Description
Sweet coconut drops from Jamaica boast a delightful blend of shredded coconut, sugar, and spices. Locals savor these traditional treats, which combine island ingredients with simple preparation for a delectable dessert you’ll crave.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3.75 cups (945 ml) sweetened shredded coconut
- 1.25 cups (156 grams) all-purpose flour
- 3 oz (85 grams) cream cheese, softened
- ⅓ cup (75 grams) butter, softened
- ¾ cup (150 grams) sugar
- 1 large egg yolk, room temperature
- 2 tsps orange juice
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 1.5 tsps baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup (240 ml) seedless raspberry preserves, warmed
Instructions
- Whip Mixture: Cream unsalted butter, cream cheese, and granulated sugar in a mixer until light and fluffy, approximately 5-7 minutes, creating an airy foundation for the cookies.
- Flavor Integration: Blend egg yolk, orange juice, and almond extract into the creamed mixture until completely smooth, infusing the dough with citrusy and nutty undertones.
- Dry Ingredient Preparation: Sift together all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt in a separate bowl, ensuring even distribution of leavening agents.
- Dough Formation: Gradually fold dry ingredients into the creamed mixture, mixing until a uniform, cohesive dough emerges, then gently incorporate shredded coconut for texture and flavor.
- Chill and Prepare: Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes to firm up, then preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) while preparing ungreased baking sheets.
- Shaping and Coating: Roll chilled dough into compact spheres, thoroughly coating each ball in remaining coconut to create a textured exterior with a crisp finish.
- Forming and Baking: Arrange coconut-covered dough balls on baking sheets, making a deep center indentation with a wooden spoon handle, then bake for 8-10 minutes until edges turn light golden brown.
- Cooling and Finishing: Allow cookies to rest briefly on the baking sheet, then transfer to wire cooling racks and carefully re-create center indentations if needed, filling completely cooled cookies with fruit preserves for a jewel-like appearance.
Notes
- Butter Temperature Matters: Ensure butter is at room temperature for optimal creaming, which helps create a light, fluffy texture in the cookie base.
- Chill for Success: Refrigerating the dough allows coconut to hydrate and prevents cookies from spreading too much during baking, maintaining their perfect shape.
- Rolling Technique: Use light, gentle pressure when rolling dough balls to prevent compacting, keeping the cookies tender and delicate.
- Preserve Placement: Wait until cookies are completely cool before adding fruit preserves to prevent soggy centers and maintain a crisp cookie texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Caribbean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 22
- Calories: 157
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 35 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 18 mg