Lime Coconut Cookies

Posted by

No, I don’t want to talk about the earthquake. And no, I do not want to talk about the hurricane. I want to talk about my epiphany (selfish, I know…). But first, a confession–I’m not adjusting to DC as well as I thought I would. I know this is natural. Change is hard. Transitions are not easy, etc. etc. etc. I know the stages of culture shock–the honeymoon phase, the negotiation phase, the adjustment phase, and the mastery phase. But for some reason, being the overzealous person I am, I thought I would move here and instantly be “all right.” I’m an adult, after all. I’ve lived all in the Northeast, in the Midwest, in the South, and in Brazil. I’m a pro at change, I thought. But for some reason, I’ve felt more like a fish out of water than like a pro. Until this am, that is.

This am, I said one of my “go to” daily affirmations, “I will not judge myself or others,” and when I said it, I felt better. I felt better because I realized that I had been judging myself quite harshly and by uttering that affirmation, I relinquished that judgement. From that thought flowed other thoughts, and my stream of consciousness went something like this, “you had such a wonderful community in NC, but that community took time to build. You will have a community here too, but it will also take time to build. Be patient. But most of all, be yourself. Seek out what you enjoy, give back more than you consume, and soon you will have the community you hope for.” So, I am going to follow my own advice… and I think everything will fall into place. I just have to be patient. And bake cookies ;).

Speaking of cookies, these lime coconut cookies are a cross between my lime-coconut flan and my clementine-almond chip cookies. They were one of the first things I baked in my DC apt. The first time I made them was actually in NC and I used sliced almonds. In DC, I had cashews, not almonds, so I used cashews and they tasted great too. The dough is dense (from the coconut flour), so I thought little bites were best. Rolled in turbinado sugar, these cookies are hard to resist!

Lime Coconut CookiesΒ (Printable Recipe)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup earth balance (or butter)–softened

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon lemon extract

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon hot water

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup coconut flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

zest from one lime

3/4 cup sliced almonds or chopped cashews

turbinado sugar to sprinkle on top

Method:

*Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. In large bowl, cream earth balance and sugars until smooth. Add extracts and egg. Mix. Dissolve baking soda in hot water; add to egg/sugar mixture. Mix until fully incorporated.

*In second bowl, combine flours, salt, lime zest, and nuts. Mix. Add dry to wet, mix until fully incorporated. Refrigerate for ten minutes. Drop onto cookie sheet, sprinkle with turbinado sugar/roll the top of the cookie with turbinado sugar, and bake 9-12 minutes until light golden brown.

Written by

Tiffany M. Griffin is the woman behind Como Water, Washington DC’s premiere veg-centric cuisine consulting company. Through cooking classes, demonstrations, catering, and consultations, Como Water gives people the opportunity to learn how to prepare veg-centric cuisine that boasts maximum flavor, with minimal effort. Tiffany is quickly becoming a go-to expert on the future of veg-centric cuisine, and is a regular contributor to Como Water, the blog, as well as to vegetarian and vegan sites across the Internet. For over a decade, this self-taught, entrepreneurial expert has developed a set of tried and true techniques for making simple, delicious, and sometimes decadent veg-centric dishes. Featured on the Steve Harvey Show and other leading media outlets, Tiffany was born and raised in Springfield, MA. She then earned Bachelors degrees in Psychology and Communications from Boston College and a PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Michigan. She now resides in Washington DC, where she has worked in the US Senate and at a federal agency on issues around health, food, nutrition, and international food aid/development, and of course, as the owner of Como Water. Tiffany gets culinary inspiration from the food she grew up eating, and from her travels throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, Western Europe, and Sub-Saharan Africa. She is dedicated to sharing her wealth of knowledge on veg-centric cuisine with others and to help others live by her mantraβ€”love life, live long, and eat veg-centric cuisine!

Comments

  1. Love it. Yum!

  2. These sound awesome. And you never referred to the Lime in the Coconut song once. As for DC you are right it will take a while but you will love it. Just look at all of the things that you can do there that you can’t do anywhere else in the world. I think if I lived in DC you would have a hard time getting me out of the Smithsonian.

  3. Ohhhhhh, wonderful cookies… and don’t worry, you’ll readjust just fine! πŸ™‚

  4. Nice! You used coconut flour, I have never used this before. Does it have coconut flavour?

    • YES! And it’s really soft! πŸ˜€

  5. These looks delicious. I was immediately on board as soon as I saw the title. YUM! I’m sorry you’re having a hard time adjusting to your new surroundings. But you are such a nice person so I know you will build your community in DC as well. Take it one day at a time and remember the best things in life are sometimes hard to at first… it makes the reward that much sweeter (like these cookies. ) Take care. ~ Ramona

  6. What kind of sugar did you use for the outside of the cookie…it’s like square shaped? Just curious. πŸ™‚

    • Turbinado! πŸ˜€

  7. These cookies look so good, Tiffany! I love the crunchy sugar on the outside! I hope you can start adjusting to D.C. soon!

  8. Hugs, sweet Tiff! Yeah, change is hard, and you need to give yourself time to get into it. I know you will! And cookies certainly don’t hurt πŸ˜‰

  9. Beautiful cookies Tiffany! Of course, you could have posted lime and coconut on a spoon…and I would have been here in a flash! I’m sorry you are having a tough time adjusting here! I’ve lived here for over 20 years. And the one thing I must tell you is that…YOU WILL develop your own sense of community. But this area is a very transient area. People come and go for jobs, education, etc. And I think when people don’t feel permanent to an area….they don’t make the effort to extend themselves quite as much. I think you are on the right path with your affirmation. Seek what you enjoy. And let me know how I may help! : )

  10. I am sooooo excited y0u shared this recipe this week! I made something with coconut flour, and have a recipe tomorrow, but may need to look at this recipe for Wednesday when I announce my coconut oil giveaway winner! These look amazing!!!!! I love the flavor combination:-) Yes, Yes, you will adjust soon, I promise! I felt like that last year too, and sometimes do now. Moving is not easy, but just be patient! Love and Hugs, Terra

  11. I have been wanting to try coconut flour. These sound delicious. I hope the adjustment time isn’t too much longer for you.

  12. I need to have a copy of your affirmation and post it on my computer! Words of wisdom. And I bet you’ll be fully adjusted in 6 months or less…just give yourself time. In the meanwhile, cookies will definitely help…and these lime coconut gems look fabulous!

  13. These cookies look like little gems! They sound like the perfect treat to go with my tea! Change is difficult, no matter how many times we’ve moved or experience change. Hang in there and keep up with your daily affirmations, we are always our own worst critic!

  14. These cookies sound scrumptious, a terrific combo of flavors.

  15. hugs! i moved to NJ from MI this past year and from june 2010 to november 2010, it was so difficult for me. but somehow the transition got easier. it just takes time! and you have us too!

  16. It’s hard starting again in a new place but you’ll soon settle in. Pack up some of these fabulous cookies and take them round to your neighbours. There will be a community queueing at your door in no time.

  17. What a delicious combination and a great recipe! Bookmarking this one!

  18. Great combo and looks fabulous!

  19. Just the idea of lime coconut and pecans has me drooling. I am always up for a tropical cookie recipe! Love the appearance of these also-bookmarked!

  20. Anything with lime AND coconut has to be great! I’m glad to hear about your epiphany. It does take a while to form a network, but I’m sure it will happen.

  21. Tiffany,
    You’ve certainly excelled yourself with these cookies. Lovely flavour combo – I’m right into everything that’s lime and coconut after Thailand and so I’ll just have to make them and think of you. Congratulations on your move and also for coping with the teething phase. You are so right: you’re being tough on yourself since you’re a high achiever. C’est normal! Hang in there. Look what you have achieved before: you’re onward and upward with a leetle patience. I’m with Hester – take these cookies around and that will be a real jump-start! Bon Courage, my friend. J xo

  22. You had us at coconut and lime! Hon, what is it about us Caribbean and Latin American folks? Love that it also includes coconut flour which really increases the fibre content of a cookie.

  23. One more thing… these look like a GREAT way to make some friends!!
    Do an online blog for food bloggers in your area… you will already have one thing (maybe two -food AND blogging) in common! Take these along to meetups πŸ™‚

  24. Lime and coconut is such a great combo – especially in cookie form! I can’t wait to try these.

    Sorry you’re having a rough start in DC. I’m sure you’ll begin to build a group soon. You can probably bribe them with these cookies. πŸ˜‰

  25. Amzing cookies! Love the lime and coconut combo!

  26. What a beautiful cookie recipe! I love the sparkling sugar crystal on them πŸ™‚

  27. Just pass out a couple of these cookies to new people and you’ll have more ‘community’ than you can bargain for! They look AMAZING πŸ™‚

  28. My mouth is watering and I can almost feel the crunch from the turbinado. Super tasty Tiff, and all things in time. Everything is progressing exactly as it’s supposed to.

  29. These cookies sound so tropical, I love it! On another note I think you’ve got a good outlook! I’m always telling myself “what you think about, you bring about”. While you’re waiting for things to fall into place bake cookies πŸ™‚

  30. You are amazing..I love this Tiff

  31. These look amazing and SO different than the typical cookie! I’m sorry you’ve had a difficult time adjusting, but it sounds like things will start looking up very soon!

  32. Wow, these cookies look really good! Hope you get to adjust to your new place soon.

  33. Ohhhh my mouth is watering by looking at those cookies rolled in sugar! I love coconut anything! And almonds AND cashews! hehehe I know I could not resist these. πŸ™‚

    Sending you a big hug and positive thoughts so you can adjust faster to DC. You will be fine, I KNOW and you will find the best community… be patient, it takes time! And in the meantime, you can bake some more goodies!!! ;-))))

  34. These cookies sound wonderful! I love this lime coconut combination and the turbinado sugar for crunch! Hope DC feels more like home soon! It must help to be able to bake familiar recipes in your new home ;)!

  35. These sound so interesting and delicious! I love lime and I love coconut so much so I would definitely love these!

  36. Oh these look so delicious! I am ready to make these soon! I am sorry that you haven’t adjusted as quickly as you had hoped but I agree it won’t be long and you will fit right in!!

  37. Follow your own advice girl! Its great advice! You will readjust soon enough. I love your cookies, they sound fabulous. Lime season in Israel is super short, like 2 weeks short, so I have been stocking up on limes and this is a perfect use for some πŸ™‚

  38. Fantastic looking dessert, I am drooling looking at the pics.

  39. These look like a bit of heaven. Oh my goodness.

    Good luck w/ your transition. Having been through the same thing (we moved from Philly to Portland, ME) I know how tough it can be. Building new community from the ground up takes time. But once you’re settled, you’ll never look back! Well, okay – you will look back, but it won’t be so painful. Hang in there, my foodie friend!

  40. It took me awhile to adjust to living in Seattle and now I never want to leave. That first little while is hard though…luckily there are cookies to make everything better and these look fantastic!!

  41. Oh you poor thing, adjusting really is hard and it takes time. I was in NYC for almost 9 months before I started to create meaningful friendships and feel like I belonged. You’ll get there. I know it’s hard to be patient, but we’re here for you even if it’s just virtually πŸ™‚

  42. I am sorry that the adjustment period is taking you longer than you had hoped. Hang in there Tiffany, I know it will get better for you soon. Just keep your head up.

    I am in love with these cookies! I love the lime and coconut. Wow lady! These had to have cheered you up just a bit πŸ™‚

  43. The adjustment period may take some time, but I’m sure everything will be just fine! Just keep on doing the things that you enjoy most (like baking those yummy cookies)…it will make the transition easier to bear! πŸ™‚
    Hugs!

  44. I can understand your situation and no matter how old we get or matured we become, change is not something we like and it takes time to adjust. These cookies looks lovely and lime and coconut sounds like a nice flavor combination! I was thinking of you the last few days .. and am glad u are safe.

  45. Cookies make everything better…..especially these little beauties. πŸ™‚ I do love coconut.

  46. Oh my, these cookies must be amazing! Love the mix of flavors!

  47. Haven’t tried coconut flour yet, thanks for the intro. These look scrumptious!

  48. Aaw, you will settle in to your new location, Tiffany. It always takes an adjustment period of a year or two unfortunately. Been there and done that.

    Love the use of coconut flour in your cookies.

  49. Oh I love lime and coconut! For like 5 years straight I wore the lime and coconut body butter religiously. The ex did not like it, so I stopped and I had forgotten all about it. Maybe its time to make these cookies AND get me some lime and coconut body butter too! =) Stick with it girl, it will get better!

  50. Yummy! I’d love to have some of them now. As always you have wonderful pictures and you give all the instructions that it sounds easier to make than it is.:-)

  51. love that affirmation–i’m going to remember it when i’m being too hard on myself. wishing you happiness in dc! lovely cookies, btw!

  52. Tiffany, don’t be so hard on yourself, everything will be fine….plus look at this cookies, super tasty:)

  53. Moves are tough. And with an earthquake, then hurricane, you’ve gone through a lot.

    But DC is a great town. I spent a summer there doing an internship after college and what I loved was that it was so diverse, especially in the dining out scene. Whatever ethnic food you desire, you could pretty much find it there.

    Hang in there. BTW these cookies look amazing!

  54. I love these cookies! What an amazing flavor combination. Change is hard; I agree. Give yourself time to adjust, and bake a lot of these cookies! πŸ™‚

  55. These look really delicious! Also, I know you know, but be patient, stay open to opportunities and I’m sure DC will feel like home in no time πŸ™‚

  56. Tiff, sorry for my late commenting here – I’m sorry to hear you are struggling little bit but this can be one small challenge and soon you will get over with it. Remember what you achieved in the past and you know you can pass this. Just take your time. πŸ™‚ As I get older I feel adjustment takes longer time maybe because we get wiser or start thinking too much? I’m sending you positive energy!! Making these delicious cookies was a great therapeutic idea!

  57. Isn’t it amazing about the magic power of cookies I’m with Hester and Jill. Just take some of these cookies to your neighbors, and you’ll have a following in no time. You can do it Tiffany and follow your affirmations.

  58. Yay for cookies and self-affirmation! Moving to a new place is totally tough – with a positive attitude like that, though (and some sweets as delicious as these), I’m sure you’ll find a niche easily.

  59. I luv your daily affirmation…I will need to keep that one in mind for myself. I should probably print it out and stick it somewhere on my wall as an important reminder. Thanks for sharing it. πŸ™‚

    Love the sound of lime with coconut and then in a cookie! Luv it! Cookies are a thing of perfection in my book…everything is better with a cookie. Hope you’re having a good week.

  60. Thanks for the comments everyone! πŸ˜€