Coconut Buttercream Food

BUTTERCREAM-COCONUT CAKE ICING

Steps:

• Beat butter and shortening with an electric mixer in a large bowl until smooth; beat in vanilla extract.
• Gradually beat confectioners' sugar into butter mixture until well blended. The mixture will appear dry.
• Stir enough milk into butter mixture to achieve desired consistency for icing.
• Fold half the coconut into the icing; spread icing over cake.
• Sprinkle remaining coconut and pecans over icing.

COCONUT BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Melt the creamed coconut (200g). This can either be done in the microwave in bursts of 20 seconds, mixing between each one, or on the hob over a very low heat. The consistency of the coconut should be thick but easily stirred. Leave to cool.
• Cut the butter (200g) into cubes and beat (either by hand or with an electric mixer on a low speed) until smooth.
• Add the icing sugar (300g) and beat until fully combined - I prefer to add the sugar a couple of spoonfuls at a time as this minimises the amount of sugar that flies out all over the kitchen! You'll find that at first it'll start to look lumpy but keep persevering and it'll smooth out.
• Gradually add the melted creamed coconut, beating in each addition before adding more.
• Take a look at the consistency of your buttercream. If it is a spreadable/pipeable consistency then it's ready to use. If it is a little too stiff then add milk (no more that 1 tsp at a time) until you have the right consistency. Beating in each addition of milk fully before adding more.
• Your buttercream is now ready to use.

COCONUT BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Beat butter and cream of coconut with an electric mixture on medium speed until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Gradually beat in sugar.
• Beat in pure vanilla extract and a pinch of kosher salt until combined.
• Beat in blue gel food coloring, one drop at a time, to desired color.

TOASTED COCONUT CAKE WITH COCONUT FILLING AND BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour two 9-inch-by-2-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper. Whisk together the milk, egg whites, vanilla seeds and vanilla extract in a medium bowl.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the 2 1/4 cups flour, the sugar, baking powder and salt. With the mixer running on low speed, add the 12 tablespoons butter, one piece at a time, and continue beating until the mixture resembles moist crumbs. Add all but 1/2 cup of the milk mixture and beat on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 1 1/2 minutes. With the mixer on low speed, add the remaining 1/2 cup milk mixture. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 30 seconds more. Scrape the sides of the bowl and mix for 20 seconds longer. Divide the batter evenly between the cake pans and smooth the tops with a rubber spatula.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few crumbs attached, 22 to 24 minutes. Cool in the pans on a baking rack for 10 minutes. Run a small knife around the sides of the pans and invert the cakes onto the baking rack. Remove the parchment paper and let cool completely, about 45 minutes.
• Make the coconut filling: Combine the Coconut Custard and cream in a bowl and whip until soft peaks form.
• Make the coconut buttercream: Beat the butter and confectioners' sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the Coconut Custard and salt; beat until the buttercream is smooth.
• Assemble the cake: Use a long serrated knife to slice each cake horizontally into 2 layers. Reserve one of the flat bottom layers for the top of the cake. Place another one of the layers on a cardboard round, cut-side up, and brush with some of the Coconut Simple Syrup. Spoon one-third of the coconut filling onto the cake, and using a small offset metal spatula, spread it into an even layer, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edge of the cake. Repeat with 2 more layers. Brush the cut side of the reserved cake layer with the remaining syrup. Place the layer, cut-side down, on top of the cake. Frost the sides and the top of the cake with the buttercream. Pat the toasted coconut onto the sides of the cake and sprinkle some on the top.
• Combine the milk, coconut milk and vanilla bean and seeds in a medium nonreactive saucepan; bring to a simmer over low heat.
• Whisk the egg yolks, sugar and cornstarch together in a large bowl. Slowly whisk the warm milk into the egg mixture. Return the mixture to the pan, set it over medium heat and bring to a boil. Cook, whisking constantly, until thickened. Scrape the mixture into a bowl, remove the vanilla bean and whisk in the rum and vanilla extract. Let the custard cool to room temperature, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold, at least 2 hours.
• Combine 1 1/2cups water and the sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir in the coconut, remove from the heat and let sit for at least 30 minutes and up to 4 hours.
• Strain the liquid into a clean saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook until the mixture is slightly reduced, about 5 minutes. Let cool.

COCONUT BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Combine egg whites and salt in bowl of a standing electric mixer or other large bowl.
• Stir together sugar and water in a small heavy saucepan and bring to a boil over moderately high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved and washing down side of pan with a pastry brush dipped in cold water. When syrup reaches a boil, start beating whites with electric mixer at medium-high speed. Once whites are frothy, add lemon juice and beat at medium speed until they just hold soft peaks. (Do not beat again until sugar syrup is ready-see below.)
• Meanwhile, put thermometer into sugar syrup and continue boiling, without stirring, until it reaches soft-ball stage (238-242°F). Immediately remove from heat and slowly pour hot syrup in a thin stream down side of bowl into egg whites, beating constantly at high speed. Beat meringue, scraping down bowl with a rubber spatula, until meringue is cool to the touch, about 6 minutes. (It's important that meringue is fully cooled before proceeding.)
• With mixer at medium speed, gradually add butter 1 piece at a time, beating well after each addition until incorporated. (If meringue is too warm and buttercream looks soupy after some butter is added, chill bottom of bowl in a larger bowl filled with ice and cold water for a few seconds before continuing to beat in remaining butter.) Continue beating until buttercream is smooth. (Mixture may look curdled before all butter is added, but will come back together before beating is finished.) Add coconut extract and beat 1 minute more.

COCONUT ROULADE WITH RUM BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an 11-by-17-inch rimmed baking sheet and line the bottom with parchment paper. Lightly butter the parchment and dust with flour, tapping out the excess.
• Whisk 1 cup each flour and granulated sugar, the baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, whisk the 4 egg yolks, vegetable oil, coconut milk and coconut extract. Whisk in the flour mixture in 2 batches.
• Beat the 6 egg whites and cream of tartar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until foamy. Increase the speed to medium high; gradually add the remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar and beat until stiff, shiny peaks form. Fold one-third of the beaten egg whites into the egg yolk mixture with a rubber spatula, then gently fold in the rest.
• Spread the batter on the prepared baking sheet and bake until the cake is golden and springs back when pressed, 15 to 20 minutes. Loosen the edges of the cake with a knife; transfer the baking sheet to a rack and let the cake cool slightly. Dust a large piece of parchment paper with confectioners' sugar. Invert the cake onto the parchment and peel off the parchment on top. Brush the cake with the rum.
• Make the frosting: Whisk the egg whites and granulated sugar in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water (do not let the bowl touch the water) until the mixture is warm and the sugar dissolves. Remove the bowl from the pan; cool slightly.
• Beat the egg white mixture with a mixer on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, 12 to 15 minutes. Beat in the butter a few pieces at a time, then continue beating until glossy and smooth, 5 to 7 more minutes. (Don't worry if the mixture looks curdled at first; continue beating.) Beat in the rum.
• Spread about 2 cups of the frosting on the cake, then sprinkle with 2 cups coconut. Starting at a short end, roll up the cake, using the parchment to help you. Transfer to a platter, seam-side down. Cover the cake roll with the remaining frosting and sprinkle with the remaining 2 cups coconut.

COCONUT CUPCAKES WITH WHIPPED COCONUT MOUSSE FILLING AND COCONUT BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• For the cupcakes: Preheat the convection oven to 325 degrees F or a standard oven to 350 degrees F.
• In large mixer bowl, cream together the granulated sugar and butter until light and fluffy with a heavy duty mixer. Add the eggs, one at a time, and mix thoroughly after each addition. Add the coconut extract and mix well. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Add half of the flour to the mixer bowl along with 1/2 cup of the half-and-half. Mix until the flour is mixed in, scraping the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Add the rest of flour mixture and the other 1/2 cup half-and-half. Mix until the batter is smooth and all of the flour lumps are gone. Fold in the coconut flakes.
• Fill 24 cupcake liners half full and bake for 20 minutes in the convection oven or 28 minutes in the standard oven. The tops of the cupcakes should be lightly browned. Check the cupcakes to make sure no batter sticks to a wooden toothpick when inserted into the cupcake. Cool the cupcakes completely.
• For the mousse filling: In large mixer bowl, beat the heavy cream, half-and-half, coconut extract and pudding mix until light and fluffy using a heavy duty mixer. It should have the consistency of whipped cream. Gently fold in the coconut using a plastic spatula. Put the filling in a pastry bag or zipper bag with a corner cut off.
• For the coconut buttercream: In large mixer bowl, beat together the butter and half of the powdered sugar using heavy duty mixer. Add the half-and-half and the rest of the powdered sugar, along with the coconut extract, and mix well. If the frosting is thicker than you would like, add 1 teaspoon of additional half-and-half at a time, mixing well after each addition, until the frosting reaches the correct consistency. The thickness may depend on the humidity levels in your region. Put into a pastry bag.
• To assemble: Make a hole in the middle of each cupcake using a sharp knife. Be sure and leave a small amount of cake in the bottom of the hole. Fill the cupcakes with the mousse filling. Frost with coconut buttercream. You may top the cupcakes with more flake coconut or toasted coconut as desired.
• Serve immediately or chill until ready to serve.

ITALIAN BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Place the egg whites and 1/3 cup of the sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until the egg whites reach the soft peak stage.
• Meanwhile, pour the remaining sugar and 1/3 cup water in a medium saucepan set over medium heat. Attach a candy thermometer to the side of the pan and bring to the soft-ball stage, without stirring, 240 degrees F.
• The egg whites and syrup should be ready at about the same time. If one is ready before the other then you can remove the pan from the heat or stop whipping for a few minutes.
• Continue to whip the egg whites on medium-high speed and slowly drizzle in the hot syrup, aiming the syrup between the side of the bowl and the beaters. Continue to whip until both the bottom of the bowl and the mixture are cool, 10 to 15 minutes. The mixture should be thick and will form firm peaks at this point. Beat in the salt. At this point you have an Italian meringue.
• While still beating on medium-high, add the butter, a few pieces at a time. As the butter is added, the buttercream may appear to thin out some, but it will thicken into firm peaks once all of the butter is added. Beat in the vanilla extract. If the buttercream is still too loose, beat on high speed until thickened.
• Use right away or refrigerate in an airtight container overnight. The buttercream may need to be beaten slightly to smooth out before using.

COCONUT BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Whisk together flour, 1/2 cup milk, vanilla, and coconut extract in a small saucepan until combined. Place saucepan over medium heat and gradually whisk in remaining 1 1/2 cups milk. Cook, whisking, until mixture comes to a low boil; reduce heat to low and continue to whisk until mixture thickens and big bubbles form and pop, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Transfer mixture to a small heatproof bowl. Let cool to room temperature, whisking occasionally as it cools to make smooth.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, mix butter on medium until soft and creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. Gradually add confectioners' sugar; beat on high until light and fluffy, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Gradually add milk mixture. Increase speed to medium-high and whisk until buttercream is light and fluffy, scraping down bottom and sides of bowl as necessary with a rubber spatula. Frosting can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

COCONUT BUTTERCREAM

Steps:

• Combine egg whites, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer set over (not in) a pot of simmering water. Whisk constantly until sugar has dissolved, and mixture is warm and feels completely smooth when rubbed between fingertips. Transfer bowl to mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Starting on low speed and gradually increasing to medium-high, beat until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 2 minutes. Continue beating until bottom of bowl is cool to the touch, about 10 minutes.
• Reduce speed to medium-low and beat in coconut oil, a few tablespoons at a time, then butter, a few pieces a time, until combined, scraping down bowl as needed. Switch to paddle attachment and beat on low until smooth, about 1 minute more. Buttercream can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 week; return to room temperature and beat until smooth before using.