Vegan Paradise Cookies
Pineapple, coconut and hazelnuts, the name of these cookies is really right!

Ingredients:
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup vegan margarine, room temperature (not melted)
- 8 ounces pineapple pieces, crushed or minced
- 1 & 3/4 cups ap flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 2/3 cup hazelnuts, chopped
- 1 & 1/2 cup sweetened coconut flakes (divided 3/4 cup and then the rest to roll in)

Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 F / 177 C.
- Cream the vegan margarine with the sugar until light yellow and fluffy.
- Add the pineapple and beat until well mixed.
- Add the flour and baking powder and mix on low speed.
- Stir in with a spoon the chopped hazelnuts and 3/4 cup of coconut flakes.
- Mix to a blended batter.
- Shape the dough into 1 inch balls and roll each ball in the rest of the coconut.
- Place o a cookie sheet prepared with baking parchment. Bake or 15-18 minutes or until lightly browned on the top.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

Notes:
The batter was quite wet and sticky. I had problems forming the balls, so wound up taking a spoonful and rolling it in the coconut. It was messy, but worked fine. Place the cookies about 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet as they will spread somewhat. They really taste like paradise.
Author: Chris Walker.
This entry was posted on Friday, December 3rd, 2010 at 11:13 pm. It is filed under Coconut, Desserts and Sweets, Hazelnut, Pineapple.
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Sugar! I’m hoping I can substitute honey in there instead?
YUM! These look absolutely delicious. Perfect afternoon treat. I wonder if I could try making them with a sugar substitute like agave nectar; I’m trying to avoid sugar as it gives me headaches!
Hi Leia,
Thank you for your comment. These cookies are really quite lovely. I don’t think any liquid sweeteners would work- meaning not agave, rice, barley maple whatever syrup. The recipe needs the dry sort of sweetener- it may be possible to work with stevia. You might try making these using dates instead of sugar- It will change the texture and flavor but would also be tasty. We have a nice cookie made in past holiday seasons- it’s raw and uses dates and coconut and rice kripsies. It’s very tasty.
http://www.vegalicious.org/2006/11/25/vegan-christmas-cookie-recipes/
Hi Ann-Marie
Thank you for your question. No…I wouldn’t consider the honey- it’s not vegan, and I don’t think it would be the right consistency for the recipe. I have answered in more detail in the above comment, check it out. Good luck on your quest to make cookies without sugar. It is possible, there are other ways, just depends on which cookie it is.
Love the crispy curls of coconut flakes on the gorgeous cookies. First time to this lovely space and would love to drop here often for more of such delicious treats from you. Bets wishes.
Hi Sanjeeta,
Please take a look around… the easiest way is to use the index or you can use the search if you have an ingredient that you need a recipe for. OR…you can look at all the pretty photos here
Thank you for our nice comments
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sonicwalker/collections/72157594587792378/
When you say pineapple “pieces”, are you talking about dried pineapple?
I can’t tell if this should be fresh or dried, but the cookies sound absolutely delicious!
Thanks
Hi BJ,
Oh thank you for your comment/question- It’s either fresh or canned…not dried….you do want t drain off the liquid otherwise..you’ll need to add more flour… crushed pineapples would be the best- but we don’t have them here- so I needed to use the rings in cans and cut them up into small pieces. The cookies are delicious. They are more like macaroons though..you don’t notice the pineapple that much and as I said- they are messy to roll out-but really worth it…I hope you enjoy them.
I really loooooved these cookies!!Each bite is a step closer to paradise!
Hi Doris, Thank you for your sweet and enthusiastic comment.
We really enjoyed these to, and they’re not just for Christmas or any holiday for that matter. They’re great anytime. Thank you for reminding me of these. We’ve been so busy with berries, that I had forgotten all about these. I’ll have to make them again.
I’m going to try these without the hazlenut and see if it still tastes Just as good?