Mrs. Fields & iVillage 30th Anniversary Cookie Contest (686 photos) Fruit Cookies (23 photos)

Coconut Cranberry Chews

I absolutely loooove baking cookies, but now that our daughters are gone, I don't bake as frequently. At Christmas, however, I typically bake 20+ different kinds, and by the time everyone leaves, there's nothing left but crumbs. My favorite recipe was "stolen" from right beneath my nose, so to speak, by my daughter, and submitted to this very contest, so I'm submitting my 2nd favorite one, which is still pretty darn good, if I do say so myself!

Coconut Cranberry Chews

1 1/2 cups butter, room temperature
2 cups white sugar
2 tablespoons grated orange peel
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups dried cranberries (i.e. Craisins)
1 1/2 cups swseetened, flaked, dried coconut

In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar, orange peel and vanilla until smooth. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add to the butter mixture and beat at low speed until dough comes together, about 5 minutes. (If dough is too crumbly to form into balls, beat it longer.) Mix in cranberries and coconut. Shape dough into 1-inch balls and place about 2 inches apart on greased 12x15 inch baking sheets. Flatten slightly with a glass dipped in white sugar. Bake in a 325 degree oven for 8-10 minutes. (Shorter baking time will yield a softer, chewier cookie longer baking time will yield a crisper cookie.) Remove to a rack for cooling. Yield: about 5 dozen