Lemon Coconut White Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is my first ever requested treat! After debating for a few weeks on how I was going to make this combination work, I found this recipe on The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie blog and it was exactly what I was looking for. I tweaked it a little to add the coconut and these were indeed perfect chocolate chip cookies. 

Definitely check out that blog because it gives really good tips on how to make your cookies just perfect. I have made yummy chocolate chip cookies many times in my life, but these ones were all uniform and looked really pretty...in essence, the perfect chocolate chip cookie. 

The best part about making these cookies? I got to make them with the requester who happens to be one of my really good friends. Good food and good company? It doesn't get much better than that. 

Recipe:

Yield: about 3-4 dozen cookies

2 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt 

1 tbsp citric acid
1/2 cup butter at room temperature
1/2 cup Crisco
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup minus 2 tbsp sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1 tbsp lemon extract
1 1/2 cup white chocolate chips

1 1/2 cup coconut

In a small bowl, mix the flour, salt, baking soda and citric acid. Set aside.

Cream the butter and shortening on high until light and fluffy. Add both sugars and beat on high. Add eggs, vanilla, and lemon extract. Beat until fully incorporated. Add the chocolate chips and coconut and mix gently. Add the flour mixture and mix until just incorporated, being careful to not overmix. The dough should feel sticky, but not much should stick to your finger. 

Using your hands, roll the dough into balls about an inch and a half tall. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Dough can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 days or the freezer for 6 months. 

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Place dough on a greased cookie sheet and bake for 7-9 minutes, until they are domed and puffy with a few signs of browning. Allow to cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes then remove to wire rack to cool completely. 

Source: slightly adapted from The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie