Old-Fashioned Forgotten Cookies Come Right from Grandma's Recipe Box

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Did you grow up eating crispy forgotten cookies?

forgotten cookies
Photo:

Rachel Marek

Prep Time:
20 mins
Stand Time:
8 hrs
Total Time:
8 hrs 20 mins
Servings:
36
Yield:
3 dozen

Grandmother's forgotten cookies are made with egg whites, pecans, and chocolate chips. The finished baked cookies are crisp, tender, and light-as-air. Our recipe testers loved the nuttiness of the pecans and the flavor of the mini chocolate chips. Here's how to make forgotten cookies, including tips for re-crisping the cookies if they become soft.

What Are Forgotten Cookies?

The name "forgotten cookies" or "forget-me-not cookies" comes from the way you bake them. After placing the cookies in the oven, you turn it off and leave them overnight, almost as if they were "forgotten." This allows the meringue to cook slowly as the oven cools, and results in a crisp and chewy texture. Customize this gluten-free cookie recipe with your favorite nuts, chocolate pieces, and more. Try another one of our favorites: walnut and dark chocolate. They're also delicious with colorful sprinkles on top.

Ingredients

  • 2 large egg whites

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

  • 1/8 teaspoon salt

  • 2/3 cup sugar

  • 1 cup finely chopped pecans

  • 3/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper. Place oven racks in top and lower thirds of the oven.

  2. In a large bowl beat egg whites, vanilla, and salt until egg whites are foamy, about 1 minute. Increase mixer to high speed and add sugar, 1 Tbsp. at a time, over a 2 minute period, until mixture still forms stiff peaks.

  3. Using a rubber spatula, fold in pecans and chocolate chips until just combined.

  4. Drop mixture by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets (or use a small cookie scoop to portion cookies).

  5. Place baking sheets in the hot oven. Turn the oven off and let stand at least 8 hours or overnight. Do not open the oven door during this time.

How to Store Forgotten Cookies

Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 week. (For longer storage, freeze cookies, layering waxed paper between cookies, for up to 3 months.). Cookies may soften during freezing. To re-crisp the cookies, place in a 200°F oven for 10 minutes.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

54 Calories
3g Fat
6g Carbs
1g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 36
Calories 54.1
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 3.3g 4%
Saturated Fat 0.8g 4%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 10.5mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 6.5g 2%
Dietary Fiber 0.5g 2%
Total Sugars 5.8g
Protein 0.6g 1%
Vitamin D 0mcg 0%
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 3.5mg 0%
Iron 0.2mg 1%
Potassium 28.9mg 1%
Fatty acids, total trans 0g
Vitamin D 0IU
Alanine 0g
Arginine 0.1g
Ash 0.1g
Aspartic acid 0.1g
Caffeine 2.3mg
Carotene, alpha 0mcg
Choline, total 2mg
Copper, Cu 0.1mg
Cystine 0g
Energy 226kJ
Fluoride, F 0.3mcg
Folate, total 1.2mcg
Glutamic acid 0.1g
Glycine 0g
Histidine 0g
Isoleucine 0g
Leucine 0g
Lysine 0g
Methionine 0g
Magnesium, Mg 8.1mg
Manganese, Mn 0.2mg
Niacin 0.1mg
Phosphorus, P 13.5mg
Pantothenic acid 0mg
Phenylalanine 0g
Phytosterols 0mg
Proline 0g
Retinol 0mcg
Selenium, Se 0.7mcg
Serine 0g
Starch 0g
Theobromine 17.7mg
Threonine 0g
Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) 0.1mg
Tryptophan 0g
Tyrosine 0g
Valine 0g
Vitamin A, IU 1.7IU
Vitamin A, RAE 0.1mcg
Vitamin B-12 0mcg
Vitamin B-6 0mg
Vitamin K (phylloquinone) 0.3mcg
Water 1.8g
Zinc, Zn 0.2mg

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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