I’m sorry to break it to you Lutheran ladies, but I am just going to have to tell it like it is; Presbyterian church ladies are the best cookie bakers. I know you have your krumkager, hjortebakelse and pfeffernusse, but we have coconut butter cookies!
Presbyterian church ladies are especially proficient at baking cookies for funerals. Mr. D. and I first tasted these delightful cookies at the funeral of a beloved 93 year old church family member a couple of months ago. It took some time, but I was finally able to identify the elusive baker as Myrna Lucas and she graciously shared her family recipe with us.
Mr. D. tried out the recipe on his own one afternoon without his mother supervising. He had trouble getting them moist enough to stay together, so he added 2 eggs, some almond extract and 1/4 cup melted butter. Oilla! Another tasty version that raises more than the original and is a bit more decadent, too.
I then tried out the recipe and found that you do need to beat the heck out of them to get them moist enough to stay together, but the kitchen aid mixer does a fine job of it.
We’ve made them numerous time since, I do the original version (& sometimes add a little almond extract) and Mr. D does the souped up version; both totally brilliant! Thank you Myrna!
Coconut Butter Cookies
recipe from Myrna Lucas
Ingredients:
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup coconut
- 2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 t. baking soda
Cooking Directions:
- Beat sugar into butter. Beat really well.
- Add baking soda to flour and then add to butter mixture; beat really well – it may take some time for everything to start sticking together.
- Beat in coconut.
- Form 3/4 inch balls on ungreased baking sheet. Flatten with a fork.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
- DO NOT BROWN!
Mr. Ds version of Coconut Butter Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 2 eggs
- 1 t. almond extract
- 2 cups flour
- 1 1/2 t. baking soda
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 1 cup coconut
Cooking Directions:
- Beat together the butter and the sugar. Beat in the eggs and almond extract.
- Mix together the flour and baking soda and beat into the butter mixture. Mix in the melted butter and coconut.
- Form into ping pong ball sized balls and place on ungreased baking sheet. Flatten.
- Bake 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees.
- DO NOT BROWN!
Oh Joan, they ARE Lutheran – – or at least Drake’s version is Lutheran. ANY butter cookie that includes almond extract is positively Norwegian Lutheran. Of course if it had anise in it then it would be German Lutheran. 🙂 Anyway, oh the joy – – Drake is part Lutheran! I can’t wait to make these ecumenical PresbyLutheran cookies!
Oh, Beth, you got me….but I bet toll house cookies are Presbyterian!