Hawaiian Coconut Shortbread Cookies Recipes

COCONUT SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Add flour, salt, and shredded coconut into a small mixing bowl, mix well to distribute thoroughly. Set aside.
• Add sugar, softened butter and vanilla extract to the stand mixer bowl and beat with the paddle attachment at medium low speed until combined. Increase speed to medium and beat until fluffy, about 30 seconds to 1 minute.
• Reduce mixer to low speed, and slowly add the flour mixture. Gradually increase mixer speed to medium and mix until dough comes together. It should start pulling away from the side of the mixing bowl.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured board or counter top, and shape into a disk or rectangle. Wrap well with plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Roll dough to between 1/4"-1/2" thick and cut out cookies with desired cookie cutter. Re-roll the scrap dough and cut out more cookies until finished. A 2" cookie cutter will make a dozen cookies.
• Place the cookies in a container in layers, with parchment paper in between, and freeze for 30 minutes to 1 hour. If your freezer is large enough to accommodate a baking sheet, arrange the cookies on a parchment lined baking sheet and freeze.
• Preheat oven to 350°F while the cookies are resting in the freezer.
• When the oven is ready, place cookies on a parchment line baking sheet an inch or two apart if frozen in a container, sprinkle granulated sugar over the top of cookies generously and bake for 15 minutes. Rotate pan half way through baking.
• Remove from the oven, let rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

SLICE & BAKE COCONUT SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Gradually beat flour into creamed mixture. Stir in coconut., Using a sheet of waxed paper, shape dough into a 12x3x1-in. rectangle. Wrap in waxed paper; refrigerate 3 hours or overnight., Preheat oven to 300°. Unwrap and cut dough crosswise into 1/4-in. slices. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake until edges are light golden, 18-20 minutes. Cool on pans 5 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool.

HAWAIIAN COCONUT MACADAMIA SHORTBREAD COINS (COOKIES)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds.
• Add powdered sugar, baking powder, and salt. Beat on low speed until combined, scraping side of bowl occasionally.
• Beat in the 1 cup macadamia nuts and the coconut.
• Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Using a wooden spoon, stir in any remaining flour (dough will be sticky).
• Using lightly floured hands, shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place balls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet; flatten balls slightly.
• Lightly press additional chopped macadamia nuts onto the tops of cookies.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes or until light golden brown.
• Transfer cookies to a wire rack; let cool.
• To Store: Layer cookies between waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

HAWAIIAN COCONUT SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream the butter until smooth. Add granulated sugar and vanilla, creaming again until smooth and slightly fluffy.
• Sift flour and then measure the 2 cups of flour. Add salt to flour and sift again.
• Gradually add to the creamed butter mixture until you have added all the flour and mixture is smooth. Mix the coconut into the cookie dough.
• Shape into a one and half (1.5) inch diameter roll and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until it the dough is firm, about 2-4 hours, or for several days until ready to use. May be frozen for later baking.
• Using a sharp knife, cut 1/4 inch slices from the cookie dough roll and place on a very lightly greased cookie sheet, about 1 inch apart.
• Bake at 300 degrees for about 20 minutes, until a light golden brown at edges, but not browned entirely across the top.
• Cool cookies on sheet just until they are set, easy to remove and have cooled slightly, usually about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove cookies with a spatula and place on the 1 cup of powdered sugar that you have sifted onto a piece of wax paper or similar surface. Cover cookies with powdered sugar on all sides by sifting more sugar over them or "rolling" them in the sugar. After they have cooled and the powdered sugar has "set", you can coat them with more powdered sugar if you would like. Cool completely and then store in an airtight container, for however long you can keep them from being eaten!
• Try these the first time following the recipe as given. The next time, you can play around with adding other ingredients to tweak these to your exact tastes. Some ideas, toasting some of the coconut before adding to the dough, adding finely chopped macadamia nuts, ginger, cardamom or any citrus zest. Key lime zest and macadamias is a great combo, truly a cookie that takes you to tropical islands without the frequent flier miles :).