Crumbly, buttery coconut shortbread cookies with a hint of nutmeg — a tea-time favourite inherited from colonial baking traditions and made distinctly Liberian.
Instructions
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1
Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla.
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2
Mix flour, coconut, nutmeg, and salt. Add to wet mixture.
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3
Mix to a firm dough. Chill 15 minutes.
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4
Roll out and cut into shapes, or press into a pan and score.
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5
Bake at 165C for 15-20 minutes until edges are golden.
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6
Cool on wire rack. They firm up as they cool.
Did You Know?
Liberian shortbread is always paired with strong sweet tea — the combination of crumbly cookie and hot tea is a daily ritual for many Liberian elders.
The Story Behind Liberian Shortbread
Liberian shortbread reflects the colonial baking influence adapted with local coconut and nutmeg. It became a staple of Liberian tea culture, where afternoon tea — a practice established by Americo-Liberian settlers — remains an important social tradition.
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