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These cookies are buttery, crisp and melt-in-your-mouth delicious!
Sometimes enough is just enough! Do you ever feel that way?
I've been working really hard for the past two months to shed a few pounds; walking and exercising more, watching my calories and making health-conscious choices when it comes to snacking. We're eating lots of salads and lean entrees now, and have gotten in the habit of refraining from sweet treats most nights after dinner. I haven't, by any stretch of the imagination, starved myself (after all, I am a food blogger, right?), but the strategies are slowly working and my clothes are not quite as snug these days. And it's funny, Scott always comes along for the ride, since he eats whatever I prepare - only he ends up losing three times as much as I do... go figure!
But like I said, sometimes enough is just enough! Honestly, I can only go so long before this little baker's fingers start itching to pull out the butter, sugar and flour, crank up the oven and get the stand mixer a-whirring. That's exactly what happened one day this past week. I couldn't stand it any longer, and gave in to my sweet tooth temptations. I'd been dreaming up this recipe for a while, and couldn't wait another minute to give it a go.
I think you'll be glad I did, because these Lemon Vanilla Bean Coconut Crunch Cookies are wonderful and everyone who's tried them, loves them! The name tells a lot of their story, but it doesn't convey how buttery crisp and all together melt-in-your-mouth fantastic they are! With flavorful lemon zest in the cookies, and fresh lemon juice in the icing/drizzle, there's a burst of lemony deliciousness with every bite.
If you look close, you'll notice a zillion tiny flecks of vanilla bean in the icing/drizzle. I used vanilla bean paste, which is a great thing to have stashed away in the cupboard. It's the real deal - a natural concentration of vanilla beans, and yet it's actually a lot cheaper than using vanilla beans - oh, and much easier than scraping out vanilla bean pods. The aroma, as you open the jar, is amazing! Substitute it for regular vanilla in recipes to add a touch of gourmet along with a more intense (in a wonderful way) vanilla flavor. And those little specks of vanilla bean give such a pretty look to icings, cakes, cookies, ice cream, etc.
These cookies are based on a recipe I've been making for many years. I've made lots of variations of the recipe, including these fabulous Chocolate Chip Cherry Oatmeal Cookies. The recipe makes a huge batch, so don't be alarmed when you see the amounts of butter, sugar, coconut oil, etc. You could halve the recipe, but the cookies freeze well, and believe me, you won't have any trouble finding willing takers!
You probably have most everything you need to make these cookies. You might need to pick up a box of crisp rice cereal (like Rice Krispies). Although we're not Rice Krispie fans (for breakfast), I keep a box in the freezer just for these cookies (or some variation of them).
If you're watching your weight, don't worry, I'll take the rap. You can just say, "It's Chris's fault, she says, ""Sometimes enough is just enough""! Anyway, when the amazing aroma starts wafting from your kitchen, you'll have plenty of collaborators to share in the delicious bounty!
- 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
- 1 cup white sugar
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- 8 ounces 2 sticks butter
- 1 cup melted coconut oil
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or ½ of a vanilla bean - split in half length-wise and beans scraped out
- lemon zest from two large lemons
- 3 ¼ cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup crisp rice breakfast cereal (like Rice Krispies)
- 1 cup oatmeal
- For the glaze/drizzle:
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablepoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons half and half
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste
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Preheat oven to 325˚F. Line several sheet pans with parchment paper. Place a piece of foil (this will catch the drips when icing later on) on a work surface with a cooling rack on top.
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Spread the 1 cup coconut out on one of the prepared sheet pans. Place in preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until lightly toasted, stirring once half way through. Watch carefully the last few minutes because coconut will burn easily. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
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In the bowl of a stand mixer cream sugar and butter with the paddle attachment. Add the coconut oil, egg, lemon zest and vanilla bean paste. Beat until well mixed scraping sides of bowl once or twice.
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Add flour, salt and soda. Mix well scraping sides of bowl once or twice. Fold in Rice Krispies, toasted coconut and oatmeal. Drop by small scoops (I use a small ice cream scoop) onto prepared sheet pans. Bake, one sheet at a time (unless using a convection oven), 18-22 minutes or until light, golden brown. Transfer to prepared cooling rack when finished.
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While cookies are baking, prepare the glaze/drizzle by combining powdered sugar, lemon juice, half and half and vanilla bean paste in a medium size bow. Mix well with a whisk or a fork till smooth. You want a thick but drizzle-able consistency. Add more half and half, (a few drops at a time) if too thick. Add more powdered sugar (a spoonful at a time) if too thin. Drizzle icing over cookies wile warm. Allow to cool completely before storing.
Tina says
Hi Chris
I got it one cup butter lol
Thanks
Tina
Chris Scheuer says
Enjoy!
Tina says
Hi I was wondering about the amount of butter you use the recipe says 8 oz or two sticks of butter but 2 sticks would be 16 oz there is 8 oz in one stick love to try this recipe but want to make sure on how much butter to use
Thank you
Tina Clever MO
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Tina, butter can be a little confusing. There are 4 sticks in a pound so each stick is 4 ounces. The recipe is correct. Hope you enjoy it!
Annie says
I know what I'm making today - these along with your "Ridiculously Easy Biscuits"! I wanted to ask though, do you use salted or unsalted butter in these recipes? Thank you!
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Annie, I use salted butter.
Morgan Luka says
Hi! Is the oatmeal dry or cooked? Thank you
Chris Scheuer says
It's dry oatmeal Morgan.
Noreen Grady says
Absolutely delicious. One of the best cookies I have ever made. Everyone loved them.
Chris Scheuer says
Thank you Noreen for letting us know! So happy you enjoyed them 🙂
Mary says
Wouldn't it be nice if you would answer Annie and Morgan's questions regarding salted butter and type of oatmeal instead of a placating question like Noreens'?
Mary
Chris Scheuer says
Hi Mary, thanks for your kind comment. I try to answer as many questions as I can. I admit, sometimes I miss a few, especially when I'm busy with family or out of town.