Where's The Macaroon Brownies!

There is a method to my madness you guys.  I swear there is.  I asked on Facebook how many of you like coconut.  I couldn't believe it!  I always thought most people DIDN'T like it.  You proved me wrong in a hurry.  I don't care for coconut unless it involves lotions, oil, or flavoring.  I don't enjoy the real deal.  This is how I keep from eating these things, I just make things I don't like! HA!  Genius, right?  I knew you were thinking it, it is OK to admit it. 

Anyway, when I named these all I could think of is "Where's Waldo?" when my husband asked, where the macaroon part was.  Thus, we got this name for them.  They are really so delicious, I even tasted one.  All good cooks taste their own food before they serve it.  WAIT, for the love....are you telling me if you make something you don't like, you don't TASTE it?  You just feed it to the masses?  I feel faint.  I actually loved these.  So moist and delish on the inside, soft and chewy brownie on the outside.  Perfection!

Let me tell you something that will make some of YOU faint.  Ready?  I can't type it, I am laughing to hard, because some of you FRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREAK out over this.  Ready now?  I used a BOXED brownie mix!  You busy moms will thank me.  I figure, what the heck.  End of my story.  So go ahead, purchase your favorite brand because I KNOW you have one, you sly cat.....I know you do!  Prepare it per the package directions and set the batter aside.  You have some other work ahead of you!

MACAROON MIXTURE:
1 cup coconut
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 tbsp cornstarch
Combine all ingredients.  Form into balls.  You should get 15, you only need 12.  Feel free to bake the others off as plain macaroons.  DO NOT feel tempted to add to the others to make them all bigger.  If they are bigger the brownie batter won't cover!  Bake away my dear chefwannabe.....and just trust me.  Put them in the freezer for 15 minutes.  I can be longer, just at least 15. 

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Spray your muffin tin with non stick cooking spray, liberally.  Add 1 tbsp of batter into the bottoms of each cup.  Now, take the ball of macaroon mix, flatten it out just a wee bit and put it on top of the batter.  Don't push it down once it is in.  Make sure it has room to groove all around it so that the rest of the brownie batter can get around it.  When you have placed all of the balls, cover each with more batter.  Just keep feeling by the tablespoon until they are all filled and you can no longer see the macaroons!!

 

Bake for 30 minutes.  Let sit in the pan until completely cooled!  Carefully run a knife around the edges and they will pop right out.  If you try to do it while they are hot, they will come apart to easy.  They need to carry over cook and they are perfection!  You can do the toothpick test but not sure how accurate it will be with the macaroon centers.  The tops will be nicely firm, you will know when they are done, I have faith in you!

These will pop in your freezer nicely as well!  You can make them ahead or take one out at a time for a treat!  Let it sit 30-60 minutes on the counter and you are good to go!

Your "does NOT care for macaroons but these, are different" chefwannabe