Coconut Jumbles

Yield: about 6 dozen cookies

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon strong coconut flavor (optional)
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/2 cups (4 1/2 ounces) sweetened flaked coconut
• About 36 candied cherries, cut in half, or 72 macadamia nuts

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease two cookie sheets.
2. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract and coconut flavor until light and fluffy.
3. Sift salt, flour and baking soda together into a small bowl and gradually beat them into the egg mixture.
4. Stir in the coconut until everything is well combined.
5. Drop the dough by the teaspoonful onto prepared cookie sheets; use the bottom of a drinking glass dipped in sugar to press each ball down slightly.
6. Bake the cookies for 9 minutes, or until they are light golden brown and just firm to the touch.
7. As soon as the cookies come out of the oven, plunk half a candied cherry (round side up, of course), or a macadamia nut, into the center of each and press down gently.
8. Cool the cookies on a wire rack.

Attribution

The King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion