Do I Use Fresh Or Desiccated Coconut For Coconut Macaroons?

Our answer

Nigella's Coconut Macaroons (from HOW TO BE A DOMESTIC GODDESS) are soft and moist coconut cookies and are made with sweetened, shredded coconut. This is not desiccated coconut and neither is it fresh, grated coconut.

The sweetened, shredded coconut is a slightly moist shredded coconut that is most commonly found in the US. This type of coconut is needed as desiccated coconut is too dry and fine to be used for these macaroons. The best known brand of sweetened, shredded coconut is Baker's Angel Flake Coconut. Outside of the US this can be found on-line and in the UK there are several companies who sell it via mail order.