Coconut Stars

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COCONUT STARS

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

3/4 tsp. salt

2 sticks plus 5 tbsp. (10.5 oz.) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

2 eggs, at room temperature

1 tsp. coconut extract

1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

2 2/3 cups confectioners' sugar

4 tbsp. half-and-half

1 tsp. fresh lemon juice plus

2 tsp. lemon zest

White sparkling sugar, for decorating

1 cup shredded sweetened coconut

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and ¼ tsp. salt.

2. Using an electric mixer, cream 11 tbsp. butter and the granulated sugar on medium-low speed until fluffy, 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs and the extracts, scraping the bowl, for 2 minutes. Mixin the flour mixture in 2 batches on low speed.

3. Divide the dough between 2 pieces of plastic wrap. Using the wrap to help, shape the dough into 2 disks and seal. Chill for 2 hours.

4. Meanwhile, using the mixer, beat the remaining

10 tbsp. butter, ½ tsp. salt, the confectioners' sugar, half-and-half, lemon juice and lemon zest on low speed until smooth. Beat on high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Chill the filling.

5. Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 375°. Line 4 cookie sheets with parchment. Working with 1 dough disk at a time, roll out on a floured surface to ½ inch, rotating the dough as needed. Using a 272-inch cutter, cut out cookies. Divide the cookies among the pans, chilling the pans as you work.

6. Sprinkle the cookies with the sparkling sugar.

Bake 2 pans at a time, switching them halfway through cooking, until the edges brown, about 8 minutes. Transfer the cookies to a rack; let cool.

7. Spread the bottom of 1 cookie with 1 tsp. of the filling. Sandwich with another cookie. Use your fingers to scoop and press the coconut onto the filling. Chill for about 20 minutes #coconutstarcookies #cookies #sandwichcookies #christmas #fyp #foodie #baker #baking #bake #homebaker