil.

2. In a immaculately clean bowl mix the 2 egg whites until stiff. Then add sugar 1 Tablespoon at a time until mixture is glossy and stiff. This part can take around 5-6 minutes.

3. Very gently fold in chocolate, pistachios (reserving some of the pistachios for topping) and vanilla. Use two spoons to spoon to scoop Tablespoon-sized dollops onto prepared baking trays around 1-2 cm apart. Keep the blobs tall as they will flatten a little on baking. Sprinkle the chopped pistachios that you have set aside over the top of the cookies (around a pinch per cookie).

4.  Place the trays in the preheated oven, then turn off the oven immediately. Leave the cookies to cool in oven overnight (at least 3-4 hours). Very important that you do not open the door at this stage.

5. Allow the cookies to cool completely before peeling the foil off. They store well in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. They also freeze well.

Note: As with other meringues, results might not turn out as well on a humid day.