Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookies

Last week when I made the After School Cookies, I had an annoying couple of rows of dark chocolate leftover.  Annoying because it seemed there wasn’t quite enough leftover chocolate to do anything with so I feared the few squares of chocolate would just sit around in the pantry, taking up space until I forgot about them.

Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookies

Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookies

But then I remembered Sante Cookies and how they don’t require much chocolate at all.  I grew up with Sante biscuits because my mother seemed to make these almost weekly for after school treats.  The recipe is from the Edmonds Cookbook which is a very well known New Zealand cookbook and has sold over 3.3 million copies.  Both Claire and I love our Edmonds cookbooks.

Roll into little round balls

Roll into little round balls

The cookbook was first published in 1955 by the Edmonds company that makes cooking ingredients like baking powder, cornflour and custard powder.  Originally, the cookbook was sent unsolicited to couples on the announcement of their engagement and it’s said the cookbook taught many a kiwi-bride how to cook.  It is difficult to find a household in New Zealand that doesn’t have an Edmonds Cookbook.

Flatten gently with the back of a fork

Flatten gently with the back of a fork

I was given my copy by my grandparents, many years ago.  These days it’s a very old fashioned cookbook, not only because of the recipes, but also because of the minimalist instructions and the few-and-far-between images.  But that’s part of its charm and definitely its nostalgic appeal.  And coming from an era where you couldn’t dial up takeaway meals nor purchase ready-made meals, the recipes are all about feeding a family economically, basic entertaining, and a how-to section on making things like bread, preserves and sauces.

From the Edmonds Cookbook

From the Edmonds Cookbook

I don’t know why these biscuits are called Sante biscuits but these are essentially a chocolate chip cookie.  Sante biscuits don’t usually have coconut however, adding coconut is a variation of the recipe. When adding the chocolate you can use chocolate buds however I prefer to use chopped dark cooking chocolate, not only because it allows you to use up small amounts of leftover chocolate, but also because the irregular chunks of chocolate add a little more interest to the cookie.

Can be made from start to finish in around half an hour

Can be made from start to finish in around half an hour

These are quick to make, are egg-free, require no tricky ingredients and make an excellent after school treat.

Egg-free cookies

Egg-free cookies

4.9 from 8 reviews
Chocolate Chip Coconut Cookies
Author: 
Recipe type: Cookies
Cuisine: New Zealand
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 30
 
A chocolate chip and coconut cookie
Ingredients
  • 125g (4 oz) butter
  • 50g (2 oz) sugar
  • 1 tbs sweetened condensed milk
  • few drops vanilla essence
  • 75g (3 oz) flour
  • 75g (3 oz) desiccated coconut
  • 50g (2 oz) dark chocolate
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 180C (375F)
  2. Cream butter, sugar and condensed milk; add essence.
  3. Add dry ingredients and chopped chocolate.
  4. Roll into small balls.
  5. Place on greased trays or trays lined with baking powder.
  6. Flatten with a fork.
  7. Bake for 20 mins.
Filled with coconut and chunks of chocolate

Filled with coconut and chunks of chocolate

Comments

  1. Your cookies look delicious! And having left over chocolate is never a problem experienced in my household. I prob would have tossed it into the cookie mix – clearly I’m not a dedicated baker with that kind of reckless behavior. 🙂

    Will have to check my Mom’s bookshelf for a copy of this book. I love the old school cook books, the recipes are simple and delicious, and you always know what you are eating.

    Happy week ahead to you lovely lady! xox

  2. We have a really old edition of the Edmonds cookbook and one that is about 8 years old, I think the older one is the second edition, and looking at the two of them it is quite sad to see how modernised it became, wonder what it is like now in 2015, maybe time to buy another one and compare. I still use the older one, feels more authentic lol though the recipes are probably the same :).

  3. My wonderful NZ born friend Queen Viv gave me an Edmonds cookbook. I don’t use it that often but what I have used has worked out wonderfully.

  4. These look great for using up your chocolate but a tbsp of condensed milk !!!! – I would far prefer to have leftover chocolate than leftover condensed milk in the house – actually if you had contacted me I could have sent over E who makes sure no chocolate ever lasts too long in the pantry – at time I have to hide chocolate or give strict instructions when it is bought for cooking!

  5. So sorry, that comment wasn’t finished yet! Not sure why it went into moderation.
    Your recipe for these cookies sounds just lovely for an after school snack, I’m sure Alfie appreciates it.
    May I ask what you do with the remainder of the sweetened condensed milk? I try to find recipes that only use the entire tin because I have no idea how to save it!

  6. I love my Edmonds cook book. These sound great – and look so easy too!

  7. Anything with chocolate is a winner in my book.

  8. Sounds like a fun cookbook! I haven’t heard of it, but then I’ve never been Kiwi bride. 😀 Really good looking cookies — can never resist chocolate. Thanks!

  9. Wondering if Edmonds cookbook is available in the USA must look into this, sounds like a fun cookbook to peruse. Like the addition of coconut.

  10. I love old cookbooks and Edmonds sounds like a good one. Coconut and chocolate together rule!

  11. Hi Charlie, I love flipping through old cookbooks, you never know what your going to find. I found one that talked about what a good hostess should wear and how to set the table. Love the addition of coconut in your cookies, these look delicious!

  12. They look like lovely little cookies. Luckily they’re in not in volume measurements so I won’t be making them. My capris were a little TOO snug when I put them on today. 🙂

  13. That is a good way to make use of the leftover chocolate. Interesting how they’re called biscuits.

  14. Charlie, I don’t have this book, but it must be a good ‘un… loved making cookies for my kids when they were little… you are a great mum xxx

  15. I remember hearing about this cookbook when we were in nz. I love old cookbooks! Great looking cookies.

  16. I love the sounds of this cookbook. 🙂 Nostalgic ones like that always delight me. 🙂

  17. Your choc chip cookies look delicious Charlie! I would certainly got for one or two, okay three with my tea! I love nostalgic cookbooks!

  18. These cookies look so good, Charlie … you’re making me hungry! I do love old cookbooks but I’m not a fan of any cookbook with very few pictures … I love a picture as a guide to what the recipe should turn out like!

  19. Yum! What a treat these would be for my chico-hollic cravings. Just enough to satisfy and easy to bake. Although I already told you that I need to be on Rosie’s diet. I can’t resist a chocolate and coconut combination, though. I love the story of how all newly engaged, brides-to-be were sent a copy of Edmonds cookbook! I’ve never heard of anything quite like that give-away, but it’s a very generous promotional! I need to get a few ingredients first, but heatwave and all I’ll be tempted to bake these cookies very soon! 🙂

  20. I love those old cookbooks—so many treasured recipes! And I love that you added coconut–a definite boost of yumminess 🙂

  21. I love old cook books and there always seems to be a gem of a recipe, like these Sante Cookies in them.
    Have a happy day Charlie.
    🙂 Mandy xo

  22. I feel like these are the perfect cookies for everyday snacking! Just enough sweetness to get you through a craving, but not SO much that you feel comatose after!

  23. I love that the cookbook was sent unsolicited to newly engaged couples. So cute! Great marketing too. With the limited chocolate in these, I might like them! (I know the kids would.)

  24. Hehe – these were the choc chip cookies (minus coconut) that my mother used to make:-)

  25. I sure do love my Edmonds book Charlie! As soon as I saw you’d made Santes I thought of it. I might just have to make a batch this weekend.

  26. Oh heavens – these cookies have condensed milk in them??? How do you not eat the whole batch????

  27. Perfection.
    Coconut in chocolate chip cookies.
    I love!!!!

  28. Just mouthwatering…looks lovely and delicious!

    • Thanks so much, Kalyan. I just visited your blog but had trouble leaving a comment. I read a post about Agra which was timely and interesting as I’m going on a tour to Northern India next March. We will be visiting all the places you mentioned.

  29. Who wouldn’t fall for these cute, lil thingies? – Incorporating condensed milk and coconut into chocolate chip cookies sounds fun & fabulous. A quick question: does the texture of the cookies and cooking time vary if I go for fresh shredded coconut instead of store-bought dry desiccated one?
    -Thanks for the easy-to-execute recipe, dear Charlie.
    Love.

    • Hi Nusrat, I haven’t tried making these with fresh shredded coconut, but if you did try that, you might have to add some extra cooking time because of the added moisture.

  30. I am not a big chocolate chip fan unless… there is coconut! Sante means health and I probably must bake a batch to stay healthy, right?

  31. Sweet Posy Dreams says:

    Old-fashioned foods are often the best — simple and comforting. These look wonderful.

  32. Lovely tasty cookies, dear friend!
    They look very appetizing too! Yum! 😋

  33. I absolutely love cookies, but I don’t make them often because I can eat a whole batch in one sitting; however, these cookies are just too tempting! Coconut and chocolate – I’m hooked! Pinned!

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