This weeks cookie, Chocolate-Coconut Cheesecake Squares, comes from the March 2008 issue of Living. In my opinion, they’re more cake-like than cookie-like, and I’d be very impressed by the person who manages to cut them into 1-inch squares for a total of 7 dozen (that’s beyond my skills).
I did stray from the recipe in a few ways: I used 4 whole eggs instead of 3 large eggs and 5 yolks, I didn’t have a 9 inch square baking pan, so I used a 8×10 (?) dish instead. I forgot the 3 tablespoons sugar in the crust, and used sweetened coconut instead of unsweetened.
I saved a few cookies for me (to sample and photograph), and the rest went to work with Gavin this morning. They’re alright, I probably wouldn’t make them again, but the recipe was fun and it looks like it could be a good starting place for other creative cookie endeavors.
Chocolate-Coconut Cheesecake Squares
from Martha Stewart Living March 2008
Makes about 7 dozen
- 2 cups finely ground graham crackers (from 15 rectangles)
- 3 cups (10 ounces) finely shredded unsweetened coconut
- 5 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
- 2 ounces milk chocolate, finely chopped
- 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 stick ( 1/2 cup) unsalted butter, cut into 2-inch pieces, plus more for pan
- 3 large eggs plus 5 large egg yolks
- 12 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch square baking pan. Line with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on 2 sides. Butter parchment.
- Stir together graham cracker crumbs and 2 cups coconut.
- Place chocolates and 3 tablespoons sugar in a heatproof bowl, and set over a pan of simmering water. Heat, stirring, until melted. Add butter, and stir until melted and smooth. Remove from heat, and let cool slightly. Whisk in 1 egg.
- Stir chocolate mixture into coconut mixture. Press evenly into prepared pan. Bake until set, 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool in pan.
- Using a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat cream cheese and remaining cup sugar on high speed until very smooth and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Reduce speed to medium, and add egg yolks and remaining 2 eggs, 1 at a time, until well combined. Scrape sides of bowl. Beat on medium-high speed until completely smooth, about 3 minutes.
- Pass mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, and stir until smooth. Pour over cooled crust. Sprinkle remaining cup coconut evenly over the top.
- Bake, rotating pan halfway through, until top layer is just set and coconut is golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Refrigerate, loosely covered, overnight.
- Run a sharp knife around edges of pan, and use parchment to lift out cheesecake. Run a knife under hot water, and dry well. Use it to cut cheesecake into 1-inch squares, wiping knife clean between cuts. Serve immediately, or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
