Cocoa Cookies with Coconut Filling

Ingredients

• COOKIE DOUGH
• 370 g plain flour
• 125 g butter, softened
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp icing sugar
• 1 pinch salt
• 8 g vanilla sugar
• 1 tsp dried yeast
• Warm water, as needed
• 10 g cocoa powder
• COCONUT FILLING
• 100 g finely ground coconut
• 30 g icing sugar
• Finely grated lemon zest
• 1 egg
• 4 tbsp milk
• OPTIONAL FINISHING
• Honey, as needed
• Ground roasted almonds, as needed

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
2. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
3. Combine the flour, icing sugar, salt, vanilla sugar and dried yeast.
4. Add the softened butter and egg.
5. Mix while adding a small amount of warm water as needed.
6. Knead until a smooth, soft dough forms.
7. Divide the dough into two portions.
8. Knead the cocoa powder into one portion.
9. For the filling, combine the coconut, icing sugar, lemon zest, egg and milk.
10. Mix until the coconut filling holds together.
11. Divide both doughs and the filling into approximately 18 portions.
12. Flatten portions of dough and place a little coconut filling in the centre.
13. Enclose the filling and shape the cookies, combining the plain and cocoa dough decoratively.
14. Arrange the cookies on the prepared tray.
15. Bake for 20–25 minutes, until lightly golden.
16. Leave the cookies to cool completely.
17. Brush lightly with honey and sprinkle with ground roasted almonds, if desired.