Christmas Coconut Oatmeal Cookies

This recipe came from my Grandmother E’s personal cookbook. All of these old fashion recipes are hand written and some are over 100 years old.

I have not changed the wording, but reproduced it exactly as she wrote it. The only change I made was in separating the instructions for easy reading. She wrote the instructions in paragraph form.

I can’t picture myself fluffing the sugar and shortening by hand, but she did. But it’s O.K. Go ahead and use your electric mixer. I hope you enjoy cooking with my Grandmother E.

2 cups brown sugar
1 cup shortening
2 cups flour
2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon soda
2 eggs
4 cups oatmeal
1 cup coconut
1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream sugar and shortening until fluffy; add eggs and beat thoroughly with flavoring.

Stir in coconut and oatmeal, then flour in which baking powder and soda have been sifted. This makes a very stiff dough.

Make into small balls, then flatten out thin and lay on greased cookie sheet.

Bake in hot oven for 10 minutes.

Note: I suggest an oven temperature of 350°. This is a great cookie for a Christmas cookie exchange and a great conversation piece because it truly takes us back 100 years.