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Homemade Samoas Cookies Recipe

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Homemade Samoas Cookies are a delightful treat inspired by the popular Girl Scout cookies, featuring buttery shortbread rings topped with toasted sweetened coconut coated in caramel, and finished with dark chocolate drizzles. This recipe provides a step-by-step guide to creating these irresistible cookies from scratch, perfect for sharing or enjoying with a cup of tea.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Cookies

  • 1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 Tablespoons milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Coconut Topping

  • 3 cups shredded sweetened coconut
  • 15 ounces store-bought or homemade soft caramels
  • 3 Tablespoons whole milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

For the Chocolate Coating

  • 8 ounces dark chocolate (chips or chopped)

Instructions

  1. Make the cookie dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy to create a smooth base for the shortbread.
  2. Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt to ensure even distribution of leavening and seasoning.
  3. Incorporate dry ingredients: Add the flour mixture to the creamed butter in three increments, mixing well after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary for even dough formation.
  4. Add wet ingredients: Pour in the milk and vanilla extract, blending until the dough starts to come together in large pieces.
  5. Chill the dough: Divide the dough in half, compress into two disks, tightly wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour, to make rolling easier.
  6. Preheat oven: Set the oven to 350ºF (177ºC) to prepare for baking the cookies.
  7. Roll and cut cookies: Roll each chilled dough disk on a lightly floured surface to 1/8-inch thickness. Use a doughnut-shaped cutter (or substitute) to cut out ring-shaped cookies; place on a Silpat or parchment-lined baking sheet.
  8. Bake cookies: Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, rotating the sheet halfway through, until the shortbread is pale golden. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  9. Toast coconut: Spread shredded coconut on a parchment-lined baking sheet and toast in the 350ºF oven for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning, until evenly golden.
  10. Melt caramel topping: In a double boiler, melt caramels with milk and salt, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and mix 3/4 of this caramel with the toasted coconut in a large bowl.
  11. Assemble coconut topping on cookies: Carefully spread the reserved 1/4 cup caramel over cooled cookies, then press the coconut-caramel mixture onto the sticky surface. Allow cookies to cool and set for 30 minutes. Rewarm caramel if it becomes too thick to spread.
  12. Melt chocolate: Melt dark chocolate using a double boiler or microwave until smooth and glossy for dipping and drizzling.
  13. Chocolate coat cookies: Dip the bottoms of the cookies into the melted chocolate, place on wax paper-lined baking sheet, then drizzle the tops with remaining chocolate using a fork. Let the chocolate fully harden before serving or storing.
  14. Tips for best results: If dough is too firm to roll, let it sit at room temperature for 10 minutes. Underbake rather than overbake shortbread for ideal texture. Watch the coconut closely while toasting to avoid burning.

Notes

  • If you don’t have a doughnut-shaped cookie cutter, use two circular cutters or dry spice caps for the ring shape.
  • Let dough rest at room temperature briefly if too firm after refrigeration before rolling.
  • Shortbread should be pale golden; underbake rather than overbake for the best texture.
  • If using dark chocolate chips, 8 ounces equals approximately 1 1/3 cups.
  • Toast coconut carefully and stir often as it burns quickly.
  • Spreading cookies with reserved caramel creates a sticky base for the coconut topping adhesion.

Keywords: Samoas cookies, Girl Scout cookies, homemade cookies, caramel coconut cookies, chocolate drizzle cookies, shortbread cookies

Find it online: https://thedishspot.com/homemade-samoas-cookies-recipe/