Coconut Oatmeal Cookies

COCONUT OATMEAL COOKIES

This was yet another great find from pinterest. If one day pinterest no longer exists I will have this blog to keep my favorite recipes. Besides I always modify recipes slightly. These cookies were so easy to make. They just take a few minutes to whip up and come out perfectly chewy.

1 C butter

1 C sugar

1 C brown sugar, packed

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

3 C flour

2 C oatmeal

1 1/2 C coconut

*Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream together butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix together until smooth. In a separate bowl combine salt, baking powder, baking soda and four. Sift together then add to butter mix. Stir in oatmeal and coconut. Spoon onto greased baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes.

Seeing as we live in a higher altitude I added a little extra flour than the original recipe called for. I also love coconut so my recipe includes a little more than called for. I also thought it was a little weird that the original recipe said to grease the cookie sheet, however greasing the cookie sheet turned out perfect. 

These cookies would also be good with nuts and chocolate chips. I think pecans and semisweet chocolate chips would be good or white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts.

Hibiscus Cookies

HIBISCUS SUGAR COOKIES

These were fun to make and pretty easy. I wanted to keep it simple by just doing a few colors.

SUGAR COOKIES

2/3 C butter, softened

3/4 C sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 egg

1 TBSP milk

1 tsp vanilla

2-2 1/2 C flour

*In a large mixing bowl cream butter and sugar together. Add baking powder and salt. Mix together. Mix in egg, milk and vanilla until combined, scraping sides occasionally. Add flour, starting with 2 cups and mix. mix in remaining flour if dough feels too sticky.

For stiffer cookies, or cookies that won't change shape as much when cooked, add more flour, but not so much that the cookies loses it's sugary taste.

Cover and chill at least 30 minutes. If you chill it over night let it sit out and room temperature for a little bit before rolling it out or it will be pretty tough to work with.

Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness and cut out flowers with cookie cutter. Bake at 375 degrees for 7-8 minutes or until edges are firm. Note: the edges don't have to be brown for these cookies to be done.

ROYAL ICING

2 C powdered sugar

4 tsp meringue powder

3-6 TBSP warm water

1 tsp vanilla or almond extract

food coloring

*Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. For thinner icing use more water. I prefer 4-5 TBSP. Using a paddle attachment beat all ingredients on high for 5-10 minutes. This icing dries out very quickly, I like to cover it with a moist paper towel when I'm not using it. Separate the icing and add food coloring if desired.

Love these cookies. Can't wait to make them again. They'll look better next time.

Leprechaun Cookies

LEPRECHAUNS AND SHAMROCKS

I had fun making these cookies even if they didn't turn out as tasty as I would have liked.

Cookies
1 C butter, softened
1 1/2 C powdered sugar
1 egg
3 tsp almond flavoring
2 3/4 C flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
*Pre heat oven to 400 degrees. Cream together butter and powdered sugar. Add egg and flavoring, mix together. add remaining ingredients and mix until combined. Roll out to 1/4 inch thick on floured surface. Cut and bake for 7-8 minutes. This recipe does not need to be refrigerated, but I thought it tasted too much like a biscuit, it wasn't sweet enough for me.

Royal Icing
4 C powdered sugar
3 TBSP meringue powder
6 TBSP warm water
*Beat all icing until it forms a peak, about 7-12 minutes depending on your mixer. For a stiffer icing, use less water. I then separated the icing and added food coloring.