Aloha Cookies

December 4: National Cookie Day

At a neighborhood cookie exchange on the mainland, Islander wanted to share a taste of the tropics and brought Aloha Cookies. The ingredients are truly tropical with pineapple pieces and coconut flakes mixed in the dough.

Along with the extra Aloha Cookies she baked, she collected a variety of other cookies from neighbors at the cookie exchange and then sent them overseas to U.S. Air Force personnel to enjoy for the holidays. The recipient is Airman Darby F. and his flight serving in the Azores. Not only does she wish Mele Kalikimaka to mainland friends, she sends aloha abroad with these tropical treats for the troops.

Kick off National Cookie Day and the holiday baking season with Aloha Cookies.

Recipe

(Adapted from C&H Sugar)

Ingredients

• ½ cup butter, softened
• ½ cup vegetable shortening
• ¾ cup  sugar, granulated white
• ¾ cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 2 eggs
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
• ½ teaspoon almond extract
• 1 cup instant mashed potato flakes
• 2 ½ cups flour (not self raising)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ cups dried pineapple, chopped
• 1 1/3 cups coconut, flaked

Directions

In a mixer or large mixing bowl, cream the butter and shortening with both sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs.

Add the vanilla and almond extracts. Stir in the mashed potato flakes. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt.

Gradually add this to the butter mixture and combine until a dough is formed. Fold in the chopped pineapple pieces and flaked coconut. Roll into a large, smooth ball. Cover the dough and chill for at least an hour.

Scoop out one-inch balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet about two inches apart. Bake in a preheated oven at 375 degrees F for 15 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the oven. Cool for about five minutes on the cookie sheet until transferring to a wire rack. Yield: 6 dozen (enough to feed a flight of airmen or share at a cookie exchange)

Notes

• Airman Darby F. is the son of our often-mentioned friend, Lisa L., who herself is in the U.S. Naval Reserves. We used to send her some treats for the troops when she served overseas as well.
• Aloha Cookies are not traditionally Hawaiian but the recipe is from California and Hawaii (C&H) Sugar company.
• Search our blog for more cookie recipes.