Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter and sugar until the mixture becomes light and fluffy.
Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, desiccated coconut, baking powder, and salt.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until a dough forms. Make sure not to overmix; just combine until the ingredients are well incorporated.
Take small portions of the dough and roll them into balls, then place them on the prepared baking sheet. Leave some space between each cookie as they will spread while baking.
Use a fork to gently flatten each cookie and create a crisscross pattern on top.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes or until the edges of the cookies turn golden brown.
Remove the cookies from the oven and allow them to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Once the cookies have cooled, they are ready to be enjoyed! Store any leftovers in an airtight container to keep them fresh.Enjoy your delicious homemade coconut cookies!