Read our affiliate disclosure here.

Coconut Thumbprint Cookies: Coconut Inside and Out

Coconut Thumbprint Cookies are an easy and pretty version of shortbread thumbprints –small rolled cookies with wells pressed in the center filled with topping. 

It’s a great cookie recipe for kids. They love to roll the balls of cookie dough, dip them in cookie decorations or sprinkles, and press their fingers in the center.

Here, coconut takes center stage: flakes brown lightly on the tops and the filling is flavored with coconut, too. 

If you love coconut, you’ll love this recipe!

Prep time: 20 minutes (more if children are helping)

Bake time: 13-18 minutes

Makes about 4 dozen cookies

Ingredients

1 ½ cups (3 sticks) butter or margarine, room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 egg

4 cups shredded coconut (about 10 ounces)

Filling

4 ounces white baking chocolate

1 tablespoon butter or margarine

1 tablespoon light corn syrup

1 teaspoon coconut extract (optional)

Directions for Coconut Thumbprint Cookies

1. Preheat oven to 350º F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking sheets. Set aside.
2. In a small bowl, beat egg with 1-2 tablespoons water to make an egg wash. Set aside.
3. Pour coconut into a small bowl. Set aside.
4. In a medium bowl using an electric mixer on medium speed, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla; mix thoroughly. Fold in flour, mixing only until the dough begins to stick together in clumps. 
5. Scoop dough into large, marble-sized balls, a scant 1 inch in diameter with a cookie scoop or roll balls in between the palms of your hands until smooth. Dip balls into egg wash, roll them in coconut, and set on prepared baking pan, about 2 inches apart. Press your thumb or knuckle in the center of each ball, leaving a small well.
6. Bake cookies 13-18 minutes until coconut browns lightly. Do not over bake. Cookies will set as they cool. Remove cookie trays from the oven. 
7. Allow cookies to sit for 5-10 minutes before using a spatula to transfer them to a wire rack. Let cookies cool completely.
8. While cookies cool, mix filling. Break up baking chocolate into squares and place them in a quart-sized freezer bag. Add butter and corn syrup. Microwave 20 seconds on High. Massage sides of freezer bag to loosen chocolate and mix ingredients together. Add coconut extract. Repeat once to allow mixture to become melted and smooth. 
9. Clip off a corner of the freezer bag and pipe filling into the center of each cookie well. 
10. Allow filling to set. Store cookies in an airtight container with waxed paper between layers.

More Easy Thumbprint Cookie Recipes

Cherry Thumbprint Cookie recipe ...

Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies: fun cookie recipe for kids and families ... 

Easy Thumbprint Cookies: just 6 ingredients!

Halloween Thumbprint Cookies recipe: easy, fun, and gluten-free ... 

More Easy Thumbprint Cookies on our Pinterest board ...

Return from Coconut Thumbprint Cookies to The Cookie Elf home