This recipe for Chewy Chocolate Coconut Cookies is a family favorite. You can add raisins and nuts if you like, but they aren't necessary. If you are using nuts, pecans or walnuts work best. The cookies are delicious when served warm with a large glass of cold milk.

Kids love them, but they are also great to share with neighbors or co-workers too.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar (packed)
• 1 cup butter (softened)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup flaked coconut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Put white sugar, brown sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla in a large bowl.

Beat with an electric mixer until smooth.

Combine flour, baking soda and powder and salt in a separate bowl.

Stir flour mixture into sugar mixture until smooth.

Add in chocolate chips and coconut. Add in nuts and raisins, if desired.

Stir until well-blended.

Spray cookie sheets with cooking spray

Drop heaping teaspoons of dough onto cookie sheets.

Bake 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool on racks and serve.

Makes three dozen cookies.

If you like white chocolate, this recipe is a must!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar (packed)
• 1 cup butter (softened)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons whole milk
• 2 eggs
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 12 ounces white chocolate, chopped into chunks
• 1 cups chopped pecans
• 1 cup flaked coconut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Place white sugar, brown sugar, butter, milk, eggs and vanilla in a large mixing bowl.

Beat with an electric mixer until smooth.

Combine flour, baking soda and powder and salt in a separate bowl.

Stir flour mixture into sugar mixture until smooth.

Add in white chocolate, pecans and coconut.

Stir until well-blended.

Spray cookie sheets with cooking spray

Place 1 inch balls of dough onto cookie sheets.

Bake 12 minutes or until golden brown.

Let sit on cookie sheet for five minutes, then remove to a cooling rack.

Serve warm.

Makes three dozen cookies.

If you would like a light version of these type of cookies, CookingLight.com has a delicious recipe called Chewy Chocolate-Coconut Macaroons. They use unsweetened chocolate, unsweetened cocoa, and fat-free sweetened condensed milk, resulting in a scrumptious cookie with only 3.7 grams of fat.

Check out the CookingLight.com recipe.