Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Add 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup white sugar, and 1 cup shortening to a mixing bowl. Beat with a hand mixer until incorporated.
Add 2 large eggs and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Beat with a hand mixer until incorporated.
Combine 2 cups flour, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking powder, and 1 teaspoon baking soda to a separate bowl.
Add the flour mixture to the mixing bowl, a bit at a time, beating after each addition until completely incorporated. I add about ⅓ of the flour mixture at one time.
Add 1 cup of coconut flakes and 2 cups of Rice Krispies cereal. Stir with a spoon until just combined.
Use a cookie scoop to scoop into evenly sized balls.
Add ¼ cup of white sugar to a bowl. Dip each cookie ball into the sugar and put on a baking sheet. Using a drinking glass, slightly flatten the sugar-dipped cookies. Repeat until the baking sheet is full.
Put 9-12 cookie balls to a cookie sheet, evenly spaced.
Bake for 9-10 minutes. But seriously, check them at 9 minutes!
Remove from oven, let sit for 30-45 seconds, then transfer to a cooling rack.
Repeat with remaining cookie dough. Makes 48 cookies.