Bolinhas | Bolinhos de Coco is a popular Goan tea-time cookie. They are deliciously flavored with cardamom, made with traditional ingredients like coconuts and semolina. These cookies are often baked at home and also found across Goa, in bakeries and cafés. 

Bolinhas | Bolinhos de Coco

Bolinhas | Bolinhos de Coco can be made with or without the egg whites. The traditional version does have egg whites which id definitely very yummy. However, I have made them with just the yolks a few times and we have loved them. My hubby, who loves Goan treats, loves these and completely agrees with ones just with the yolks. The yolks add much richness to these cookies, every bite is full of flavor and freshness from the cardamom. I can assure you, one cookie won’t be enough. It is addictive, I remember having a few at one go as a kid. Back then, our neighbor Penelope, who was a native Goan, would bring these back with her from her trips to her hometown. She would lovingly share some with our family too. It was then, that I had first tasted Bolinhas | Bolinhos de Coco. Our family loved it’s rustic look and the mild juiciness in every bite that came from the coconuts and semolina.

Bolinhas | Bolinhos de Coco

Bolinhas | Bolinhos de Coco are definitely juicy. You won’t find any juices dripping from them as you eat them. But juicy, as in, the ingredients used tend to retain their moisture to a certain degree even after being baked. That is why one will find the cookies very succulent yet having the perfect texture of an ideal cookie. The flavor is very traditional as I mentioned earlier, but some may use vanilla extract if they prefer. However, I always just add some cardamom. It has the most exotic aroma and very earthy at the same time. So, anyone worrying that these Bolinhas | Bolinhos de Coco may have a strong aroma of coconuts or egg yolk, be rest assured, you probably will need to be told about the ingredients if you didn’t already know! That’s how amazing these cookies smell!

Bolinhas | Bolinhos de Coco

Anyone who has been following my little space would know well enough that I prefer egg-free cookies, but with Bolinhas | Bolinhos de Coco, I would have it no other way. It is an age-old recipe and best followed similarly for the best taste.

Let us bake some Bolinhas | Bolinhos de Coco. These can be stored in airtight containers for 4-5 days.

In a blender, add water and freshly grated coconut. Make a grainy paste. Set it aside.

Bolinhas | Bolinhos de Coco

In a large bowl, beat together the powdered sugar and ghee. They will look a bit crumbly but just mix well.

Bolinhas | Bolinhos de Coco

Add the egg yolk. Beat them all again until the mixture looks light and fluffy.

Bolinhas | Bolinhos de Coco

Now, add the coconut paste, semolina and cardamom powder.

Bolinhas | Bolinhos de Coco

Mix well. Cover the bowl with some cling wrap or any lid.

Let this mixture refrigerate for 6-8 hours.

Remove the mixture from the refrigerator. Add baking powder and mix well.

Preheat the oven at 155’C.

Grease your palms with ghee. Divide the dough into small balls. Place these balls a little apart on a parchment lined tray.

Bolinhas | Bolinhos de Coco

You can make some patterns on each ball using a fork.

Bake them for 15 minutes with just the lower baking rods. After 15 minutes, move one of the cookies on the tray in the oven to set if they have set. If the cookie moves easily, turn on the upper baking rods too and bake until the tops turn golden.

Cool the baked Bolinhas on a cooling rack. Store them in an airtight jar or serve with tea/ coffee.

You can also make these for Christmas too along with Eggless No-Cook Marzipans. 

Bolinhas | Bolinhos de Coco

Bolinhas | Bolinhos de Coco

Bolinhas | Bolinhos de Coco are coconut and semolina based Goan cookies, enjoyed with tea/ coffee or just as a snack. They are easy to make and call for just basic everyday ingredients. 

Course Christmas, Snack, Tea Time
Cuisine Goan
Prep Time 8 hours
Cook Time 22 minutes
Total Time 8 hours 22 minutes
Servings 14 small bolinhas
Author Shreya Ashish Tiwari

Ingredients

  • 85 gms fresh coconut, grated
  • 85 gms semolina/ rawa/ suji
  • 1 nos. large egg yolk
  • 85 gms powdered sugar
  • 1/4 tsp cardamom powder
  • 1.5 tbsp ghee
  • 1/3 tsp baking powder
  • 25 ml plain water to grind the grated coconut

Instructions

  1. In a blender, add water and freshly grated coconut. Make a grainy paste. Set it aside.

  2. In a large bowl, beat together the powdered sugar and ghee. They will look a bit crumbly but just mix well.

  3. Add the egg yolk. Beat them all again until the mixture looks light and fluffy.

  4. Now, add the coconut paste, semolina and cardamom powder.

  5. Mix well. Cover the bowl with some cling wrap or any lid.

  6. Let this mixture refrigerate for 6-8 hours.

  7. Remove the mixture from the refrigerator. Add baking powder and mix well.

  8. Preheat the oven at 155'C.

  9. Grease your palms with ghee. Divide the dough into small balls. Place these balls a little apart on a parchment lined tray.

  10. You can make some patterns on each ball using a fork.

  11. Bake them for 15 minutes with just the lower baking rods. After 15 minutes, move one of the cookies on the tray in the oven to set if they have set. If the cookie moves easily, turn on the upper baking rods too and bake until the tops turn golden.

  12. Cool the baked Bolinhas on a cooling rack. Store them in an airtight jar or serve them with tea/ coffee.

Love,
Shreya

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Bolinhas | Bolinhos de Coco

 

 

Adapted from Hildastouchofspice.

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