Chocolate-Dipped Almond Macaroons

• 3 large egg whites
• Dash salt
• 1-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2-1/2 cups unblanched almonds, finely ground
• 7 tablespoons sugar
• 7 tablespoons water
• 4 large egg yolks, lightly beaten
• 2/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon baking cocoa
• 9 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped and melted

1. Place egg whites in a small bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Line
2. with parchment paper.
3. Preheat oven to 350u0b0. Add salt to egg whites; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add confectioners' sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Fold in almonds.
4. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 in. apart onto prepared
5. . Bake 8-12 minutes or until firm to the touch. Cool 5 minutes before removing to wire racks.
6. For buttercream, combine sugar and water in a small heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil; cook over medium-high heat until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat. Whisk a small amount of hot mixture into egg yolks; return all to pan, stirring constantly. Cook 2 minutes or until mixture is thickened and reaches 160u0b0, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Cool to room temperature.
7. In a small bowl, beat butter until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Gradually beat in cooked sugar mixture. Beat in cocoa until smooth. If necessary, refrigerate until buttercream reaches spreading consistency.
8. Spread buttercream over bottom of each cooled cookie. Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes. Dip bottom of each cookie in melted chocolate, allowing excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

egg whites, salt, sugar, unblanched almonds, sugar, water, egg yolks, unsalted butter, baking cocoa, chocolate

Taken from www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/chocolate-dipped-almond-macaroons/ (may not work)