Long weekends, we all look forward to them. Unfortunately I have to work tomorrow, so to make the day more pleasurable I am baking some biscuits for myself and colleagues. Lamingtons would have been more traditional for Australia Day, but in keeping with my coconut obsession I decided on some delicious white chocolate and coconut chip cookies. These large biscuits have turned out a treat. The heavy humidity from all of the rain today has actually helped keep the dough together and made for easier rolling. Perfect. Rain isn’t so bad after all! The recipe was courtesy of Donna Hay, I love her baking.
Happy Australia Day weekend!
125g butter, chopped- 1 cup (220g) white sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 egg
- 1 cup (150g) plain (all-purpose) flour
- 1 cup (150g) self-raising (self-rising) flour
- 1 cup (80g) desiccated coconut
- 100g white chocolate chunks
METHOD
Preheat oven to 180ºC (355ºF). Beat the butter, sugar and vanilla in an electric mixer until light and creamy. Add the egg and beat well. Add the plain and self-raising flours and coconut and mix with a butter knife until a soft dough forms. Add the chocolate. Using your hands, mould 2 tablespoons of cookie mixture into a flat round. Place on a baking tray lined with non-stick baking paper, leaving room to spread. Repeat with remaining mixture. Bake for 10 minutes or until light golden. Allow to cool on trays. Makes 18.
* To check if the cookies are done, look at the bottom not the top. If you wait until the top looks right you risk overcooking them. To check, lift a cookie with a spatula so you can see underneath. The bottom should be deep golden. Cool on trays as the cookies will continue to cook after you’ve removed them from the oven.
(Donna Hay recipe)
