Cookie Conundrum: Macaron v Macaroons

Several people have emailed me about the spelling of macaroons. Some say the cookie should be spelled “macaron”; others insist on “macaroon.”  I debated the spelling with two food peeps who double as grammarians. They disagreed with each other. So, I picked “macaroon” because that is how it is spelled in Larousse Gastronomic. However, this person, makes a good point: the two spellings refer to two different types of cookies. Macarons are a French cookie made with almond flour, sugar, and egg whites. They are meringue-y. (Oh, that sounds like a new dance!) Macaroons are a coconut-based cookie made of egg whites, sugar and shredded coconut. I am so confused. The smartest person I know insists on “the double o” because it is the American spelling and we live and write in America. You guys decide. I’m sure Kirk is lurking out there somewhere. He’ll clear this up. Go.