Popular in Southeast Asian, Indian, and Jamaican cuisine, coconut is added to cakes, cookies, and other desserts to provide a nutty sweetness and pleasant texture. Coconut is actually a fruit and not a nut – sold as juice, milk, shredded (sweetened and unsweetened) flakes, and as a whole fruit with its edible, thin brown skin. For the freshest results, it’s suggested to crack your own coconut.

What’s So Good About Coconut?

High in saturated fat, the natural oils in the coconut provide the body with plenty of benefits. From boosting the immune system to improving digestion, coconut offers a high-fiber skin, iron, potassium, and a decent amount of electrolytes found in the coconut juice.

How to Crack Coconut

It takes a little effort, but cracking your own coconut will provide your desserts with a fresher flavor that enhances the overall taste. As you stare at the hairy shell, make the task a little easier by baking the coconut for 20 minutes in an oven set to 350 degrees. After letting the coconut cool, pierce a hole in two of the “eyes” with a hammer and screwdriver. Turn the coconut upside down in order to drain the juice. Use the hammer to tap the screwdriver until the nut breaks into two pieces.

Place each half of the coconut with the flesh facing down on your countertop (or other stable surface) and tap each piece with a hammer to break it up. You can then break the coconut into pieces using your hands. A table knife will help you dislodge the “meat” from the shell. Some people even peel off the brown skin of the coconut and eat it – it’s edible.

Ways to Use Coconut in Your Desserts

Coconut in Salads: Enhance a tropical fruit salad by sprinkling finely grated coconut on top of fresh mango, papaya, orange, and banana. You may use fresh or toasted coconut to achieve varying flavors.

Coconut in Coffee: Some people have added coconut milk to their coffee for a unique, hot beverage.

Coconut in Pie: With an irresistible whipped cream topping, coconut cream pie is comprised of a rich custard or pudding consisting of milk, cream, flour, and eggs. Sometimes, chocolate shavings serve as garnish, while toasted coconut is more commonplace.

Coconut in Cookies and Bars: Whether used as a garnish for cookies or added to your favorite recipes – sky’s the limit with coconut. Popular cookies with coconut include Coconut Macaroons, Coconut Bars, Chocolate Chip Coconut, and variations of the Almond Joy bar.

Coconut in Ice Cream

Add shredded coconut to your ice cream sundaes or create a vegan sweet treat with your ice cream maker called Coconut Curry Ice Cream. First, simmer two and a half 13.5-ounce cans of canned unsweetened coconut milk, 1 cup of sugar, and 1 ½ teaspoons of mild curry paste in a large heavy saucepan. Whisk often, and then reduce the heat to low. Simmer to allow the flavors to blend for about 10 minutes.

Slightly cool and then refrigerate the mixture uncovered until cold. Cover and chill overnight. When you are ready, process your ‘ice cream’ according to the directions of your maker. Add in ½ cup of toasted, sweetened flaked coconut to the mixture. Use extra toasted coconut flakes as a garnish.

Ranging from palm-flavored mini cakes with shredded coconut (khanom tan) to jasmine scented coconut pudding (tako), the majority of Thai meals end with fresh fruit or a sweet snack as dessert. Chao kuai is a grass jelly typically served with shaved ice and brown sugar, while sangkhaya fak thong combines egg and coconut served with pumpkin. In the United States, Thai desserts containing mango, coconut milk, and sticky rice are most popular, like the ones listed below:

The Importance of Mango

In Thai cuisine, mango plays an important role – added to entrees, side dishes and especially desserts. If you’d like to explore Thai sweets that include the delectably sweet fruit, consider mango sorbet and pudding. Mango Sorbet usually requires the use of a blender or food processor to produce the light and airy frozen treat of sweetened water flavored with iced fruit juice or puree. For a quick Thai treat, Mango Pudding only takes about 15 minutes to create. Some recipes use coconut milk instead of whipping cream or evaporated milk, which livens up the flavor of the mango.

Thai Mango Sticky Sweet Rice

Sticky rice (also known as glutinous rice) possesses a glue-like consistency and is used in a variety of Thai desserts and dishes. You can locate sticky rice at an Asian grocery store or a supermarket aisle offering international food products. A colander is generally used to steam the sticky rice or it is made on a stovetop in a pot. This classic tropical blend starts with saturating the sticky rice in coconut milk and ends with slices of fresh or frozen mango as a topping.

Pandan Rice Cake

Another Thai dessert that uses sticky rice is the two-layered Pandan Rice Cake – a relatively healthy treat that’s low in sugar, rich in protein, and low in saturated fat. The first layer consists of sticky rice, coconut milk, and a green-colored paste known as “pandan” – made from the juice of Pandanus amaryllifolius leaves. The first layer is also sweetened with white or brown sugar (and sometimes maple syrup). The second layer is comprised of eggs, coconut milk, sugar, pandan paste, and rice flour. Often served warm or at room temperature, the cake is usually decorated with fresh fruit or drizzled with toasted coconut.

Thai-Style Crème Caramel

The Thai version of the traditional crème caramel dessert uses coconut milk in place of cream, which supplies the body with good fats that help lower your cholesterol. Most recipes create a whipped treat you pop in the oven in less than ten minutes.

Green Tea and Coconut Cake

A favorite at potluck gatherings, dinner parties and afternoon tea, Green Tea and Coconut Cake blends healthy green tea with shredded coconut, brown sugar, and coconut milk. Because of the ingredients, this Thai dessert offers a low-fat, low-carb, low-sodium treat. Typical recipes use about three teaspoons of green tea powder, such as Japanese ‘macha’ – found at health food stores or Asian import markets.

Image Credit: Sue Pizarro (suzula) – sticky rice & mango

This recipe is courtesy of Chad Carns, the author of “The Gourmet Bachelor, Global Flavor, Local Ingredients” cookbook — thegourmetbachelor.com. Thank you, Chad!

Ingredients:
– Bread Pudding
3 c milk
3 c unsweetened coconut milk
1/2 c sweetened coconut flakes
1 loaf French bread, 1-inch cubes
3 eggs
3/4 c sugar
2 T vanilla extract
1 T butter

– Mango Sauce
1 mango, peeled and sliced
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c water
1 vanilla bean, cut open

Directions:
Bread Pudding: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix milk, coconut milk, coconut flakes and bread in a large bowl. Whisk eggs, sugar and vanilla extract in a small mixing bowl and then add to bread mixture. Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan with butter. Spoon the bread mixture into the pan. Bake on the upper rack of oven until the bread pudding has set and is golden brown on top, about 45 minutes.

Mango sauce: Simmer ingredients for 10 minutes. Remove vanilla bean. Blend in a food processor until smooth. Serve pudding on a bed of mango sauce.

Pairing: Sauternes, France

About Sencha Naturals

Enlightening mouths since 2001, Sencha Naturals is a leading provider of green tea inspired foods. Based out of Los Angeles, Sencha’s all-natural line of gourmet Green Tea Mints & Green Tea Bars, all infused with natural green tea, are available at cafes, tea shops, natural & specialty food stores worldwide. All Sencha Natural products are certified vegan, gluten/wheat-free, and contain Organic Fair Trade certified green tea extract.

SEN CHA Green Tea Mints

Available in four distinct flavors, all SEN CHA Green Tea Mints are certified Fair Trade and provide the following traits:

Available Flavors:

Original Green Tea Mints

The original green tea flavor that revitalizes the breath naturally

Delicate Pear Green Tea Mints

With fresh pear extract  for extra sweetness

Lively Lemongrass Green Tea Mints

A mixture of citrus, ginger and lemongrass zest

Morning Lychee Green Tea Mints

An invigorating blend of green tea, lychee, and coconut extracts

SEN CHA Green Tea Bars

Available in the four flavors as the mints, the SEN CHA green tea bars are certified kosher and provide the following traits:

Available Flavors:

Green Tea Bars

Mixed with lightly roasted brown rice, antioxidant rich goji berries, nuts and seeds.

Delicate Pear Tea Bars

The original bar with ripe pears, dates and prunes to extra sweetness.

Lively Lemongrass Tea Bars

The original bar with fresh lemon peel and zesty ginger.

Morning Lychee Tea Bars

The original bar with lychee fruit and coconut pieces.

Where to find Sencha Naturals

You can order Sencha Naturals online.

Or visit any of these nationwide retailers: Bristrol Farms, Ralph’s, Whole Foods, Tevana, CostPlus World Market, or The Vitamin Shoppee. Find the closest store with the Retail Finder.

Preparation Time: approx. 45 minutes
Baking Time: approx. 10 minutes
Total time: approx. 55 minutes
Servings: +- 20

Ingredients:
125g (4.4 oz) butter
2 large eggs
5ml (1 teaspoon) vanilla extract
500ml (2 cups + 2 tablespoons) cake flour, sifted
10ml (2 teaspoons) baking powder
200ml (7/8 cup) milk

Syrup ingredients:
250ml (1 cup + 1 tablespoon) sugar
pink food colouring
300ml (1 1/4 cups) fine dessicated coconut

Preparation:
Heat oven to 180 C/ 356 F.
Cream the butter and sugar until light.
Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then beat in the vanilla.
Fold in the flour and baking powder alternately with the milk to form a batter with a dropping consistency.
Spoon into greased mini cupcake trays.
Bake for about 10 mins until skewer comes out clean.
Remove from the oven and cool on a rack.

To make the Syrup:
Add the sugar and 250ml (1 cup + 1 tablespoon) water to a saucepan.
Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the mixture thickens slightly.
Remove from the heat and stir in a few drops of colouring.
Dip the cool cakes into the syrup, then roll in coconut.

Enjoy!!

Easter is coming. Here is one of our favorite Bunny Cake recipes from BettyCrocker.com!
Preparation time: 30 min.
Total time: 2 hrs and 10 min.
Servings: 12

Easter Bunny Cake from BettyCrocker.com

Ingredients:

1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® carrot cake mix
Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box
Tray or cardboard, covered with foil
1 container Betty Crocker® Whipped fluffy white frosting
1 cup shredded coconut
Construction paper
Jelly beans or small gumdrops
1 cup shredded coconut
Green food color

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Make and cool cake as directed on box for two 8-inch or 9-inch round pans.

2. Reserve 1 layer for another use or to make a second bunny. Cut 1 layer in half as shown in diagram. Put halves together with frosting to form body. Place cake upright on cut edge on tray.

3. Cut out a notch about one-third of the way up one end of body to form head (small end) as shown in diagram. Attach half of cutout piece from tail with toothpicks. Frost with remaining frosting, rounding body on sides. Sprinkle with 1 cup coconut. Cut ears from construction paper; press into notch on top. Use jelly beans for eyes and nose.

4. Shake 1 cup coconut and 3 drops food color in tightly covered jar until evenly tinted. Surround bunny with tinted coconut. Add additional jelly beans if desired. Store loosely covered.

High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Follow High Altitude directions on cake mix box for two 8- or 9-inch round pans.

Source: Find more recipes at www.bettycrocker.com.