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It’s Christmas time, so let’s make some cookies!

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And since we are making vintage cookies here, let’s pull out my family’s favorite: Coconut Top Hats!

AuthorRetroRuth
Rating

From Wisconsin Energies, 1977

Tested Recipe!

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Cookie Dough
 ½ cup butter
 ½ cup packed brown sugar
 1 egg yolk
 ½ tsp vanilla
 1 ½ cups flour
 ¼ tsp salt
Coconut Topping
 2 cups chopped coconut
 ½ cup powdered sugar
 1 egg white
 1 tbsp water
Topping
 1 cup melted chocolate chips
 Maraschino cherriescut in half

1

Cream butter, add sugar gradually and then beat in yolk and vanilla. Blend in flour and salt. Shape dough in 1o inch roll and wrap in wax paper. Chill overnight.

2

Combine coconut topping ingredients. Chill.

3

Cut chilled cookie dough into ⅛ inch slices. Shape 1 tsp coconut mixture to fit cookie. Baked 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool.

4

Remove cookies from pan. Place 1 tsp melted chocolate on top of a cooled cookie. Decorate with a cherry half.

Ingredients

Cookie Dough
 ½ cup butter
 ½ cup packed brown sugar
 1 egg yolk
 ½ tsp vanilla
 1 ½ cups flour
 ¼ tsp salt
Coconut Topping
 2 cups chopped coconut
 ½ cup powdered sugar
 1 egg white
 1 tbsp water
Topping
 1 cup melted chocolate chips
 Maraschino cherriescut in half

Directions

1

Cream butter, add sugar gradually and then beat in yolk and vanilla. Blend in flour and salt. Shape dough in 1o inch roll and wrap in wax paper. Chill overnight.

2

Combine coconut topping ingredients. Chill.

3

Cut chilled cookie dough into ⅛ inch slices. Shape 1 tsp coconut mixture to fit cookie. Baked 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool.

4

Remove cookies from pan. Place 1 tsp melted chocolate on top of a cooled cookie. Decorate with a cherry half.

Coconut Top Hats

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These are pretty much my mom’s signature Christmas cookie. I made dozens and dozens of these when I was growing up for cookie plates for friends, neighbors and the mailman.

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Family legend has it that my mom made these for the first time when she was pregnant with my older sister. My parents only had one car, so one day when my dad was at work and my mom was snowed in and stuck in the house, she decided she would bake every single cookie in the electric company holiday baking book that had come in the mail the previous day.

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My dad came home from work to find my pregnant mother covered with flour and powdered sugar and every single available level space in their tiny house covered with cooling cookies. She promptly moved a bunch of cookies, sat him down with a glass of milk and made him try every single kind so he could tell her which ones he liked the best. Coconut Top Hats were easily his favorite.

You know, that story actually sounds a lot like Tom and me. Huh. I never really thought of that before.

In any case, watch me force my husband to taste something to let you all know if it’s good or not.

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“I always love these.”

The Verdict: Holiday-Tastic

From The Tasting Notes –

These are a bit on the fussy side for Christmas cookies, but the effort is most definitely worth it. They look adorable and they are delicious. The base is a butter cookie with a caramel undertone from the brown sugar. The chocolate and coconut topping are great together, and the cherry adds a sweet note without being overpowering. Overall, pretty much the perfect Christmas cookie. Add extra chocolate drizzle if you are a choco-holic.

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