Forgotten Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 egg whites
- Pinch salt
- 1 cup pecans, chopped
- 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 (6 oz) package semi-sweet chocolate chips
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a stand mixer, beat egg whites, cream of tartar, and salt at high speed until stiff peaks form, about 3-4 minutes.
- Gradually add sugar while beating until glossy and stiff. Using a spatula, gently fold in (do not stir) the chopped pecans and chocolate chips until evenly distributed.
- Cover cookie sheet with wax paper or parchment paper and drop cookies onto the sheet using a teaspoon, spacing them about 1 inch apart.
- Place cookie sheet in the preheated oven, then immediately turn the oven off. Leave cookies in the oven overnight or for at least 4 hours. DO NOT open the oven door—the retained heat will slowly cook the cookies to a crispy, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Common Problems and Solutions
Q: Why didn't my egg whites get stiff?
A: Make sure your bowl and beaters are completely clean and grease-free. Even a tiny bit of oil or egg yolk will prevent the whites from whipping up properly. Also ensure eggs are at room temperature for best volume.
Q: Can I open the oven door to check on them?
A: No! Opening the oven door releases the heat that's slowly cooking the cookies. They need that sealed, gradually cooling environment to develop their signature crispy-yet-chewy texture. Trust the process and leave them alone.
Q: My cookies are sticky or chewy instead of crispy. What happened?
A: This usually means they didn't stay in the oven long enough or the oven wasn't hot enough when you turned it off. Make sure your oven fully preheats to 350°F before you put the cookies in and turn it off. They need at least 4 hours, but overnight is best.
Tips and Techniques
Make sure your oven is fully preheated to 350°F before placing the cookies inside—this ensures there’s enough retained heat to properly cook them overnight. For best results, make these in the evening so they can sit undisturbed all night. The longer they stay in the sealed oven, the crispier they’ll be.
Ingredient Substitutions
- semi-sweet chocolate chips: milk chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, or butterscotch chips
- pecans: walnuts, almonds, or a mix of nuts
- cream of tartar: 1 tsp lemon juice or white vinegar
Equipment Needed
- stand mixer or hand mixer
- cookie sheet
- wax paper or parchment paper
- spatula
Historical Context
Forgotten Cookies have been a Southern tradition since at least the 1950s, often made during holidays when oven space was precious. The genius of the recipe is that you can make them after dinner and have the oven free for other baking the next day.
