Crazy About Coconut

Happy New Year bakers! 

I like to celebrate the new year with coconut confections. I absolutely love coconut and these are my three favorite coconut recipes.

The Red Velvet Cake I made last holiday looks like a snow scape making it a perfect cake for a holiday dessert, new years party or winter gathering. Check out the recipe here. I keep three cake pans around the house to make towering cake such as this one. The cake doesn't rise much but after baking will be cut in half horizontally to make the layers. You can decorate the cake with coconut or pecans.

The Coconut Macaroon is my specialty. The original recipe I used to make it stems from Martha Stewart's recipe. I make several different variations; lime and coconut; cinnamon sugar, honey, and vanilla with chocolate drizzle. The are so soft in the middle with a caramelized sugar flavor and texture.

Coconut cupcakes...what more can I say. Doesn't the word cupcake alone make you smile? What makes this recipe so special is that the coconut flavor comes from gobs and gobs of cream of coconut. So rich and gooey you will need a big glass of milk. Here I had slightly died the coconut with food coloring for a party theme.

Mini's

Coconut Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Tres Dias de Macaroons

I would say out of any cookie I make macaroons the most. They are light and soft on the inside and crisp on the outside. They are about a bite and a half size if you are eating in front of people but when I am alone say lounging on the couch and no one is looking I pop them in one after the other.

I made coconut macaroons for three days last week for two gifts. Why it took three days I am not sure but things happen when you are baking that you cant explain. Monday I started a batch for a baby shower gift. I ended up experimenting with egg whites in the carton and sugar substitute and they didn’t turn out. To the trash they went.

Tuesday evening rolled around and I started again. I've been making these for years and sometimes this happens. I made them too big and the center wasn’t cooked all of the way causing the egg whites and sugar to bubble up and ooze all over the baking sheet. Not pretty. So, I trashed those as well, actually, I put them down the garbage disposal this time which apparently was a big no-no. I clogged the sink causing the dishwasher to back up and our neighbors sink to back up as well. We called the plumber and of course hid the evidence.

By Wednesday I’m feeling pretty pumped up. I got a tablespoon sized ice cream scoop and I was excited to use it. The ice cream scoop is by far my favorite tool in the kitchen that I use mostly for other tasks than intended. 

For the baby shower gift I made the standard vanilla with chocolate drizzle on top. The second batch was for my Dad, a variety of flavors I have been testing and perfecting for about a year. Both batches turned out perfect. I put them in over sized muffin liners and layer them in a small cookie box I got at Paper Source. I then wrap the box in ribbon and put my logo on top. My dad called me yesterday to tell me that the presentation was great and they were delicious...but he doesn’t really like coconut. Funny how things work like that. 

So, remember sometimes third time's a charm and there is no rhyme or reason in the kitchen :) Bake on!