To me, every food seems to incite a certain memory.  When I smell my Mom’s beef stroganoff, I will always think of my brother and how we ate it for every one of his birthdays growing up. And when I think of crab cakes, I will always think of Pensacola, Florida and how I had to make approximately a billion every night for the dinner service. And when I think of cookies, especially these, I will always think of my Grandpa.

He was a wonderfully supportive, incredibly involved grandfather, and he would often stop by our house unnanounced just to say hi…and to raid our cookie jar. It was the first place he went every time he walked in the door and because of this he was probably the first to test many of my original creations. When he passed away last December, everyone who knew him felt a huge void. So in the week that followed, I coped with a lot of time in the kitchen. Baking has always served as an incredible comfort, and that was a time when baking was especially called for. I whipped up these cookies, which just so happened to be my first original recipe, in honor of the man who gave everyone such joy. Because these cookies are a bit like him. Sweet & comforting like the chocolate. A little tart and sassy like the cherries. With just a touch of nuttiness like that coconut. There aren’t enough words to sum up what my Grandpa means to all of us, so I guess in this case…when words fail, cookies speak.

Ingredients: 1 dozen cookies

• 1  1/4 cup  packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup  granulated sugar
• 1/2  cup  butter, softened
• 2  large egg whites
• 1  teaspoon  coconut extract
• 2 1/4  cups  all-purpose flour
• 1  teaspoon  baking soda
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup dried cherries
• 2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
• 3/4  cup  semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup shredded sweetened coconut

Preparation:

1. Cream butter & sugars together
2. Add egg whites (one at a time) & coconut extract
3. Mix flour, baking soda, & cinnamon in separate bowl
4. Gradually combine wet & dry ingredients
5. Add in chocolate chips, dried cherries, chocolate syrup and shredded coconut
6. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes

Enjoy!

-C