Coconut Caramel Icebox Cake Stacks Food

CHOCOLATE STACKS

Steps:

• In a cold metal bowl, beat the whipping cream to the soft peak stage and add the sugar and vanilla extract slowly. As the whipping cream comes up to the hard peak stage, add the whiskey slowly. (Sample to insure taste.)
• In a food processor, grind 3/4 of the slivered almonds into a fine powder. Place in a bowl and set aside. (Reserve 1/4 as decoration during final assembly.)
• Assembly: Begin by placing one wafer on your tray. Paint the top of it with a thin layer of Hershey's sauce. Next add a teaspoon of the ground almonds and spread it evenly. Then add a teaspoon of the whipping cream mixture.
• Repeat this until you have 6 layers and top it with a dollop of whipping cream. Add a cherry to the top of each stack and a few whole slivered almonds. Then garnish lightly with the Decor Nonpariels. Cover the completed pan of stacks with a sheet of Glad wrap and put them into the refrigerator overnight.
• Note: The whipping cream will soften the wafers. You will need to serve and eat these stacks within the next two or three days. After that the cream starts to harden and they don't taste a good. ENJOY!
• This recipe will yield two trays of 24 stacks. Two per person will serve 12. You will need two aluminum roasting pans to hold the completed dessert.

CARAMEL LATTE ICEBOX CAKE

Steps:

• Whisk together the espresso powder and 1/4 cup hot water in a medium bowl until the espresso powder completely dissolves. Add 3/4 cup of the dulce de leche and stir until well combined.
• Beat 3 cups of the heavy cream in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed to medium peaks, about 2 minutes. Add the espresso and dulce de leche mixture to the cream and beat to very stiff peaks, about 1 minute more.
• Arrange the chocolate wafer cookies to make a 9 1/2-by-4-inch rectangle directly in the center of a large, flat serving platter (breaking up 1 of the cookies to fill in any gaps). Spread 1/4 cup of the espresso-dulce de leche cream on top of the cookies. Lay 8 ladyfingers flat across this cream layer and then spread a third of the remaining cream mixture on top of the ladyfingers. Repeat this process 2 more times with the remaining ladyfingers and cream mixture. Use an offset spatula to spread the top layer of cream mixture evenly over the top and down the sides to cover the icebox cake completely. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 8 hours and up to overnight.
• Once completely chilled, remove the plastic wrap from the cake. Beat the remaining 1/2 cup heavy cream in a medium bowl with an electric mixer (or by hand) to medium peaks. Spread the whipped cream on top of the cake. Microwave the remaining dulce de leche in a small microwave-safe bowl until it is loose enough to drizzle. Drizzle evenly on top of the cake, then sprinkle with the crushed espresso beans.

COCONUT CARAMELS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread the coconut flakes in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet, and toast until light golden brown, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Brush an 8-inch baking dish generously with coconut oil or coat with cooking spray. Sprinkle about 3 to 4 tablespoons of toasted coconut in an even layer on the bottom of the pan, and set aside.
• In a medium heavy saucepan, combine the coconut cream, sugar, corn syrup and sea salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Boil, stirring frequently especially toward the end, until a candy thermometer reaches 250 degrees and caramel is a light golden brown and thickened, about 20 to 30 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the ginger and cardamom.
• Pour the caramel into the prepared pan. Once the caramel stops bubbling and the surface forms a thin skin, about 3 minutes, sprinkle another 4 tablespoons toasted coconut across the surface. Allow to cool at room temperature and set completely, about 2 hours.
• Run a spatula around the sides of the baking dish, loosen and lift the caramel, and move onto a board or clean surface.
• Slice the caramel into 8 (1-inch-wide) strips, then across into 1/2-inch pieces, so you have about 72 caramels. Roll the sides of each piece in more toasted coconut. Wrap as individual sweets using 4- to 5-inch squares of parchment, wax paper, or cellophane, or use store-bought candy wrappers, twisting the ends to seal. Store at room temperature in a cool dry place. Caramels will keep stored at room temp for up to 7 days or frozen after wrapping for up to 1 month.

COCONUT CARAMELS

Steps:

• Line a 13x9-in. pan with foil; grease foil with 1 tablespoon butter. Layer with 1 cup coconut and 3/4 cup almonds; set aside., In a Dutch oven, combine sugar, coconut milk, corn syrup, cubed butter and cream. Cook and stir over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 238° (soft-ball stage), about 40 minutes., Using a pastry brush dipped in water, wash down the sides of the pan to eliminate sugar crystals. Cook and stir until thermometer reads 244° (firm-ball stage), about 5 minutes longer., Remove from heat; stir in 1 cup coconut, vanilla, ginger, salt and remaining almonds. Immediately pour into prepared pan (do not scrape saucepan). Sprinkle with remaining coconut. Let stand until firm, about 5 hours or overnight., Using foil, lift candy out of pan; remove foil. Using a buttered knife, cut caramel into 1-in. squares. Wrap individually in waxed paper; twist ends.