Step 1

Combine coconut milk, sugar and pandan leaf in a heavy-bottomed pot and simmer for about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it has a thick syrupy consistency (it will thicken as it cools, so it may not look super thick while it's still hot).

Step 2

Remove the pandan leaf and let the syrup cool until it's lukewarm, then stir in an egg yolk. If you want to colour the dough with only one colour, you can add the food colouring to the syrup at this point.

Step 3

Place the tapioca starch into a large mixing bowl, make a well in the center and pour in the coconut syrup. Using your hands, knead the dough together until it's smooth. If the dough feels very dry/stiff, add only a LITTLE water at a time; I like to use a spray bottle so I don't accidentally add too much water. If the dough feels too soft, add a little more tapioca starch. (Important: Please see "tip for success" above).

Step 4

If you want to colour the dough with different colours, split the dough into portions and knead in food colouring until the colour is smooth.

Step 5

Let the dough rest for 30 minutes covered in plastic wrap to it doesn't dry out.

Step 6

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F/175°C.

Step 7

Form cookies into little balls and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment or silicone liner; you can also generously grease your baking sheet with oil (coconut oil if you have it!). Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes or until the bottoms are browned slightly. I like the bake 1 tray at a time for consistency, but if you want to bake 2 trays at once, switch their positions half way through the baking process.

Step 8

Once the cookies are done, turn off the oven and open the oven door for about 8 seconds to drop the temperature, then put the cookies back in and let them cool in the warm oven. This step is optional but I recommend it as it allows the cookies to dry out completely and help lighten the texture. This also prevents the cookies from becoming too dense especially if your dough was on the dry side.

Step 9

Once cooled, package them into an airtight container and enjoy!