Forgotten Cookies are meringue cookies with chocolate chips and chopped nuts. They are placed in a previously heated oven and ‘forgotten’ overnight to finish!
Updated December 2018
This is a cookie kinda month in my book. I personally have scaled back to focus my baking on preparing for Santa.
These cookies are beautiful, glossy batter when put on the cookie sheets and emerge in the morning with a matte meringue finish.
I have had my eye on a recipe from my Grandmother’s recipe box and this occasion seemed the right time to break it out.
Forgotten Cookies. With a name like that who could pass up making them; especially in this month filled with sentimental mood and generous heart toward anyone or anything needing some love.
I remember these cookies from when I was a child. My Grandmother was not a mad baker but managed to deliver whenever we visited. It’s funny to think about that now.
Do Grandmother’s still bake cookies in anticipation for visits from their grandkids? A very civilized hospitality if you ask me.
Grandmother’s now are probably too busy taking Zumba classes, playing mahjong and growing micro greens for their smoothies I suppose.
What are Forgotten Cookies?
This cookie is basically a lovely meringue cookie but with more substance in its ‘bite’ due to the chocolate chips and nuts.
Ingredients in Forgotten Cookies?
The ingredients in Forgotten Cookies are simple and probably in your kitchen right now:
- Egg whites
- Granulated Sugar
- Salt (I prefer Kosher Salt)
- Vanilla Extract
- Pecans
- Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
How to Make Forgotten Cookies
The ingredients are mixed together, dropped by spoonfuls (tip: If you wanted the recipe to yield more, use a small dining spoon) onto a baking sheet, and put in the preheated oven (which is then turned off).
As the name suggests, they are ‘forgotten’ until the next morning.
The magical transformation from a glossy, wet batter to crisp, matte cookie still enchants me. Forgotten Cookies expand a bit overnight too.
Naturally Gluten-Free
After becoming gluten-free I appreciated them even more since there is no flour.
A Secret Tip about Forgotten Cookies
The cookies will actually set within a few hours and will be crisp to the touch with a matte finish. So if you can’t wait, check them after a few hours.
It’s still fun to pop them into the oven and find them finished in the morning (especially for little chefs)!
Kids Can Make Forgotten Cookies
This is a very easy cookie to make with children too. They can help with the measuring and dropping the batter onto the cookie sheet. A heavy mixer works great to whip up the egg whites in no time. Sticking these in the oven before bed to let your little chefs discover the fully formed cookies in the morning is sure to bring on the holiday excitement!
How to Store
Store Forgotten Cookies in an airtight container, layering waxed paper between layers of cookies.
Keep them in a cool, dark place for up to 2 weeks.
Freezing them
They can also be frozen. Pack them in the same way as described above.
Store them for 3-4 months and thaw at room temperature in the container.
Note: The recipe for Glogg (Scandanavian mulled wine) which was originally featured here has moved to its own page!
Recipe
Forgotten Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 Egg Whites
- 2/3 cups Granulated Sugar
- Pinch of Kosher Salt
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 cup Pecans , chopped
- 1 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Beat egg whites until foamy, approximately 3 minutes.
- Slowly add sugar while beating egg whites until stiff.
- Stir in salt, vanilla, pecans and chocolate chips. Drop onto ungreased cookie sheet by the spoonful (I used a small dining spoon so the cookies were about 1 tablespoon of the batter each)
- Turn off the oven. Place cookies in the oven and leave until morning without opening the oven while they are hardening.
Sabrina says
What a great cookie idea! When the time comes, I hope to carry on the tradition of baking cookies in anticipation of my grandchildren’s arrival. Love it!
Anna says
Such a cute name! Everyone loved these meringue cookies!
Anne says
My family calls this Divinty it a confection or candy. We’ve been making it for about 100 years. My Grandmother made it with black walnuts, they were free just had to pick them up and crack their hard shells. Mom made it with black walnuts or English walnuts. As for me I make it plain or with English walnuts. There is also a version using Jello to make different flavors, I haven’t tried Jello and knowing my family I probably won’t. Karo came out in 1902 and I think it was 1907 or 1915 when the first Divinity recipe was published.
Toni Dash says
Actually Anne Forgotten Cookies are a type of meringue and different than Divinity Candy (though from the look I see how you may have confused them). I actually have a recipe for Divinity too. It’s also white but instead of being light and airy like Forgotten Cookies, it’s made of nougat and nuts. They both are delicious!
Renee Baker says
I”ve made these cookies for years! Totally delicious and extremely easy to make.
Sandra says
My grandmother used to make these!!
jesskat says
Not sure about the sugar content, has anyone tried it with a healthier alternative sweetner like xylitol or stevia?
Toni Dash says
Jesskat I’ve only made this recipe as my Grandmother did. Because of the light nature of meringue the cookies are not overly sweet. I have not personally seen meringue cookie recipes made with alternative sweeteners but I’m sure if you Google them you may find a similar non-sugar recipe.
Jacqueline Raposo says
Putting cocktail recipes together for my Cookies and Cocktails party this weekend and was psyched to google “mulled wine” and “Boulder Locavore” to find THIS again! This is now on the list for Saturday. Big hug from NYC darling! I was actually in Denver last week and next time need to plan better and make a trip to Boulder to meet you in person! xoxo
Sarah Stewart says
Toni, my grandmother used to make Forgotten Cookies (with walnuts instead of pecans) every Christmas for all 15 or so of us grandkids. I just made some last week for my own little party. So nice to see they aren’t completely forgotten!
Beth MacDonald says
I remember having these at my nana’s when I was a small girl . They never had chocolate though . I remember them having pecans and tiny bits of green & red candied cherries . I loved these ! going to give your way a go & my nana’s as well .
Sweet Poppy Cat says
We used to have the Forgotten Cookies at Christmas but we called them Santa Kisses and we put a couple of drops of red or green food coloring in them to make them festive. Delicious!