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hertzog cookies

(17 ratings)
elbie avatar
Blue Ribbon Recipe by
Elsa Dreyer
@elbie
Ventura, CA

These cookies or jam and coconut tartlets are known as Hertzog koekies in South Africa and are part of our traditional recipes. They were named after General J.B.M. Hertzog, prime minister of the South Africa Union in 1924. According to legend, this was one of his wife's recipes and he loved it so much that she named the cookie after him. I grew up with Hertzog koekies. As is so often the case with traditional food recipes, there are many versions, and here is the recipe that was used in my family for many, many years.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

A very unique, old-fashioned cookie made with lots of love. Popular in South Africa, these are a layered cookie (almost like a mini tart). The bottom is a delicious, delicate sugar cookie that's topped with an almost meringue-like coconut topping. An apricot filling is a wonderful burst of flavor. It would be fun to youse your favorite jam in the middle. These cookies do take a little time to make and require a special pan, but are worth the effort.

— The Test Kitchen @kitchencrew
(17 ratings)
yield 60 - 72 cookies
prep time 30 Min
cook time 25 Min
method Bake

Ingredients For hertzog cookies

  • 5 c
    cake flour or all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp
    baking powder
  • 1 pinch
    salt
  • 1 c
    butter, room temperature
  • 2 c
    granulated sugar, divided
  • 4 lg
    eggs plus 5 large egg whites
  • smooth apricot jam
  • 2 c
    shredded coconut

How To Make hertzog cookies

Test Kitchen Tips
When making these, you need a muffin top pan. The cookie layer on the bottom should just lay on the bottom of the pan and not press up the edges.
  • Flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
    1
    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together.
  • Creaming margarine/butter and sugar.
    2
    In a separate large bowl, cream the butter and 1 cup sugar together until light and fluffy.
  • Slowly adding eggs.
    3
    Add the whole eggs, one by one, and beat thoroughly after each addition.
  • Dry ingredients incorporated to make a dough.
    4
    Add the dry ingredients and mix to form a soft dough. Add a little flour if the dough is too moist, or a little water if the dough is too dry.
  • Cutting circles out of rolled out dough.
    5
    Roll the dough out thinly and press out circles.
  • Circles of dough in the pan with a dollop of apricot jam.
    6
    Line the base of greased patty pan tins with the dough circles. Spoon a teaspoonful of apricot jam into the middle of each circle of dough.
  • Egg whites and sugar mixed until fluffy.
    7
    Beat the egg whites until the soft peak stage. Add the remaining 1 cup sugar gradually, while still beating.
  • Adding coconut to the egg whites.
    8
    Add the coconut.
  • Egg whites spread over the jam.
    9
    Spoon the egg white mixture onto the apricot jam filling. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes. Turn onto a wire rack to cool.
  • 10
    Tip: To prevent the apricot jam from "leaking" during the baking process, add a teaspoon or two of flour to it. Festive Touch: Cut red or green glacé cherries into small pieces and add to coconut mixture.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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