Skip to Content

Hertzoggie Cookies

Hertzoggie Cookies are one of the most popular cookies in South-Africa. They are jam/jelly filled cookies with a light coconut, meringue topping.

With a large plateful of Hertzoggies, your guests are sure to have more than one !

Hertzoggie Cookies

This is another South-African cookie favorite! A True African cookies recipe.

Crust, jam filling and a coconut topping make these Hertzoggie Cookies a very popular and widely baked sweet treat all over the country.

I have to admit – I hate baking cookies ! Muffins are fine, cupcakes again, no, I am no good with icing !

The decorating part, whatever method/recipe I try, it always looks off. At least the cupcakes with the icing tastes just fine.

But I love a good Hertzoggie and the ones at the supermarkets are really becoming a joke. The other day I found three, out of a packet of twelve, with no filling.

The only other place to get them is at a good Home Industry store – but that can be expensive.

I have baked some before, made a complete mess as I used too much jam in the filling. Not once but three times.

Some of the recipes read that the egg-white must be beaten stiff, almost like making meringue, this also did not work out.

Today, I looked through my Springbok Kitchen cookbook again and found this recipe for Hertzoggie Cookies, which is GREAT!

Hertzoggie Cookies

I made the Hertzoggies exactly as per the recipe and I am happy with the results. Next time I might just add a tiny bit more of the egg-white mixture on top to give a bit more of a rise as well as extra coconutty delight.

NB: However tempting it might be – DO NOT overdo it with the jam! One teaspoon is more than enough.

More South-African Delicacies :

Hertzoggie Cookies

Hertzoggie Cookies

Hertzoggie Cookies

Linda Nortje
Hertzoggie Cookies are one of the most popular cookies in South-Africa. They are jam/jelly filled cookies with a light coconut, meringue topping.
4.86 from 7 votes
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Chill Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Sweet Treats
Cuisine South-African
Servings 48 Cookies
Calories 78 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups Flour ( if available use Cake Flour )
  • 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
  • ½ teaspoon Salt
  • 2 tablespoons Sugar
  • ½ cup Butter cut into small cubes
  • 3 extra-large Eggs separated
  • 2 tablespoons Ice-Cold Water
  • 48 teaspoons Smooth Apricot Jam Jelly - not lumpy jam
  • ¾ cup Desiccated Coconut
  • ¾ cup Caster Sugar ( super fine sugar )

Instructions
 

  • Sift the Flour, Baking Powder, Salt and Sugar together into a medium mixing bowl – Add the Butter and rub it into the Flour with you fingertips
  • Mix the Egg Yellow and Water and add to the Flour mixture – mix until a dough has formed – place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes
  • Meanwhile, pre-heat the oven to 180 deg C (350 deg F) – spray 4 x 12 hole patty pans with cooking oil
  • Roll out the dough and cut into circles, slightly larger than the patty pan holes, fit the rounds into each hole – place a teaspoon full of the Apricot Jam in the center of the cut-out dough
  • Beat the Egg whites until just foamy – do not over beat – add the Coconut and the Caster Sugar – mix well by hand
  • Use approximately 1 tablespoon full of the Egg/Coconut mixture and spoon over the Apricot Jam – bake for 12 – 15 minutes
  • Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool in the pans – transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Keep leftovers in a sealed container
Nutrition Facts
Hertzoggie Cookies
Serving Size
 
1 Cookie
Amount per Serving
Calories
78
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
3
g
5
%
Saturated Fat
 
2
g
13
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Cholesterol
 
20
mg
7
%
Sodium
 
70
mg
3
%
Carbohydrates
 
13
g
4
%
Sugar
 
7
g
8
%
Protein
 
1
g
2
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition value, where given, is not always accurate. Please also check your ingredient labels.

Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool in the pans – transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Keep leftovers in a sealed container.

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Ansie Smit

Thursday 14th of October 2021

Hi I am from South Africa and it is a big favourite here. Just another tip on the jam freeze the jam and then spoon it, take a little cake flour and just dust the jam the add it to the pastry. This will keep the jam from flowing out when baked.

Thanks Ansie

Linda Nortje

Thursday 14th of October 2021

Hi Ansie, yes us South-Africans do love our Hertzoggie cookies ! I always use ice cold jam fillings (in most pastries) and thank you for the tip to use frozen !

Denise

Monday 29th of March 2021

I just made these and they’re exactly like the ones my Ouma made for us. Yummy.

Bobbi

Monday 12th of November 2012

Hello I just wanted to let you know that your recipe is featured on this weeks Manic Monday http://bobbiskozykitchen.blogspot.com/2012/11/manic-monday-party-17.html I hope you will share again!!

Lissa

Wednesday 17th of October 2012

These look so good! Loved and pinned. Thanks for sharing at MightyCrafty Mondays...

Barbara Hiatt

Wednesday 17th of October 2012

Linda, these look yummy! Thanks for the recipe! Thanks for joining the party at Keep Calm and Link Up! Come back again this Thursday night!Barbara at Chase the Starchasethestar dot net

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.