Put the Lime in the Coconut (Sugar Cookies)

Cookies, instagram style

We just started a healthy living & weight loss challenge at work.   Since I'm one of the people who put the program together, I feel like I need to participate.   With enthusiasm.   There's prize money for the top 5 who lose the highest percentage of weight loss, Biggest Loser style.   

 

I have some motivation.    Summer is coming up.   The Bike MS is coming up.   Sun dresses are coming up.   The contest is 12 weeks.  I can (as my trainer says) streamline my nutrition.   Make more conscious decisions and pay attention.    Yes, Starbucks lattes, that means you.   I'm paying attention to you.   

 

However, these cookies came up before the start of the contest.   As always, I like to give treats away.   I feed my co-workers and friends.   So there aren't that many of these left.    Less temptation.

 

I found different versions of this recipe on different blogs.  Some credited Cooks Illustrated.   Some credited America's Test Kitchen.    They were very similar - some had 1/3 cup oil, some had 1/2.   Some had lemon zest, some had lime.    No matter how you bake it - these cookies are delicious, soft and chewy. 

 

What You Need

2 1/4 cups AP flour (add an additional 1/4 cup flour if needed for altitude - I did)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut, chopped (I know, you look at it and you say, it's already small...the coconut is really for texture, so chop it some more)

1 1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 oz cream cheese, cut into small pieces (I used reduced fat cream cheese)

1 teaspoon lime zest

6 tablespoons butter, melted and warm

1/3 cup oil

1 large egg

1 tablespoon milk (I used skim)

1 tablespoon lime juice, from that lime you just zested...it looks sad and naked

 

1/2 cup granulated sugar for rolling the cookies

 

What You Do

 

Preheat oven to 350.   Put silicone baking mats on your baking sheets.

 

Whisk flour, powder, soda and salt in a medium bowl.  

 

Place 1 1/2 cups sugar, cream cheese and lime zest in a large bowl.         Pour butter over mixture and whisk until combined.   Whisk in oil until well mixed.  Add egg, milk and lime juice.   Continue to whisk until smooth.   Add flour mixture with a rubber spatula until a soft dough forms.  It is soft.  That's ok.  No reason to panic. 

 

How many cookies you'll get depends on how you roll them.   I got 36 buy rolling dough balls the size of quarters.    Roll the dough into balls and then roll in granulated sugar and place on baking sheet.    Lightly flatten using a glass or spatula.   Bake until edges are set, 11-13 minutes.   Let cookies cool for a few minutes before putting them on a wire rack.

 

Give them away or shove them in your mouth.   They are that good.