Week 5: Chocolate Coconut Marshmallow Puffs: An experiment

After eating quite a few these delicious cookies from President’s Choice and deciding that the thin Chocolate Coconut kind were my favorite (see below), I’ve set out to create the perfect Chocolate Coconut Marshmallow Sandwich. I optimistically thought that I would be able to do this with one go, but it appears that this experiment is still a work in progress. Here’s a summary of attempt 1 and 2! Also, thanks to the all-consuming huge lab report I have due next week, I currently only know how to write in the form of lab reports. So here it is!
 
Objective:
Thin crispy chocolate coconut cookies with marshmallow centre
ATTEMPT #1 (January 2, 2011)
Reagents and materials:

• 2 1/4 cup flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tbsp water
• 3/4 cup cocoa
• 2/3 cup sweetened shredded coconut
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3/4 cup butter
• 18 large marshmallows

Methods:
1. Oven was preheated to 350F.
2. Butter and sugar were creamed and vanilla added, followed by milk and water.
3. Dry ingredients were then added and mixed until a homogenous dough was formed.
4. Level teaspoons (small cookies)  and tablespoons (large cookies) of dough were distrubuted onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and baked as follows.Tbsp: 8 min; Tsp: 6 min
5. Half a marshmallow was then placed on cookie halves and broiled until marshmallow was lightly browned, another cookie half was placed atop immediately out of the oven to form sandwiches
Results: 3 dozen thick soft cookies with the  right level of sweetness, needs more coconut
Future Experiments: Try more baking time and more liquid (more water, less milk) to get flatter cookies.
 
ATTEMPT #2: (January 7, 2011)
Reagents and materials:

• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup cocoa
• 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1 egg
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 72 mini marshmallows
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Methods:
1. Oven was preheated to 350F.
2.  Butter and sugar were creamed and vanilla added, followed water
3. Dry ingredients were then added and mixed until a homogenous dough was formed.
4. Level teaspoons  of dough were distributed onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and baked in a preheated oven for 9 minutes.
5.  Two mini marshmallow were then place on cookie halves and broiled until marshmallow was lightly browned, another cookie half was placed atop immediately out of the oven to form sandwiches
Results: 3 dozen thick soft cookie sandwiches with the  right level of sweetness
Future Experiments: Try less liquid and bake as cut-out cookies instead of drop