Cook coaching adult off to make dumplings (7)
I believe the answer is:
gnocchi
'dumplings' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'cook coaching adult off' is the wordplay.
'cook' indicates an anagram.
'adult' becomes 'a' (abbreviation).
'off' suggests deleting specific letters.
'coaching' with 'a' taken out is 'coching'.
'coching' with letters rearranged gives 'GNOCCHI'.
'to make' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for gnocchi that I've seen before include "that is eaten" , "Italian food" , "Italian potato dumplings" , "Pasta or potato dumplings" , "Italian dish" .)