To paraphrase the optimistic proverb, “When life gives you tropical weather, make cookies with tropical flavors.” One can complain about the heat and/or one can bake Coconut White Chocolate Biscotti. I do both. These crunchy coconut cookies coated in white chocolate, are a tropical delight for the taste buds.
It’s August in St. Louis. That means lots of heat and even more humidity.
I’m not fond of the extreme humidity and heat of summer, and I do complain that it’s too hot to move or breathe, but I’ll take summer highs over winter lows. In a few months I’ll be freezing in the cold and risking life and limb on the ice and snow.
Too bad it can’t always be spring time. So for now, I’ll pretend that I love tropical humidity and embrace tropical flavors like coconut.
I originally imagined this desert safe recipe as pineapple coconut biscotti. Creating desert safe pineapple flavor turned out to be a challenge.
Chopped candied pineapple is delicious in this recipe. If shipping in the heat isn’t a concern, I highly recommend adding some to your Coconut White Chocolate Biscotti.
However, candied fruit (prone to mold in high heat, over time) shouldn’t be used in hot weather care package recipes. I tried substituting chopped or pulverized freeze dried pineapple with disappointing results.
Both made the cookies a bit soft and sour. The next thought was pineapple flavoring. I had no idea that pineapple flavoring was so hard to find. Eventually, I did find some at a cake decorating store (and online), but I try to avoid using hard-to-find ingredients in my Monday Box recipes.
As long as I started this post with a mangled proverb, I might as well continue. For my fourth round of recipe testing, I decided that, “If at first you don’t succeed, try something different.”
The final version of these crunchy treats skipped pineapple altogether. The biscotti are majorly coconuty inside and out, with a creamy sweetness from white chocolate chips and an optional white chocolate coating.
Biscotti traveling in hot weather should pass on the white chocolate coating (though the chips inside are ok) and opt for a sparkling white sugar coating instead.
Even if you aren’t normally a biscotti kind of person, I urge all coconut lovers to give this recipe a try. One of my cookie testers said these taste like crunchy coconut doughnuts! I say, “Make Coconut White Chocolate Biscotti, while the sun shines!”
These Coconut White Chocolate Biscotti were baked for a military care package with a tropical theme. Take a look at the rest of the goodies that were included.
Coconut White Chocolate Biscotti
Ingredients
Biscotti
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup unsweetened dried coconut finely shredded
- ½ cup vegetable shortening butter at room temperature can be substituted
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 3 tablespoons water if using vegetable shortening 2 tablespoons water if using butter
- ¾ teaspoon coconut extract
- ½ cup mini white chocolate chips
Decorating
- 1 cup white melting chocolate
- ½ cup shredded dried coconut sweetened or unsweetened
Instructions
Prepare dough
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and shredded coconut.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the vegetable shortening/butter and sugar until fluffy.
- Add the eggs and mix to combine.
- Beat in water and extract.
- Gradually add the flour mixture until combined, then fold in the white chocolate chips.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 10 minutes to firm the dough slightly.
When ready to bake
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Divide the dough into 2 equal parts and form each into a log about 7” long and 2” wide. Place the dough logs on the prepared baking sheet at least 3” apart. The dough will be very soft and wet. Use a spatula to form the log. Use hands dipped in water to smooth the top and sides.
- If using decorating sugar, sprinkle over the dough logs and press gently to make sure the sugar sticks.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes. The logs should feel firm and be barely golden on the bottom edge. The tops will not look browned.
- Allow the logs to cool for about 10 minutes, then cut into ¾” slices. If the biscotti are crumbly, wait to cut until the dough is a little cooler.
- Stand the cookies on the baking sheet and return to the oven for 15 minutes.
- Cool completely on the baking sheet.
Decorating
- Melt the white chocolate in a shallow bowl in the microwave at 50% power for 1 minute. Stir. If the chocolate is not completely melted, return to the microwave for 10 second intervals.
- Dip the tops of the biscotti into the melted chocolate (or spread the chocolate on with a knife), then sprinkle with shredded coconut.
- Refrigerate the biscotti for 10 minutes to set the chocolate.
Notes
- Chopped candied pineapple is delicious in this recipe. If shipping in the heat isn’t a concern, I highly recommend adding some to your Coconut Biscotti. However, candied fruit (prone to mold in high heat, over time) shouldn’t be used in hot weather care package recipes.
- Biscotti traveling in hot weather should pass on the white chocolate coating (though the chips inside are ok) and opt for a sparkling white sugar pressed on before baking instead.
- Can sub sweetened coconut and decrease sugar by 1 tablespoon
- This is a very wet dough. Spread and form it on the parchment lined baking pan using a silicone spatula. Use hands dipped in water to smooth the top and sides.
- For stronger coconut flavor, increase the coconut flavoring to 1 ½ - teaspoons.
- Mini chocolate chips work best in biscotti because they don’t cause the biscotti to crumble when they are cut. Whole Foods’ 365 brand makes mini white chocolate chips.
Nutrition
Kat (The Baking Explorer) says
What a yummy flavour for biscotti!
The Monday Box says
Thank you, Kat! A bite of tropical vacation is delicious anytime! 😉
Julianna says
Heavenly! I adore biscotti, and will just have to make yours for sure! Thanks a bunch for this awesome recipe!! 😀
The Monday Box says
Thanks, Julianna! If you like both biscotti and coconut, you are sure to love these. They are slightly addictive on their own, as well as with a cup of coffee/tea. 🙂
Jeanette says
Biscotti is yummy.Thanks for sharing this recipe 🙂
The Monday Box says
Thanks, Jeanette! I agree, biscotti ARE yummy! 🙂
Patrice M Foster says
Wow, love your images how Devine coconut biscotti …..Dip in hot chocolate or rich robust coffee I am hypnotize .
The Monday Box says
Thanks, Patrice! I love the idea of dipping these in hot chocolate! I know from experience that they are great with dark coffee. 🙂
Barb @ A Life in Balance says
Oh, my! These look delicious! I’m such a fan of coconut. I’m pinning these to my Dessert board.
The Monday Box says
Thanks, Barb! I am positive that if you love coconut, you will love these cookies! Thanks also for pinning! 🙂
Chris Scheuer says
These look so yummy Wendy. I think you got things just right!
The Monday Box says
Thanks, Chris! Sometimes a stubborn streak helps. 😉 I was delighted with the final version….just crunchy enough and full of tropical coconut flavor!
Ashley says
In theory I love living somewhere with all four seasons but really I think I would be fine with just fall and spring!! haha The humidity by us right now is just unreal!
So I think I need to bake something tropical! I loveee biscotti and these sound so good Wendy! So much coconut (yay!)
The Monday Box says
When I was a teen, my grandparents moved to Florida and my grandmother, a native New Yorker, desperately missed the changing seasons. I used to bring her branches of fall leaves. 🙂 So, I guess, if you want spring and fall, you have to put up with winter and summer! I hope you will try these, Ashley. They are some of my favorite biscotti!
Monica says
Love all your trials to get something just right! I feel like we can change our mood with food – whether it be through color or flavors. I am definitely loving the tropical vibe here. I love all biscotti but this coconut/white chocolate combo is such a nice change. Great for summer and yet looks snowy enough for a Christmas treat!
The Monday Box says
Thanks, Monica! I will definitely bring these out again at Christmas time. When more than December do we need a reminder of the tropics! I know you love your biscotti extra (break-your-teeth) hard and crunchy, so consider these biscotti shaped crunchy cookies instead. 🙂
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
This biscotti looks absolutely perfect! I love the white chocolate and coconut – that is brilliant! It’s hot here in Virginia too. I don’t mind the heat – it’s the humidity that feels so yucky 🙂
The Monday Box says
Thanks, Tricia! I so agree about the humidity! What you need is one of these biscotti with a tall glass of iced tea! 🙂
saltandserenity says
As far as I’m concerned, every season is coconut season! These are so pretty. That last photo of one biscotti on it’s side and the other showing the coconut top is my favourite.
The Monday Box says
Thanks, Cindy! I hope that last photo entices you to give them a try. As a coconut fan, I am pretty sure you would love them!
Kathie says
Oh my goodness. I may have drooled on my keyboard. So yummy!
The Monday Box says
Thank you, Kathie! These are truly a coconut lovers dream! They disappeared around here….and that was a LOT of biscotti! 🙂