A very unique, old-fashioned cookie made with lots of love. Popular in South Africa, these are a layered cookie (almost like a mini tart). The bottom is a delicious, delicate sugar cookie that's topped with an almost meringue-like coconut topping. An apricot filling is a wonderful burst of flavor. It would be fun to youse your favorite jam in the middle. These cookies do take a little time to make and require a special pan, but are worth the effort. These cookies or jam and coconut tartlets are known as Hertzog koekies in South Africa and are part of our traditional recipes.They were named after General J.B.M. Hertzog, prime minister of the South Africa Union in 1924. According to legend, this was one of his wife's recipes and he loved it so much that she named the cookie after him. I grew up with Hertzog koekies. As is so often the case with traditional food recipes, there are many versions, and here is the recipe that was used in my family for many, many years.
Ingredients :
- 5 cup(s) cake flour or all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoon(s) baking powder
- 1 pinch(es) salt
- 1 cup(s) butter
- room temperature
- 2 cup(s) granulated sugar
- divided
- 4 large eggs plus 5 large egg whites
- - smooth apricot jam
- 2 cup(s) shredded coconut
Intructions :
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl
- sift the flour
- baking powder
- and salt together.
- In a separate large bowl
- cream the butter and 1 cup sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add the whole eggs
- one by one
- and beat thoroughly after each addition.
- Add the dry ingredients and mix to form a soft dough. Add a little flour if the dough is too moist
- or a little water if the dough is too dry.
- Roll the dough out thinly and press out circles.
- Line the base of greased patty pan tins with the dough circles. Spoon a teaspoonful of apricot jam into the middle of each circle of dough.
- Beat the egg whites until the soft peak stage. Add the remaining 1 cup sugar gradually
- while still beating.
- Add the coconut.
- Spoon the egg white mixture onto the apricot jam filling. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes. Turn onto a wire rack to cool.
- Tip: To prevent the apricot jam from leaking during the baking process
- add a teaspoon or two of flour to it.Festive Touch: Cut red or green glacu00e9 cherries into small pieces and add to coconut mixture.
Rated 5/5 based on 88 Reviews
Keyword : hertzog-cookie-African-Cookies