Hawaiian Pineapple Coconut Thumbprint Cookies Recipe
These Hawaiian Pineapple Coconut Thumbprint Cookies are a delightful tropical treat featuring a buttery cookie base coated in sweet shredded coconut and filled with luscious pineapple jam. Perfectly crisp on the edges and soft in the center, these cookies bring a refreshing island flavor to any dessert table.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert, Snack, Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Hawaiian
Ingredients
Scale
For the Crust:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup pineapple jam or preserves
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy. Then mix in the vanilla extract for added flavor.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Gradually add the all-purpose flour and salt to the creamed mixture, stirring until the dough comes together and forms a cohesive ball.
- Shape Cookie Balls: Take portions of dough and shape them into 1-inch balls. Roll each ball in shredded coconut until fully coated to give a crunchy, tropical exterior.
- Make Thumbprint Indentations: Place the coconut-coated dough balls onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them adequately. Using your thumb, press gently into the center of each ball to create an indentation for the jam filling.
- Fill with Pineapple Jam: Spoon about 1/2 teaspoon of pineapple jam or preserves into the thumbprint indentation of each cookie, ensuring the jam sits slightly below the cookie edges.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake the cookies in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges turn lightly golden. This ensures a crisp texture while keeping the center soft.
- Cool: Remove the cookies from the oven and transfer them to wire racks to cool completely before serving. This helps the jam set and the cookies firm up.
Notes
- Ensure butter is softened to room temperature for easy creaming.
- Do not overfill with jam to prevent spilling during baking.
- Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend.
- Shredded coconut can be toasted lightly for a deeper flavor before rolling the dough balls.
Keywords: Hawaiian cookies, pineapple thumbprint cookies, coconut cookies, tropical cookies, pineapple jam cookies, thumbprint cookies
