Friday, November 8, 2013

The Ultimate Samoa Cookies


 
 
Welcome Dear Readers and Friends of Red Couch Recipes.  Today I have 'cookied" up a really yummy treat for you.  You will love it I am sure!  Although they have the same name, they do not even resemble the "other" famous Samoa cookies.  They do take a little bit of fussing, but they are one amazing cookie!
 





















There is this little bakery shop about 1-1/2 hours away from me that has some delectable sweets and the cutest name:  "The Sweet Tooth Fairy."  They have achieved a bit of notoriety with their cupcakes on "Cupcake Wars."  They are also known for their cake bites, but it is their cookies that we clamor for!  Most of all we are in love with their Samoa cookies.  But alas at times they don't even  have any available...sigh!
  
So today I bring to you my copycat version that even brought a hug from one of my children when they ate their Samoa.  I caution you.  These are really rich cookies, and for most of us a half a cookie will suffice. 



 
The recipe is comprised of a sugar cookie base, salted caramel frosting, and toppings and a bottoming.  Bottomings is a word, isn't it?

STEP 1;  MAKE COOKIES
 
No Fail Sugar Cookie Recipe  --My favorite sugar cookie recipe.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
6 cups flour
3 tsp. baking powder
2 cups butter
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt


Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix dry ingredients and add to butter mixture. Mix well.
Roll to desired thickness and cut into desired shapes. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes or just before they begin to turn brown around the edges. I like to roll them at least 1/4 to 1/3 inch-thick; they just taste so good thick. Also be sure to check them at 8 minutes with the first pan.  You might need more time,  but just to be sure, check them early. Remove from baking pan and let sit on cookie sheet a few minutes, then remove to cooling rack.  Notes:  I like these cookies to be soft, thick, and to have no brown on the bottom.  I roll out my dough between to wooden, square dowels to get consistently thick dough.
 
 
 
 STEP 2:  MAKE FROSTING
 
Salted Caramel Frosting Recipe

I knew that their frosting was a salted caramel recipe, and I found and adapted this cheater version that tastes so good.  I adapted this from Sally's Baking Addiction Blog.
 
1/2 cup ( 1 stick salted butter
1 cup dark brown sugar
1/4 cup half and half
1/4 teaspoon salt
2-3 cups powdered sugar -- I used three. 
    
                             Add brown sugar, and half and half to a medium mixing bowl.  Then add salt and confectioner's sugar, little by little to achieve desired consistency.   

 STEP 3:  APPLY  MELTED MILK CHOCOLATE CHIPS TO BOTTOM
  
 
 
Just a thin layer will do.  Then allow chocolate to dry.
 
STEP 5:  MAKE AND ADD TOASTED COCONUT


Take about 3 cups of coconut, reserve one cup.  Place 2 cups on a baking sheet and place pan in a  350 degree oven.  Bake until light brown, checking frequently and bringing the darker coconut from the edges into the center.  I put my baking sheet on the second highest rack in my oven, and this took around 15 minutes.  Then add the non-toasted coconut to the toasted coconut and mix together.   Note:  I looked up how to do this on the Internet and their directions just didn't work for me, so I gave you mine.


STEP 6:  ADD FROSTING AND TOPPINGS

Toppings List:
Salted Caramel Frosting (Recipe Included)
 3 cups Sweetened Coconut
Milk Chocolate Chips -- I used a  12-ounce bag
1 Bag (11 ounces) of pre-wrapped Caramels -- I almost used the whole bag.

Frost each cookie with the Salted Caramel Frosting



Then add the melted caramels.  I melt mine in the microwave and sometimes add a tad bit of water.  After removing from the microwave, stir well and then drizzle caramel over each cookie.


Then drizzle add melted chocolate chips  I used a pastry tube for this.


I took  these to the bake sale at my daughter's swim team meet on Friday night.


Thanks for dropping by Red Couch Recipes.

5 comments:

Sarah said...

Yet more goodies from your kitchen. I'm still rationing out the caramels to myself. Yum! Yum!

Lynn said...

I'll bet these are great cookies Joni! Very pretty too:@)

Bonnie said...

Ohhhh Joni. I don't know whether to thank you or not. We have a Sweet Tooth Fairy 3 minutes from us and they are wonderful. I might "have" to make some of these. Don't tell anyone I did.....

Sue said...

Joni, These cookies look so delectable and delicious! I'm sure toasting the coconut makes them even more wonderful:)

Jacqueline said...

Ha ha ha ha!!!!! You are so funny. HALF A BITE?!!! I'd like to see me stop with that. These look fabulous and I know you were up here so you could have brought me one and you didn't. Shame on you!! We will have to give these yummies a try.

Engageya