Best Coconut Shortbread Recipes

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 :).

COCONUT PECAN SHORTBREAD COOKIES WITH CARAMEL FILLING

Steps:

• To make the shortbread: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place coconut on a baking sheet, and toast until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes, stirring halfway through. Transfer the coconut to a cutting board, and finely chop. Transfer to a bowl; set aside.
• Spread the pecans on the baking pan, and toast until fragrant and golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes, rotating pan halfway through. Transfer the pecans to a cutting board, and finely chop. Add to bowl with the coconut.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add vanilla extract, flour, and salt; beat to combine. Stir in coconut and pecans.
• Form the dough into a disk, and wrap in plastic. Transfer to refrigerator, and chill until firm, 30 to 45 minutes.
• Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough 1/4-inch-thick. Using a 2 1/4-inch fluted pastry cutter, cut out 68 rounds. Place the rounds, spaced 1 inch apart, on the prepared baking sheets. Refrigerate dough 5 to 10 minutes. Using a 3/4-inch round aspic cutter, or the large end of a pastry tip, cut out and discard the centers from 34 cookies, making top halves.
• Bake until golden brown, about 12 minutes, rotating baking sheets halfway through baking time. Transfer cookies to a wire rack, and let cool completely. Store in an airtight container, at room temperature until ready to use
• To make the filling: Place the sugar and 3 tablespoons water in a small saucepan. Set over medium-high heat, and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil, and cook until dark amber in color, about 5 minutes. Use a pastry brush, dipped in water, to wash down sides of pan to prevent crystallization as the mixture boils. Remove saucepan from the heat, and gradually whisk in the cream and butter. Transfer to a medium bowl, and let cool.
• To assemble the cookies: Spoon or pipe about 1/2 teaspoon caramel in the center of each of the bottom halves, and sandwich both halves together. Drizzle remaining caramel over the tops of the cookies. Let the caramel set at least 2 hours, and up to overnight.

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.

COCONUT SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter, sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Gradually add flour and mix well. Stir in coconut. Shape into two 8-in. rolls; wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 4 hours or until firm., Unwrap and cut into 1/4-in. slices. Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. , Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Dip both sides of cookies in confectioners' sugar while warm. Cool on wire racks.

TOASTED COCONUT SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Using an electric mixer and a medium bowl (or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment), beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla on medium-high speed until super light and fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Using a spatula, scrape down sides of bowl. With mixer on low speed, slowly add flour, followed by 1/2 cup coconut and beat just to blend.
• Divide dough in half, then place each half on a large piece of plastic wrap. Sprinkle each piece of dough with half of the cinnamon, then fold plastic over to cover dough and protect your hands from getting all sticky. Start to form into a log (this will give a subtle cinnamon swirl-like effect - if this idea stresses you out, you can also just add the cinnamon with the flour and coconut in step 2).
• Using your hands (just like you're playing with clay), form dough into a log shape; rolling it on the counter will help you smooth it out, but don't worry about getting it totally perfect. Each half should form logs that are about 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter. Chill until firm, at least 1 1/2 hours.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet (two, if you've got 'em) with parchment paper. Brush outside of logs with egg wash. Roll logs in unsweetened coconut.
• Slice each log into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Dip each round on one side into sanding sugar (no need to egg wash, the sugar should just stick). Arrange on prepared baking sheet, sugar-side up, about 1 inch apart (they won't spread much). Bake cookies until edges are just beginning to brown, about 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool slightly before eating them all.

COCONUT-PECAN SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Stir in coconut and pecans. Divide dough into two portions. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until easy to handle., Preheat oven to 350°. On a floured surface, roll each portion to 1/8-in. thickness. Cut with a 1-in. round cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake until lightly browned, 10-12 minutes. Cool for 1 minute before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., Meanwhile, for filling, bring sugar and water to a boil in a large heavy saucepan. Add corn syrup; cook until syrup turns golden, about 5 minutes (do not stir). Gradually stir in cream and butter., Spread filling on the bottoms of half of the cookies, a scant 1/2 teaspoon on each; cover with remaining cookies. Let stand until set, about 2 hours.

GLUTEN-FREE COCONUT FLOUR SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Lightly grease a baking sheet, or line it with parchment.
• Mix all the ingredients, by hand or mixer, until a well-blended, cohesive dough forms; this will take about 2 minutes at medium-low speed in a stand mixer.
• Drop the cookie dough by teaspoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheet (a teaspoon cookie scoop works well here), leaving 1 inch between them; these cookies won't spread much when they bake.
• Use a fork to flatten each cookie to about 1/4 inch thick, making a cross-hatch design.
• Bake the cookies for 8 to 12 minutes, until just browned on the bottom. Allow the cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet.

LEMON BARS WITH COCONUT SHORTBREAD CRUST

Steps:

• Set oven to 350 (second-lowest rack).
• Butter an 8 x 8-inch glass baking dish.
• To make the crust: combine flour, sugar and salt in a small processor; blend for about 5 seconds.
• Add in flaked coconut and cold butter; process until mixture resembles fine meal and clumps together.
• Press the dough over the bottom of prepared pan (do not pack to tightly).
• Bake for about 20 minutes or until crust is golden around the edges.
• In a medium bowl whisk together all the filling ingredients (except the powdered sugar) until smooth.
• Remove the crust from the oven and pour the filling over the hot crust.
• Return to the oven and bake until the filling begins to brown around the edges, and is JUST set and springy to the touch (around 25-30 minutes).
• Cool the lemon bars completely before slicing.
• Sift with powdered sugar.
• **NOTE** if you want to remove the bars from the baking dish before slicing them, place a piece of buttered foil on the bottom of the dish (leaving an overhang of foil) before patting in the crust mixture. When the bars are COMPLETELY cool, remove them with the foil overhang, my advise would be to place the bars in the fridge before removing them with the foil to avoid breakage of the crust.

COCONUT-LIME BARS WITH HAZELNUT SHORTBREAD CRUST

Steps:

• For crust:
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Blend nuts and sugar in processor until nuts are finely ground. Add flour and salt; blend 5 seconds. Add butter and process until well blended. Press dough evenly onto bottom of 13 x 9 x 2-inch metal baking pan. Bake crust until golden brown, about 28 minutes; cool completely in pan on rack. Maintain oven temperature.
• For filling:
• Whisk sugar and eggs in large bowl until well blended, scraping down sides of bowl occasionally. Whisk in lime juice, then flour and lime peel. Pour filling over crust in pan.
• Bake lime bars 25 minutes (filling will not be fully set). Sprinkle coconut evenly over. Bake until filling is completely set, about 10 minutes longer.
• Cool bars in pan on rack. Chill uncovered until cold, at least 2 hours. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep chilled.
• Cut around pan sides to loosen bars; cut into 24 pieces. Using small spatula, transfer bars to platter; serve chilled.

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.

COCONUT SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Spread coconut on rimmed baking sheet. Bake until coconut is light golden, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Cool completely.
• Using electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in large bowl until well blended. Mix in salt and vanilla. Beat in flour in 2 additions. Stir in toasted coconut. Gather dough together; divide in half. Flatten each half into disk; wrap each in plastic and chill at least 1 hour. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Keep chilled. Soften slightly at room temperature before rolling out.)
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll out 1 dough disk on lightly floured work surface to scant 1/4-inch thickness. Using 1 3/4- to 2-inch-diameter cookie cutters, cut dough into rounds. Transfer cookies to prepared baking sheets, spacing 1 inch apart. Gather dough scraps and reroll; cut out additional cookies. Repeat procedure with remaining dough disk until all of dough is used.
• Bake cookies until light golden, about 20 minutes. Cool on baking sheets 10 minutes. Transfer cookies to racks and cool completely. (Can be made ahead. Store airtight at room temperature up to 1 week.)
• *Available at natural foods stores and some supermarkets.

COCONUT SHORTBREAD COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Sift flour, confectioners' sugar, and cornstarch together in a bowl. Blend in butter, vanilla extract, allspice, and cardamom with your hands until dough comes together. Wrap and chill dough for 1 hour.
• Pinch off pieces of dough and roll into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Pour coconut onto a shallow plate. Roll cookie balls in coconut and place 1 inch apart on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until lightly golden, about 20 minutes. Let cool.
• Combine chocolate, vegetable oil, and almond extract in a small, deep microwave-safe bowl. Heat in 15-second intervals, stirring after each interval, until melted and smooth, 1 to 3 minutes.
• Dip half of each cookie diagonally into the melted chocolate and shake off excess. Return to the baking sheets and refrigerate until chocolate sets, about 10 minutes.

COCONUT-MACADAMIA SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cut dough into squares using a fluted 2 1/4-inch square cookie cutter. Reroll scraps; continue cutting out squares. Space about 1 inch apart on baking sheets lined with parchment. Lightly brush tops with beaten egg white; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup coconut. Bake until golden, 20 to 25 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Let cool on sheets on wire racks. Cookies can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature up to 1 week.
• Put butter, cream of coconut, and remaining 3/4 cup sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; beat on medium until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Mix in coconut extract. Reduce speed to low. Add flour, salt, nut mixture, and ground coconut; mix until combined.
• Halve dough. Shape halves into disks, and wrap well in plastic. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
• Let dough soften before rolling. Roll out each disk on lightly floured parchment to 1/4 inch thick. Cover with plastic; refrigerate until firm, 30 minutes.
• Cut dough into squares using a fluted 2 1/4-inch square cookie cutter. Reroll scraps; continue cutting out squares. Space about 1 inch apart on baking sheets lined with parchment. Lightly brush tops with beaten egg white; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup coconut. Bake until golden, 20 to 25 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Let cool on sheets on wire racks. Cookies can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature up to 1 week.

COCONUT PECAN SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• To toast the coconut and pecans: Place on separate baking pans and toast in a preheated 180 degree oven for 8-10 minutes, turning pans halfway through toasting, or until golden and fragrant. Finely chop in food processor.
• In a large bowl, cream butter with electric mixer. Add sugar and mix until light and fluffy. Add vanilla, flour and salt. Mix until combined. With a wooden spoon, mix in the pecans and coconut just until combined. Form dough into a disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes until firm, or freeze for up to a month.
• Butter 3 cookie sheets and preheat oven to 180 degrees.
• On a clean, lightly floured surface, roll out dough to a 1/4 in thickness. Cut out as many cookies as possible and place on cookie sheets, 1 in apart. Try not to re-roll scraps too many times, as this will toughen the cookies.
• Bake until golden brown, about 12-15 minutes, rotating baking sheets half-way through cooking.

TOASTED COCONUT SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F Spread coconut on rimmed baking sheet. Bake until coconut is light golden, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Cool completely, then grind in a coffee grinder, food processor or blender until coarsely ground.
• Using electric mixer, beat butter and sugar in large bowl until well blended. Mix in salt and vanilla. Beat in flour in 2 additions. Stir in toasted coconut. Gather dough together, flatten into a disc and wrap in plastic. Chill at least 1 hour. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Keep chilled. Soften slightly at room temperature before rolling out.).
• Preheat oven to 325°F Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Roll out dough disk on lightly floured work surface to scant 1/4-inch thickness. Using 1 3/4- to 2-inch-diameter cookie cutters, cut dough into rounds. Transfer cookies to prepared baking sheets, spacing 1 inch apart. Gather dough scraps and reroll; cut out additional cookies. OR.
• Before chilling form dough into a log - 1 3/4- to 2-inch-diameter, wrap well in plastic and then place in a baggie or foil. After chilling, with a thin bladed sharp knife slice scant 1/4-inch thick rounds. Place on cookie sheets as above.
• Bake cookies until light golden, about 20 minutes. Cool on baking sheets 10 minutes. Transfer cookies to racks and cool completely. (Can be made ahead. Store airtight at room temperature up to 1 week.).
• Note 1 - If you can't find unsweetened, use sweetened and cut back the sugar by 2 tablespoons.
• Note 2 - for unsweetened coconut, the smaller amount of salt, with sweetened, the larger amount. If you don't have Kosher salt, halve the amount of table salt.

COCONUT MACADAMIA SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. and generously butter a 9-inch round cake pan.
• In a food processor, pulse nuts and granulated sugar just until ground fine (do not grind to a paste).
• In a bowl with an electric mixer, beat butter with confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, nut mixture and 1/4 cup coconut. Beat flour mixture into butter mixture until just combined.
• On a lightly floured surface, knead dough 5 to 8 times, or until it just comes together. With floured hands (dough will be sticky) press dough evenly into prepared baking pan and sprinkle with remaining 5 tablespoons coconut,pressing lightly to make it adhere. Bake shortbread in middle of oven 30 minutes, or until pale golden.
• While shortbread is still warm, loosen edges from pan with a small knife and cut into 8 wedges. Let shortbread cool in pan. Carefully transfer shortbread to a platter.

TOASTED COCONUT SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla.
• In a separate bowl, combine flours, corn starch, and coconut. Add to butter mixture and mix until blended. Shape dough into a flattened disc. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate dough for 30 minutes if dough is too soft to roll.
• On a floured surface, roll out dough until 1/4 inch thick, dusting lightly with flour as necessary. Cut dough into rounds with a 2 inch cookie cutter dipped in flour. Reroll dough as necessary, without adding too much flour. Place cookies on parchment-lined baking sheets. Sprinkle lightly with sugar.
• Bake cookies in a preheated 300F oven for 25 minutes, or until just beginning to turn golden. Cool on wire racks.

COCONUT-PECAN SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Sift together flour and salt into a medium bowl. Beat butter with a mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, 3 to 5 minutes, scraping down sides of bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Add sugar gradually, beating between additions; continue to beat until mixture is very pale, about 2 minutes total. Reduce speed to low, and add flour mixture; beat until just combined.
• Mix in coconut and pecans. Press dough evenly into a buttered 10-inch springform pan; refrigerate until firm, about 20 minutes. Cut dough into 8 wedges. Evenly pierce all over with a skewer.
• Bake until shortbread is firm in center and golden brown, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack; immediately recut wedges with a paring knife. Let cool completely in pan.

TOASTED COCONUT SHORTBREAD COOKIE

Steps:

• 1. In a skillet, add coconut and cook over medium heat. Tossing or stirring often until coconut is lightly browned. (It will burn fast so be careful) Set aside to cool.
• 2. In a mixing bowl cream together butter and sugar until smooth and almost fluffy, 1 minute. Blend in salt and vanilla. Slowly add flour on low speed, until just incorporated and dough begins to form. Add coconut. Form dough into 2 logs. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hr. Preheat oven to 350. Line cookie sheets with parchment. Slice log into ¼" thick cookies. Place cookies on pans at least 1" apart and bake until golden and starting to crisp, 13-15 minutes. Allow to cool on cookie sheet 5 minutes then remove to racks to cool completely. Will crisp more as they cool.
• 3. If desired, cookies may be dipped or drizzled with chocolate or white chocolate and sprinkled with toasted coconut , chopped nuts or a desired sprinkle. This cookie can be rolled out and cut into shapes as well. Just make 2 disks instead of logs before refrigerating.

LIME COCONUT SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Beat butter, sugar, essence and rind in a medium bowl with electric mixer until smooth.
• Stir in fours and coconut in two batches; knead lightly.
• Roll dough between sheets of baking paper until 4mm thick; cut into 6cm shapes, place 3cm apart on greased oven trays.
• Bake in moderate oven 10 minutes or until firm.
• Stand 3 minutes before lifting onto wire racks to cool.