Several years ago, my job (working with children with autism) took me from New York, where I was living at the time, to England every few months. Having done a fair bit of traveling in my younger years, and growing up in Canada where we are rather proud of our ties to the UK, I felt that I was fairly well-versed in English traditions. For one, I grew up drinking tea every day. In fact, I even had my own tea cup, adorned with Beatrix Potter bunnies, which I happily pulled out whenever a plate of cookies (or biscuits, as our English friends would call them) was placed on the table.
Despite my familiarity with English teatime, I had forgotten what a big deal it really is. I was at my client’s home, working with the child and training the parents and a team of instructors. We were rolling along nicely, making progress with our goals when the clock struck two and everything came to an abrupt halt. Out came the teapot and the china cups, out came the cookies, and the next half-hour was spent chatting over cups of piping hot tea. It was relaxing, it was tasty, and it was utterly delightful. Let me tell you, the English are on to something.
These petite cookies, which are adapted from Dorie Greenspan’s Berry Tea Cookies, have a cake-y texture and are scented with fresh orange juice and zest. The coconut, while it lends a subtle background flavor, mostly contributes a pleasing texture whenever you happen to bite into a strand of the sweetened fruit.
The recipe:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Be sure that the racks are positioned so that the oven is divided in thirds. Prepare two baking sheets by lining them with parchment or silicone mats.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, ground ginger, salt and orange zest. Whisk together and set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter on medium speed until fluffy and creamy. Add sugar and beat for an additional minute, scraping down the sides as necessary. Add egg and beat for 2 minutes. The mixture will be silky and smooth.
Add milk, vanilla extract and orange juice. Beat briefly, just enough to combine the ingredients. Now, don’t panic – the mixture will look curdled. All is well.
Add the flour mixture a little bit at a time, mixing on low, until the ingredients are just combined. Remove the bowl from the mixer and stir in shredded coconut.
Scoop out rounded teaspoons of the dough onto the prepared baking sheets.
Bake the cookie for 10-12 minutes, switching the positions of the pans and turning them from back to front halfway through baking. The cookies will be done when the bottom edges are just starting to turn brown and the cookies are slightly firm when you touch them. The tops of the cookies will still be fairly pale.
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 1-2 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack. Serve when cool. Repeat with the remaining dough, cooling the baking sheets between batches.
Other tea cookies to enjoy:
White on Rice Couple’s Orange Marmalade Cookies
Use Real Butter’s Chocolate-Dipped Orange Peel Cookies
Recipe Girl’s Iced Orange Cookies
Dianasaur Dishes’ Vanilla Orange Shortbread
Orange & Coconut Tea Cookies
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp orange zest
1 stick (8 tbsp) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
2 tbsp milk
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Be sure that the racks are positioned so that the oven is divided in thirds. Prepare two baking sheets by lining them with parchment or silicone mats.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, ground ginger, and salt. Set aside.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter on medium speed until fluffy and creamy. Add sugar and beat for an additional minute, scraping down the sides as necessary. Add egg and beat for 2 minutes. The mixture will be silky and smooth.
Add milk, vanilla extract and orange juice. Beat briefly, just enough to combine the ingredients. The mixture will look curdled.
Add the flour mixture a little bit at a time, mixing on low, until the ingredients are just combined. Remove the bowl from the mixer and stir in shredded coconut.
Scoop out rounded teaspoons of the dough onto the prepared baking sheets.
Bake the cookie for 10-12 minutes, switching the positions of the pans and turning them from back to front halfway through baking. The cookies will be done when the bottom edges are just starting to turn brown and the cookies are slightly firm when you touch them. The tops of the cookies will still be fairly pale.
Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for 1-2 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack. Serve when cool. Repeat with the remaining dough, cooling the baking sheets between batches.
Makes 45-50 cookies.
Vivienne
I love all of Dorie’s cookie recipes! This looks like a delicious and fragrant one!
If we all stop what we are doing at exactly 2pm and have a cuppa tea with cookies, it would make each day just that much sweeter 🙂
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Yes, I think it should be a tradition that is instituted immediately.
claudia lamascolo/aka pegasuslegend
Very nice, loving these simple flavors that make tea perfection as well… great presentation!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thank you, Claudia.
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen
I think we should have tea time in the US too, a short break in the middle of the day to rest and renew our energy would be a very welcome ritual.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
I agree! It would make the afternoon so much easier.
Katrina
Mmmm these cookies look lovely! Great recipe. They look so light and fresh.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
They really do have a fresh flavor. A perfect light treat to hold off any irrational afternoon cravings.
Heather (Heather's Dish)
i love tea cookies, and to be honest i’ve never tried orange and coconut together! it sounds perfect.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
I was a bit nervous about the combination at first, but figured if lime and coconut work well, then why not orange and coconut. Luckily, I was right.
dana
Not only is it a great recipe w/lovely pictures, you really made me feel like I was sitting there w/you! Love it
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks so much, Dana. I really appreciate that.
Jenny Flake
These look so good Dara!!
Belinda @zomppa
I grew up with afternoon tea, too ( a little later than 2….), and you’re right, I think I need to take a real tea break – not a break checking email in the PM. These tea cookies are wonderful!
Maria
These look heavenly!
doughmesstic
When I was in Kenya for a few weeks, we had tea everyday…it was wonderful. These cookies would have been amazing. I may give these a shot and reintroduce tea time to the house!
Penny
I have just discovered your blog and I can already tell it will be a favorite. Thanks so much for sharing your “yummy” talents! I look forward to making these little gems!
Parsley Sage
These look lovely! Thank you for sharing. I only wish England’s overseas territories had the ‘tea time’ tradition as well!
Barbara | VinoLuciStyle
I love the idea of afternoon tea…I doubt I will ever realize it but in the meantime I love the idea of this flavor combination; they sound wonderful and perfect for a springtime treat.
Tracy
These cookies look lovely and so do your photos! I’d love to start having tea time at our house!
Natasha
These look delicious! I think we should have kept the tradition of having tea time in the afternoon, it would be a nice little break !
Kathy Gori
Oh my! These look too too tempting!
Jennifer (Savor)
I am convinced on the cookies but I may still have my coffee in my other hand.
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc.
These look amazing! So bummed I missed you last week. Maybe I’ll see you this summer
Wenderly
I agree the the English are indeed onto something! Maybe we should all make a pact to do the same here?
These cookies look scrumptious by way!
Lauren from Lauren's Latest
I love coconut with citrus! Well, coconut with anything is right up my alley.
Shaina
I’d love to come over for tea! We really need to have tea time here in the U.S. I’m all for it.
Also, I had no idea you used to work with kids with autism. I did that for years before I left my job to work from home and subsequently stay home with my kids.
Drick
so many customs make a point to savor time during the day for just such a thing, too bad we live in such a hurried lifestyle……I agree, the orange and coconut sound ever so pleasant just as the tea time
fooddreamer
Tea time strikes me as so romantic and quaint, something out of Enid Blighton or Jane Austen. I didn’t grow up drinking much tea, I was a coffee girl from the age 14 on, but I adore high tea. Your cookies look like the perfect accompaniment to a cuppa.
susan from food blogga
These are positively delightful treats. I wish I had one to nibble on with my cuppa tea right now.
Laurie @SimplyScratch
Orange + Coconut = My New Favorite Cookie! 🙂
Kimby
Ask me about High Tea at Harrod’s … 🙂 Your photographs capture the delight of “tea time!”
Guava
Dara – Afternoon tea -how civilized. You make me want to pull out the teapot and bake these darling and delicious-looking cookies! And I will be doing just that.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Guava, I hope you enjoy them.
Marla
I am with you. Joining the team to bring teatime stateside. I think people would be much happier if they had this ritual to look forward to each day. Especially with these cookies. I have a similar muffin concept I will be rocking in the next week or so….xo
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Looking forward to seeing your muffins!
[email protected]
When my boys were younger I always had afternoon tea – was a welcome break in the routine!! Sadly, with carpooling and sports the practice has fallen by the wayside – but I think it’s “high” time to bring it back – especially with such tasty cookies!!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
I hear you, Nancy. Teatime can become difficult when it’s squeezed between kids’ activities. I hope you find the chance to do it again.
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen
What a yummy little treat! I have to have a snack at 2 to 3 o’clock everyday so I am with you on having tea everyday!
Darla @ Bakingdom
I love anything with orange in it, so I can’t wait to try these! Especially with some hot tea!
My husband and I both love tea. We have tea every day, although not at any given time, but I’m inspired to set aside a tea time now. Oh how I long to go to England and have real tea time!!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
It’s wonderful to have a special teatime to look forward to – a break in the day that no one can interrupt.
Sprinkled With Flour
I grew up in Wales, so i’m no stranger to having a tea break. Even though I live in the U.S now, I still have a box of PG Tips in my pantry for tea time each day. I don’t have any girls, so i’m seriously considering starting tea time with my 4 year old son:) Who says boys can’t drink tea? 🙂 These tea cookies sound like just the thing to get him on board though!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Teatime can be enjoyed by boys and girls. I say “go for it”.
Lana @ Never Enough Thyme
I think afternoon tea is a most civilized notion. We enjoyed tea in the afternoons on a recent trip to Ireland and after we returned I missed those moments of down-time. Maybe when I retire I’ll have tea time each day!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
It really is a lovely tradition.
Kulsum at JourneyKitchen
I love afternoon tea time exactly for this – to enjoy everything else that comes with it. As an Indian we love Chai Time 🙂 And all savory finger food that comes with it but I love to bite into sweet little things just like this one. Love it and love the picture!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Kulsum, typically I like to stick with a cup of my favorite or Earl Grey or green tea. However, when I decide to shake it up, Chai is the way I go. We will have to get together and have tea someday.
Linda Makiej
This looks just wonderful!!
carolinaheartstrings
I love tea time and those cookies look perfect.
Joy
Those are adorable.
Allie
Oh goodness these look delicious! I want to eat these now. Btw, as a native Bostonian, we do love our tea time with our cookies, digestives or crackers on hand. I have no idea why but when working at a small town library, they would seriously have us take a tea break together for 30 minutes and then the library could resume again. I like these traditions and let me say, reading the last few Bon Appetit’s articles on Dorie Greenspan, that lady is a cookie genius. Great post!
Aggie
I’m loving these little cookies! The flavor combo sounds so delicious. How wonderful that you have had the opportunity for travel like that, it’s so nice to learn from other cultures isn’t it? I hope your trend catches on because I would enjoy it for sure! 🙂
Maris (InGoodTaste)
What an interesting combination of flavors! I can’t wait to make these cookies.
Megan
I love tea time and these little biscuits look delightful. I wish everything around here stopped at 2 and the china would come out. Maybe someday!
Elizabeth
These look absolutely beautiful! Tea time is a fantastic idea–I hate the 2 o’clock doldrums.
Robyn | Add a Pinch
I’m all for this tradition! I’m with ya!
A Canadian Foodie
The vase of rosemary said it all, to me. Yum. and then yum again. Have you ever thought about putting a little chopped up rosemary in these cookies? It would be brilliant if I don’t say so myself. 🙂 And, you worked with children with autism. Fascinating. Are you in education? How did I miss that!
🙂
Valerie
Shelby
I don’t think I have ever shared that my DIL also works with autistic children. I think it is wonderful what you do! The cookies look fabulous and I know Grumpy would love them….they are soft!
sippitysup
I am sure these cookies will help make teatime more popular. GREG
Rose Gold
Orange and coconut together really sounds weird. I can’t even imagine the taste. LOL. I think I should really try this one. It looks yummy but I don’t know what it really tastes.
Piano Schoenhut
I’ve just tried your recipe yesterday and it really tastes good. My kids are in definitely in love with your tea cookies. I also brought some of the cookies for my grandma and she loves it too.