Spiced Coconut Passionfruit Sandwich Cookies Recipes

COCONUT-SUGAR CRINKLE COOKIE SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Melt butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Cook shredded coconut, stirring often, until golden brown, about 3 minutes (coconut will continue to darken after you remove it from heat). Scrape into a small bowl and let cool slightly.
• Open coconut milk without shaking can and scoop solidified coconut cream off the top into a small bowl; set aside for ganache (you'll need 5 Tbsp.). Reserve remaining coconut milk.
• Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, and cinnamon in a medium bowl to combine. Whisk eggs, vanilla, salt, 1½ cups coconut sugar, and 3 Tbsp. reserved coconut milk in a large bowl. Whisk in half of dry ingredients. Using a rubber spatula, mix in shredded coconut mixture, then add remaining dry ingredients and mix just until no dry streaks remain. Cover dough and chill at least 2 hours.
• Place a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 325°F. Place powdered sugar and remaining ⅓ cup coconut sugar in separate shallow bowls. Using a #20 cookie scoop (or a heaping 3 Tbsp.), portion out 18 pieces of dough and roll into smooth balls between your palms. Working one at a time, gently toss balls in coconut sugar to coat, then toss in powdered sugar. Divide cookies between 2 parchment-lined baking sheets, spacing at least 2" apart.
• Bake 1 sheet of cookies, rotating baking sheet front to back halfway through, until centers of cookies are puffed and edges are just firm, 16-18 minutes. Repeat with remaining sheet of cookies (baking the sheets one at a time gives your cookies the best crinkles). Let cookies cool 20 minutes on baking sheets. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely. Turn half of cookies over. Do ahead: Dough can be made 3 days ahead; keep chilled. Cookies can be baked 2 days ahead; store airtight at room temperature.
• Heat white chocolate, rum, salt, and 5 Tbsp. reserved coconut cream in a medium heatproof bowl set over a medium saucepan of simmering water (do not let bowl touch water), stirring with a heatproof rubber spatula, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth, about 5 minutes. Chill ganache until cool but not solid, about 1 hour.
• Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat ganache until light and spreadable, about 1 minute. Spread a layer of ganache over upside down cookies. Top each with a right-side up cookie, pressing gently to adhere. Do ahead: Ganache can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep chilled. Let sit at room temperature 30 minutes before beating.

COCONUT COOKIES WITH PASSION-FRUIT CURD

Steps:

• Make curd: Bring passion-fruit puree, lemon juice, sugar, salt, and cornstarch to a simmer in a saucepan over medium heat. Slowly whisk in egg yolks. Cook, whisking constantly, until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat. Add butter; whisk until melted. Pour through a fine sieve into a bowl. Place plastic wrap directly on surface of curd. Refrigerate until set, about 2 hours or up to overnight.
• Make cookies: Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Put butter and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Mix in the egg and vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Gradually mix in flour mixture. Stir in coconut. Shape dough into two disks; wrap each in plastic. Refrigerate until cold, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Turn out one disk of dough onto a lightly floured work surface; roll to a scant 1/4 inch thick. Using a 1 1/4-inch cookie cutter, cut rounds of dough; place on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Repeat with remaining dough. Freeze until firm, about 15 minutes.
• Bake until edges of cookies just turn golden, 8 to 10 minutes. About 6 minutes into baking, flatten the cookies with the bottom of a measuring cup if they are puffing up. Let cool completely on sheets on wire racks.
• Transfer curd to a pastry bag fitted with a medium round tip (such as Ateco #12). Pipe curd onto flat side of a cookie; sandwich with another cookie. Repeat with remaining curd and cookies. Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving. Sandwiches should be assembled just before serving, though the unfilled cookies can be stored between layers of parchment in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.