Christmas Coconut Peaks Food

COCONUT ANGEL FOOD CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees, with rack in the lower third of oven. Sift together flour and 3/4 cup sugar 4 times.
• Beat egg whites and warm water with a mixer on low speed until foamy, about 3 minutes. Add cream of tartar, vanilla, salt, and coconut extract. Raise speed to medium, and beat until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes. With machine running, add remaining 3/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Raise speed to high, and beat until peaks are stiff and glossy, but not dry, about 2 minutes.
• Working in 3 batches, sift flour mixture over egg-white mixture, gently folding in each addition with a rubber spatula, being careful not to deflate egg whites.
• Slowly pour batter into a 10-inch angel food cake pan. Gently run a knife through center of batter to release any air bubbles, and smooth using an offset spatula. Bake until cake is golden brown and springs back when touched, 40 to 45 minutes.
• Invert pan onto a wire rack. Let cake cool in pan, about 1 hour. Carefully run a knife around sides of cake to loosen, and turn out onto a large plate or cake stand.
• Pour coconut glaze onto cake, and spread evenly using an offset spatula to cover completely. Gently press coconut onto cake. Let stand until set, about 1 hour. Garnish with lollipops.

CHRISTMAS COCONUT CAKE

Steps:

• Place an oven rack in the bottom third of the oven and another in the top third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter three 9-inch cake pans, then line each with a parchment paper round. Butter the paper and dust the pans with flour; knock out the excess.
• Using an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt to blend. In a small bowl, stir together the milk, coconut milk, and coconut cream until smooth. Add the flour mixture in 3 increments, alternating with the milk mixture in 2 increments, starting and ending with the flour mixture. After each addition, mix at low speed just to combine the ingredients. Stir in the vanilla.
• Place an oven rack in the bottom third of the oven and another in the top third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter three 9-inch cake pans, then line each with a parchment paper round. Butter the paper and dust the pans with flour; knock out the excess.
• To make the whipped cream filling:
• Using an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the cream on high speed until soft peaks form. Beat in the coconut cream and the fresh coconut, if using.
• To make the frosting:
• Whisk the egg whites, sugar, water, cream of tartar, and salt in a large stainless-steel bowl until thoroughly combined. Place the bowl over a saucepan filled with 2 inches of barely simmering water. Using a hand beater or handheld electric mixer, continue beating the egg white mixture for 4 minutes. Add the mini marshmallows in 2 increments while continuing to beat. Wait until the first batch of marshmallows has melted before adding the second. Continue beating for 2 to 3 minutes more, until stiff peaks form. Remove from the heat, stir in the vanilla, and continue beating until the frosting is thick enough to spread.
• To assemble the cake:
• Stack one cake layer on a serving plate and spread the top with half of the whipped cream filling. Repeat with a second layer. Stack the final cake layer on top of the first two and cover the cake's top and sides with the frosting. Sprinkle the coconut on the top and sides of the cake.
• Cover the cake loosely with plastic wrap and store for 1 day at room temperature or up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Bring to room temperature before serving.
• Tip:
• It's challenging to press coconut into the sides of the cake. When pressing the coconut in, the icing invariably sticks to my fingers and mars the frosting's finish. I've discovered that throwing small handfuls of coconut toward the side of the cake makes it adhere quite well-a messy but effective technique for creating a gorgeous-looking cake.
• Tip:
• For those who want to follow Aunt Molly's original recipe, here are her directions for extracting coconut meat and liquid from a fresh coconut: "First buy a fresh coconut. To select the best one, shake it to listen for a lot of milk inside. Prepare the coconut by first making a hole or two in one end with a hammer and ice pick. Stand the coconut up over a small bowl or glass measuring cup to catch the milk as it drains out. Next, crack the hard outer shell with a hammer, then pry off the pieces. The inner white coconut meat can then be grated [with a handheld microplane grater]. Refrigerate both the milk and grated coconut until ready to use."

EASY THREE-INGREDIENT GLUTEN-FREE GERMAN CHRISTMAS COCONUT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Beat egg whites in a glass, metal, or ceramic bowl until stiff peaks form. Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, and continue beating. Fold in coconut flakes with a spatula.
• Use 2 teaspoons to place little mounds of coconut mixture 2 inches apart onto the baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven until lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the size of the cookies. Allow to cool on baking sheet for a few minutes, then carefully transfer onto a wire rack to cool completely.

COCONUT PEAKS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Melt butter.
• In a bowl mix egg and sugar. Add coconut, lime peel and melted butter.
• Let the mixture set for 10 minute.
• Form the peaks using 2 spoons (or one spoon and fingers) and place peaks on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Large peaks - bake for approx 10-11 min or until golden.
• Small peaks - bake for approx 7-8 min or until golden.
• If using - melt chocolate of your choice and dip bottoms of the peaks and let cool or drizzle chocolate on top of peaks.

WHITE CHRISTMAS COCONUT SHEET CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Combine the first 4 ingredients and 1/2 cup water in a big bowl; beat on low speed with an electric mixer 1 minute.
• Increase speed to medium, and beat 1 1/2 minutes.
• Spread batter into a greased and floured 13 x 9 inch baking pan.
• Bake for 35 minutes or until a pick comes out clean.
• Remove pan to a wire rack; spread lemon curd over hot cake.
• Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack (cake will sink slightly in the center).
• Microwave white chocolate in a small microwave safe bowl on HIGH for 1 minute or until melted, stirring after 30 seconds.
• Stir in sour cream; cover and chill 30 minutes.
• Beating whipping cream and powdered sugar in a big bowl on medium speed until stiff peaks form.
• Add in white chocolate mixture, and beat at low speed just until combined.
• Spread whipped cream topping over cake; sprinkle with coconut.
• Cover and chill 8 hours; garnish each serving with a cherry and lemon zest.
• Store in the refrigerator.

CHOCOLATE COCONUT PEAKS

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy 1 1/2 quart saucepan.
• Heat until a deep golden brown.
• Remove from heat.
• Stir in sugar, milk and vanilla.
• Add coconut.
• Drop by teaspoon onto wax paper.
• Cool (in refrigerator) and shape into cones.
• Melt chocolate over hot water (or in the microwave).
• Twirl the bottoms of candies in the chocolate and set on waxed paper.
• (If you have extra chocolate, twirl the tops too.) Chill until firm.
• If you know these will have to set out where it is extra warm, you can mix some paraffin in the chocolate to help it stay set.
• The mix should not be more than one to one.