Pamela's Coconut and Butterscotch Decorated Cookies

Use your favorite Pamela's Cookies from the box such as Pecan Shortbread, Chunky Chocolate Chip and Lemon Shortbread, or Pamela's Simplebites Mini Cookies, Biscotti or bake your own using Pamela's Chocolate Chunk Cookie Mix. Then decorate with coconut.For creating the Chocolate Dipped cookies take a look at Pamela's Dark & White Chocolate Holiday Cookies.

General preparation: use shredded sweetened coconut. Try browning 1/2 of the coconut in a dry skillet on low, stirring constantly until it becomes a nice light brown color, cool. Coconut will stick to frosting or dipped chocolate, just remember the chocolate will dry very quickly so whatever you want to stick to it, do it right after dipping. You can dip the whole top or just roll the edges.

Like the peppermint preparation, coconut goes equally well with white or chocolate frosting or dip. Try combining it with you favorite type of nuts as well.

Make your own seasonal designs, such as snowflakes or christmas trees. Use royal frosting or chocolate as a"glue" to guide the coconut. Or use white corn syrup. Heat it in the microwave to thicken slightly (10-15 seconds, be careful with hot sugar) and then brush on your design with a small inexpensive paint brush, when completed gently dip into the coconut.

Make butterscotch animals or other shapes by using small butter molds (found at kitchen and bakery supply stores). Start by heating butterscotch chips in the microwave, 20 seconds at a time, then stir, then heat, repeat until a smooth spoonable consistency is achieved. Using very small chocolate/butter molds, fill the molds and chill for 10 minutes in the fridge. They pop right out of the aluminum molds with a little cross tension twist. For dipping whole, half, tops or bottoms of cookies with butterscotch or white chocolate, add 1 tsp of oil or shortening when heating. For milk or dark chocolate add approx. 1.5 tsp oil or shortening during the heating and stirring process.

Cookie Decorating Frosting/Royal Icing

1 bag Pamela's Vanilla Frosting Mix
2 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon cream of tarter

Mix ingredients together, add food coloring*. Spread or pipe on cooled cookies. Add decorative sprinkles or candies if desired. Powder food coloring will net brighter colors.

* Consumers concerned about gluten should check that all candies, flavorings and additional ingredients added to recipes are gluten-free.

© 2008 Pamela's Products, Inc.