Cheater Coconut Macaroons

I do not bake cakes using cake mixes, actually I don't bake that many cakes at all.  But I always have a couple of mixes on hand for the occasional emergency "sick" or "condolences" meal. Since we never know in advance when someone is going to be sick or "pass", having  a cake mix and an aluminum pan on hand enables me to have something piping hot and ready in an hour or less .  My go to emergency dessert is a dump cake made with lots of fruit and real butter that covers the artificial flavor of the cake mix.  About every 3 months my local Piggly Wiggly has Duncan Heinz mixes for $.89 each.  When that happens I buy 6 yellow cake mixes and store them unopened in the freezer.

Well, I am supposed to buy yellow cake mixes.  I was straightening out the big freezer when I noticed in addition to purchasing 4 yellow cake mixes, I had accidentally bought 2 coconut cake mixes.  Bummer! I had no idea what I would do with them, but I knew I dang well would not just throw them out.  They have been taunting me every time I open the freezer, so last night I decided I would try something just to see if it worked.  I had found a bag of coconut that had been stuck in the back of the cabinet and was past it expiration date, so I wanted to use it also.

I am pretty sure everyone knows the formula for making cookies from a cake mix.  It doesn't matter what flavor it is, the measures are the same.

I am using pink and silver in this picture so someone might think I am a girly girl.  I am not one at all, but thought I might just keep y'all wondering if I might be.  If you have any doubts just ask someone who knows me in the 3-D world.  They will tell you I have 3 sons and look and act like it.


Heat the oven to 350 degrees

1  double layer cake mix ( I used coconut)
1/2 cup vegetable oil ( I always use expeller pressed grape seed oil because it is neutral flavored)
2 eggs

To the basic mix I added 1 small bag of coconut. (I think there was about 1 cup in it but not positive)

I suppose if you want to get out your mixer to make these you could but it stirs quite well with a wooden spoon so that is what I used.  Mix the cake mix, eggs and oil in a medium bowl.  When it is blended well stir in the coconut.  Roll into balls about the size of shooter marbles. Place on a parchment covered cookie sheet about 1 inch apart.  Using a fork, flatten them using the peanut butter cookie criss cross method.  (They will not flatten out while baking if you don't physically flatten them)

Cook for 12-15 minutes until they are light brown.  Remove to a rack to cool.  I left half of them plain and I put melted chocolate on the other half. ( Melt 2 ounces of bittersweet chocolate in a small microwaveable bowl.  Start with 30 seconds, stir then zap at 10 second intervals stirring until it is smooth.)  I dipped the top face of the first couple of cookies, but decided it had too much chocolate on the cookie tops.  After that I just used a butter knife to spread about a quarter size dot of chocolate in the middle of the cookie.  If the kitchen is cool the chocolate will harden, but if it is warm put the cookies on a cookie sheet and stick them in the freezer for a couple of minutes.

As much as I love chocolate, I actually preferred these plain.  So did a friend of Son3 who ate nearly all the plain ones.

I am glad I tried this and even happier they tasted so good.  I will use the second coconut mix for these and might possibly buy more intentionally at the next big sale.