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–+ servings
A stack of homemade forgotten cookies with melted chocolate chunks, toasted pecans, and flaky sea salt on top, sitting on a rustic plate in warm natural light.

Forgotten Cookies

Crispy, airy Forgotten Cookies you “forget” overnight in the oven — a no-fuss, vintage recipe that uses leftover egg whites and makes itself while you sleep. Sweet, crunchy, and surprisingly foolproof.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Easy forgotten cookies, Forgotten Cookies, Forgotten Cookies Mephisto, Forgotten cookies Nigella, Forgotten Cookies origin, Forgotten cookies recipe cream tartar, Forgotten cookies with egg whites, Old fashioned Forgotten cookies
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 2 minutes
Rest / “Forget” Time: 5 hours
Total Time: 5 hours 17 minutes
Servings: 24 cookies
Calories: 65kcal
Cost: $5

Equipment

  • 1 Electric mixer (Hand or stand mixer)
  • 1 Large mixing bowl (Metal or glass only)
  • 1 Rubber spatula (For folding mix-ins)
  • 2 Baking sheets (Line with parchment paper)
  • As needed Parchment paper (Prevents sticking)
  • 1 set Measuring cups & spoons
  • 1 Timer (For the “turn off oven” step)

Ingredients

  • 3 large Egg whites - Room temperature
  • ¾ cup Granulated sugar - Superfine if possible
  • ¼ teaspoon Cream of tartar - Or same amount lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract - Substitute almond or peppermint for variations
  • ⅛ teaspoon Salt
  • 1 cup Semi-sweet chocolate chips - Or mini chips, chunks, etc.
  • ½ cup Chopped pecans - Optional
  • Powdered sugar - For dusting after baking

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • Beat egg whites with cream of tartar and salt until foamy. Gradually add sugar and whip until stiff, glossy peaks form. Add vanilla.
  • Gently fold in chocolate chips and pecans with a spatula until evenly combined.
  • Drop spoonfuls of meringue onto prepared sheets, bake for 2 minutes, then turn oven completely off without opening the door.
  • Leave cookies in the closed oven overnight (at least 8 hours). In the morning, remove, peel off parchment, and enjoy.

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be considered an approximation. Actual values may vary based on specific ingredients used and portion sizes

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie (20 g) | Calories: 65kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.6g | Sodium: 25mg | Potassium: 30mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 5IU | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.2mg