chocolate meringue cookies (flourless)

this past january on MLK weekend, i went on a sledding weekend trip with some friends. on the morning before our drive back home, we decided to stop by for brunch at a place in sacramento midtown called pushkin's restaurant, and i found this most perfect cookie in their stash of baked goods on display. it was called 'mudpie' and it was a meringue-like, crispy edge of a brownie-like textured cookie. and it was chewy! i like the edge of the brownie pan brownies, and sometimes i just want a little more edge, and this is it!! 

ever since i found it, i've been trying to re-create it, and i think this is the closest i can get to it (for now).

the infamous mudpie. look how big it is compared to my hand..!!

it is actually quite simple to make, so simple that i realize i need to start having generous amounts of cocoa powder on hand at all times in case i'm craving one of these bad boys. 

ingredients

1.5 cups confectioners' sugar

1/3 cup cocoa powder

2 large egg whites

1.5 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

instructions

1. preheat oven to 350F.
2. in a bowl, sift sugar and cocoa powder.
3. add egg whites, vanilla, and salt. mix with a spatula, not hand/stand mixer. you don't want to over mix! 
4. add in chocolate chips.
5. portion the dough across a lined baking sheet with plenty of space between (i'd recommend at least 2-3 inches apart) as they spread! 
6. bake for 13-15 minutes, making sure the top of the cookies are cracked and shiny. 
7. cool fully before devouring! 
   they may be hard to peel off the lining, so wait for them to cool before peeling off, or they'll fall apart. 

🥰