Hawaiian Coconut Shortbread Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened (8 ounces)
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour (measured after sifting)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups sweetened flaked coconut
• 1 cup powdered sugar, Sifted (or more as needed, for coating after baking)

Directions

1. 1

   Cream the butter until smooth. Add granulated sugar and vanilla, creaming again until smooth and slightly fluffy.

2. 2

   Sift flour and then measure the 2 cups of flour. Add salt to flour and sift again.

3. 3

   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.

4. 4

   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.

5. 5

   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.

6. 6

   Bake at 300 degrees for about 20 minutes, until a light golden brown at edges, but not browned entirely across the top.

7. 7

   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!

8. 8

   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 :).