Treats SF Bakes Classic Coconut Tea Cookies

Portable, fun to make, easy to gift, and open to countless flavor variations, cookies are everyone's favorite sweet treat. In the test kitchen's first all-cookie book, The Perfect Cookie, we've created a one-stop shop for every cookie recipe you could want, from simple side-of-the-saucer snacks like Shortbread Cookies to intricate treats like Italian Rainbow Cookies and holiday cookies like Peppermint Candy Canes. Each of the 250 recipes are kitchen-tested to not only work, but to exceed expectations every time. And with almost 25 years of experience baking cookies and bars of all kinds, we've also provided all the tips and tricks for executing perfect cookies every time.

Crisp, rich with coconut, and only mildly sweet, Washboards are classic tea cookies. For Truc from the Treats SF blog, these old-fashioned cookies—which get their name because they're shaped like laundry washboards—were at the top of the list of recipes to make from our newest release, The Perfect Cookie. 

“I'm a sucker for coconut in baked goods so I was immediately drawn to the Washboards," writes Truc. "Crispy, crunchy, and lightly sweetened with coconut flavor, these are the perfect treat to serve along with ice cream or a cup of tea.”

For the crispest, lightest texture, we creamed the butter and the sugar, then added the egg and vanilla before beating in the dry ingredients. We used light brown sugar instead of white sugar to lend the cookie a rich, toasted flavor that intensifies the coconut flavor.

“Forming and shaping the washboards couldn't be easier, and the ridges on top are made simply by using a fork," writes Truc. "The cookies baked to a gorgeous golden brown. And after they cooled down, I devoured three of them straight away.”

“If ever there was a cookbook with my name written all over it, this is it," writes Truc. "As I flipped through the pages of beautiful imagery, I noted that almost every foolproof recipe you could imagine was covered. No doubt you'll be like me, reaching for this tome again and again when you've got those cookie cravings.”

What’s your favorite cookie? Let us know in the comments! For Treats SF's original post, go here. (Truc is doing a giveaway for 2 copies of the book. Details for entry are at the bottom of her post. But hurry, you've only got until September 30th to enter!) And for more recipes to make now, go here. Finally, for more from The Perfect Cookie, read these posts:

• Butter Loves Company Makes Deceptively Simple Sandwich Cookies
• Talking “The Perfect Cookie” with Project Editor Sacha Madadian
• The Best Back-To-School Gift for Teachers? A Tin Full of Delicious Cookies