Coconut Ube Besito Cookies (Printable)

Bite-sized purple cookies combining ube and coconut flavors for a tender, sweet fusion treat.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

04 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
05 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1/4 cup ube halaya (purple yam jam)
07 - 1 large egg
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Add-Ins & Coating

09 - 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
10 - 1/4 cup desiccated coconut (for rolling)
11 - 2 tablespoons ube extract (optional, for color and flavor)

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in medium bowl. Set aside.
03 - Beat softened butter and sugar in large bowl until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
04 - Mix in egg, ube halaya, and vanilla extract until fully combined. Add ube extract if using for deeper color.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture, mixing just until incorporated.
06 - Fold in sweetened shredded coconut until evenly distributed.
07 - Scoop tablespoon portions of dough and roll into balls. Coat each ball in desiccated coconut.
08 - Place coconut-coated balls on prepared baking sheet, spacing 2 inches apart.
09 - Bake 13-15 minutes until cookies are set and bottoms are lightly golden.
10 - Let cookies rest on baking sheet 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The crumb is impossibly tender, like a cloud that decided to stay awhile on your tongue
  • Ube's earthy sweetness plays beautifully with coconut's tropical warmth
  • They vanish faster than you can say 'just one more'
02 -
  • Room temperature ingredients combine into a smoother dough
  • Overmixing makes tough cookies, so stop as soon as flour disappears
  • The coconut coating browns faster than the dough, so watch those edges
03 -
  • Chill the dough for 15 minutes if it feels too sticky to roll
  • Use a small cookie scoop for uniform size and even baking

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