Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Coconut Butter Thins (TWD)

This week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe is Coconut Butter Thins. The foundation of this cookie is a shortbread dough, which is embellished with coconut, macadamia, and lime zest. These components are not necessarily in my top 10 list of favorite ingredients/flavors, and I confess that I wasn't excited about making these cookies.
The instructions for this cookie are pretty straightforward, and for the most part I followed the recipe as written. My only minor adjustment was finely grinding the coconut along with the macadamias.

In the book, Dorie Greenspan describes these cookies as wafery and lacey. Even with that knowledge, I was surprised that my cookie dough squares spread like crazy in the oven! Either the spreading is intended, or else the overnight rest in the fridge and freezing the cut cookie dough didn't help the cookies retain its shape. Now, I'm curious to see how everyone else's cookies turned out.
So much for how they look...more importantly, how do they taste? After taking one bite of this cookie, I realized that I should keep an open mind --- these cookies are unbelievably flavorful and delicious!!!! The texture is a perfect balance of crispy and tender, and the coconut, macadamia and lime flavors are really wonderful together (I think next time I will increase the amount of lime zest --- loved the flavor). I will say that this gem is one of my favorite TWD recipes to date (and that's saying something, as the group has made some pretty terrific treats).

Thanks Jayne of The Barefoot Kitchen Witch for selecting this divine cookie! If you want to make this delicious cookie yourself, head over to Jayne's blog for the recipe. For more delicious cookies, check out the TWD blogroll.

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35 comments:

  1. JulieMarch 31, 2009 at 3:25 AM

    I wasn't very convinced myself, but I agree with you, they are worth a trying. I love the way your cookies look, so delicate and crispy!

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  2. Isabelle LambertMarch 31, 2009 at 4:09 AM

    wow ! ils sont super fins ! on dirait presque des tuiles !
    c'est super réussi :)

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  3. MartheMarch 31, 2009 at 5:14 AM

    This is an amazing cookie, I really loved it too!!

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  4. farahMarch 31, 2009 at 5:55 AM

    I agree, these are fantastic! I really liked these.
    Mine spread a lot too and i do wish they held their shape a little better. So glad you liked it :)

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  5. The Food LibrarianMarch 31, 2009 at 6:03 AM

    Wow! You put the THIN in Coconut Butter Thins. I love how delicate yours are!!! Great job!

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  6. vibiMarch 31, 2009 at 6:49 AM

    Hey! Coconut butter chips! lol

    The thinest of the thinest! For sure, with you they wear their name very well! Thinly beautiful, Linda! LOL

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  7. steph- whisk/spoonMarch 31, 2009 at 7:04 AM

    they look so delicate and nice! i agree--these were so good, and i would have totally skipped them over if not for this.

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  8. chocolatechicMarch 31, 2009 at 7:06 AM

    Mine don't look a thing like yours.


    I like yours better.

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  9. BanjoMarch 31, 2009 at 8:31 AM

    Oh don't they look lovely, I'm just going to have to try it again! Blrgh!!!

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  10. Mermaid SewsMarch 31, 2009 at 8:55 AM

    Your photos rock, and your cookies actually look like coconut butter thins - nicely done. Your fellow corporate serf better stop reading about TWD and head to work!

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  11. Ingrid_3BsMarch 31, 2009 at 9:14 AM

    I'm not cookie baker but after reading everyone's comments I need to start my cookie baking with this one.

    As usual your photos do the recipe justice!
    ~ingrid

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  12. SihanMarch 31, 2009 at 9:39 AM

    i wasn't too convinced when mine first plopped out of the oven. But that unbelievable smell was just undeniable. Yours do look really lacy and fragile!

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  13. Amy of Sing For Your SupperMarch 31, 2009 at 12:05 PM

    Oh wow, those look seriously amazing! I love how thin they are!!

    -Amy
    www.singforyoursupperblog.com

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  14. LeslieMarch 31, 2009 at 1:01 PM

    I totally agree with you, these are delicious! I didn't know what to expect and am so glad I made them.

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  15. mikeMarch 31, 2009 at 2:48 PM

    LOVE the thinness! I was afraid they would spread if they got too thin, but yours look wonderful! You really captured the lacy look to them. Nicely done!

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  16. RachelMarch 31, 2009 at 3:35 PM

    Yours are so thin and pretty! Mine turned out like more of a shortbread--I might have to try again....

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  17. PamelaMarch 31, 2009 at 5:29 PM

    Those are some of the nicest pictures I've seen! Your crisps look lovely.

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  18. FlourchildMarch 31, 2009 at 5:45 PM

    Wow your came out so crisp and thin..love them! I really liked this recipe.

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  19. TammyMarch 31, 2009 at 8:17 PM

    I made mine a bit thickern which I preferred, they do taste great though!

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  20. LizMarch 31, 2009 at 8:26 PM

    Yours look like what I was expecting to get! If a cookie is called a "thin," I want it to be thin! Yours look so delicate and pretty.

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  21. BerylMarch 31, 2009 at 9:33 PM

    I love your pictures. Glad you ended up liking these. I liked them a little too much and made my husband take them to work with him. Phew, crisis averted!

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  22. UnknownMarch 31, 2009 at 9:58 PM

    Gorgeous! I love your photos and the shape of your cookies.

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  23. Carol Peterman/TableFareMarch 31, 2009 at 10:18 PM

    These are the first lacey thin cookies I have seen. Mine are fat little shortbreads, that were delicious, but the thin lacey structure looks even more delightful. I have no idea why mine didn't spread. Don't you love being surprised by a recipe you didn't expect to love? That is one of the best things about baking with this group.

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  24. UnknownApril 1, 2009 at 5:32 AM

    So glad you liked them - yours are beautifully lacy.

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  25. TeannaApril 1, 2009 at 8:03 AM

    They are so delicious and yours look gorgeous! I like that you ground the coconut as well!

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  26. AnonymousApril 1, 2009 at 9:28 AM

    I had no idea that these cookies would be so delightful either. But I am so glad I made them!

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  27. AnonymousApril 1, 2009 at 9:55 AM

    Your's are perfectly lacy!

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  28. Soy*BabyApril 1, 2009 at 12:53 PM

    Your cookies look great. I felt the same way when I first read the recipe but I was hooked after the first bite. Thanks for the nice comment.

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  29. JacqueApril 1, 2009 at 6:36 PM

    I'm with you, I wasn't really expecting to like these as much as I did.

    I like how yours did turn out thin... they look delish!

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  30. KarenApril 1, 2009 at 7:27 PM

    I always like a nice surprise when making something new!

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  31. BabetteApril 2, 2009 at 8:59 AM

    I love the way yours look!!! I wanted mine to look like that...that is lacy and delicate...Guess I'll just have to make them again (and again and again..)

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  32. TeaLadyApril 2, 2009 at 10:37 AM

    Those look so airy and delicious. Great job.

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  33. ShariApril 2, 2009 at 8:17 PM

    I love these cookies too! I adore your last photo...the pattern is perfect!

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  34. MaggieApril 3, 2009 at 7:32 AM

    Your thins look perfect! I have to give this recipe a try.

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  35. betty geekApril 5, 2009 at 10:45 AM

    Wow, I love how well you thinned them out! I was doing the same thing with mine.

    Afterall, they are called "thins", right?

    Fab job!

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