Treat yourself to these butterscotch-coconut-bourbon cookies! With those wonderful mix-ins and tasty bourbon, these cookies are loaded with rich flavor, and you'll adore their perfectly soft and chewy texture. Whether you need holiday cookies the whole family will love or just a sweet treat, you'll turn to these cookies over and over again.
When I first started thinking about these bourbon cookies, I went back and forth on the mix-ins. Chocolate chips? They’re a classic and always delicious, but I decided against them. I wanted something different than another chocolate chip cookie. No disrespect to the chocolate chip cookie. I still love you.
Instead, I thought about bourbon barrels and the flavors they impart. Butterscotch and coconut are often associated with bourbon barrels, and the two sounded delicious together. Just like that, I had my winner.
If you’re not a huge bourbon fan, don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll still love these cookies. The bourbon adds a depth of flavor, but it doesn’t taste like you’re eating an old fashioned in cookie form.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Let’s start baking. We first mix together flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt and in a small bowl and then beat together softened butter, white sugar and dark brown sugar in a separate bowl. With my Kitchenaid, I find speed four for four minutes is perfect. Once the mixture is nice and fluffy, we beat in eggs, vanilla extract and the bourbon. No judgment if you decide to make yourself a quick bourbon cocktail at this point.
From here, we slowly add the flour mixture and then stir in butterscotch chips and shredded coconut. We’re now ready to chill the cookie dough for an hour. Chilling the dough helps prevent excessive spreading and allows the dough to develop a more concentrated flavor, so I don't recommend skipping this step.
After our dough chills, we shape it into golf-size balls and pop them into the oven. I like making my cookies on the larger side because it helps them stay soft. Speaking of soft cookies, we also bake these cookies for only nine minutes. The cookies will look slightly undercooked when they come out of the oven, but don't worry. They'll firm up just fine once they cool. And now to dig in. ??
Perfect Pairing
Obviously, a bourbon cocktail is a delicious match, and lucky for you, I have a thing for bourbon cocktails. This gingered bourbon-apple cider bourbon cocktail is a nice option with these cookies.
When you're in the mood for beer, a barley wine is just what you need with these cookies. The caramel, toffee and dried fruit notes of a barley wine pair seamlessly with the butterscotch, dark brown sugar and bourbon. Barley wines are also often aged in bourbon barrels, so they're perfect for this recipe.
If you prefer wine, I always love a tawny port when butterscotch and brown sugar are involved. The caramel-like notes in the tawny port make for a delicious pairing.
The next time you need a rich, soft cookie with a touch of booze, I hope you give these butterscotch-coconut-bourbon cookies a try.
Cheers!
Feeding Your Inner Cookie Monster?
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📖 Recipe
Butterscotch-Coconut-Bourbon Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup softened salted butter
- ¾ cup white sugar
- ¾ cup packed dark brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons bourbon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or paste
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 1 (12-ounce) bag butterscotch chips
- 1 ⅓ cups shredded coconut
Instructions
- In a small bowl, stir together flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt until well mixed.
- Using a stand or hand mixer, cream together butter and sugars until fluffy. This should take about three to four minutes. If needed, periodically scrap the edge of the bowl.
- Again, scrap the edge of the bowl and add bourbon, vanilla and one egg. Beat until it’s well combined. Repeat with the second egg.
- Add a spoonful or two of the flour mixture and beat until it’s incorporated. Repeat until you mix in all of the flour. Stir in the butterscotch chips and coconut. Refrigerate dough until it stiffens, about an hour.
- As the dough refrigerates, heat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Form the dough into golf ball-size balls and drop onto an ungreased, parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake for nine minutes. The dough might look underbaked, but that’s OK. This leaves the cookies soft, and they solidify as they cool.
- Allow the cookies to cool for a couple minutes on the baking sheet before moving to wire baking racks to finish cooling. Once cooled, store in an airtight container. Enjoy!
Notes
- Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Georgia says
These are delicious. I split the dough using white chocolate chips instead of butterscotch in one and butterscotch with chopped pecans in the other. Both are delicious!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Ohh, I love that you also tried a half with white chocolate chips! Such a fun idea to split the dough. Thanks for sharing, Georgia!
Lathiya says
I love coconut and am sure I love these cookies too..coconut and butterscotch sounds a great combo...maybe I try without bourbon..can't wait to see how it turns
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Hope you love them!
Mimi says
I've never thought of combining cookies and bourbon flavors but the result speaks for itself! I can't wait to try how these bourbon cookies taste - yum!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Hope you love them!
April says
Big fan of bourbon and cookies, too! Haha, that makes two of us! And I would imagine their combination makes this recipe so balanced!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
You know what they say about good minds and all that jazz. ?
Maman de sara says
Your cookies look yummy, I will have to find a substitute to bourbon.
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Thank you!
Byron Thomas says
These cookies are delicious! I thought they were going to be too sweet for my personal tastes, but I think the bourbon balances out and counteracts the sweetness quite well!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
So glad to hear that!
Jacqueline Debono says
Love the combination of flavours in these butterscotch coconut bourbon cookies! And yes cookie in one hand and glass of bourbon in the other sounds like a delicious idea!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
??
Jori says
I would not have thought to put these flavours together! How create and inspired!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Thank you!
Linda says
Bourbon cookies? Heck yes, please! The combination sounds fabulous and makes a good pair. Note to self: need to make a double batch of this recipe.
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Haha -- I definitely don't blame you.
Kelly Anthony says
Just reading through your post made me feel all warm and fuzzy. I wish I had one of these butterscotch coconut bourbon cookies right now. Thanks for sharing!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
You're welcome! I know the feeling. ?
Danielle Wolter says
butterscotch and coconut=YUM! love these flavors together. These cookies sound just incredible Amanda!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Thanks, Danielle! ?
Linda says
I love putting alcohol into baked goods! The bourbon is a nice touch in these cookies and I love that you paired it with butterscotch. The suggestion of a bourbon apple cider cocktail to enjoy with the cookies is spot on. A woman after my own heart. Great recipe!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
Right? I'm a huge fan of boozy desserts. Adds such a nice depth of flavor.
Stine Mari says
Okay, these look fabulous. I was thinking just last night that I wanted coconut cookies, and then this came up. Butterscotch and bourbon sound so delicious with the coconut. Printing to make this weekend!
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
That's convenient! Hope you loved them.
Gloria says
Well if it has bourbon in it, you got hubby's attention. These look delicious and perfect to pair with an afternoon/evening latte. I have a feeling they would not last long here.
Amanda McGrory-Dixon says
I think that sounds like a lovely way to enjoy these cookies. Cheers!