Description
Lemon coconut cheesecake cookies blend creamy cheesecake notes with zesty citrus and tropical coconut undertones. Rich flavors create a delightful dessert experience you will savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (230 g / 8 oz) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 2 ½ cups (315 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 pack (225 g / 8 oz) cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup (75 g) shredded sweetened coconut
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar (for cheesecake filling)
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp vanilla extract (for cheesecake filling)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- Cream Preparation: Whip cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract until achieving a smooth, lump-free consistency.
- Cream Cheese Freezing: Create compact cream cheese portions on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze for 30 minutes until completely solidified.
- Dry Ingredient Blend: Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a mixing bowl, creating a light, aerated dry ingredient foundation.
- Butter Mixture: Cream softened butter with granulated and brown sugars until transforming into a pale, fluffy texture with soft peaks.
- Egg Integration: Gradually incorporate eggs into the butter mixture, ensuring complete blending after each addition for a smooth batter.
- Dough Formation: Fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients, mixing minimally to maintain a tender crumb, then gently fold in shredded coconut and lemon zest.
- Cream Cheese Embedding: Retrieve frozen cream cheese portions and strategically embed them into prepared cookie dough balls.
- Baking Preparation: Arrange cookie dough spheres on a parchment-lined baking sheet, allowing space for slight spreading.
- Baking Process: Bake in a preheated oven until edges turn golden and centers appear set, creating a perfect balance of crisp exterior and soft interior.
- Cooling Stage: Allow cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet, enabling them to firm up and develop their signature texture.
Notes
- Freeze Cream Cheese Precisely: Ensure cream cheese portions are uniformly compact and completely frozen for at least 30 minutes to maintain their structural integrity during baking.
- Prevent Overmixing: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture until just combined to keep cookie texture tender and prevent developing tough, dense cookies.
- Temperature Control Matters: Use room temperature butter and eggs for smoother blending, creating a more homogeneous cookie dough with consistent texture.
- Zest Distribution Technique: Finely grate lemon zest and thoroughly incorporate it to ensure balanced citrus flavor throughout every cookie bite.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 295
- Sugar: 23 g
- Sodium: 118 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg