Coconut Caramels Food

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.

VEGAN COCONUT CARAMEL

Steps:

• Combine coconut milk, brown sugar, 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons margarine, and vanilla extract in a saucepan. Heat on low, watching carefully and stirring occasionally, until mixture registers 236 degrees F (113 degrees C) on an instant-read or candy thermometer. Remove from heat. Mix in any grease that separated from the mixture, or carefully pour it off.

MACADAMIA & COCONUT CARAMELS

Steps:

• Line an 8-in. square baking dish with foil and grease the foil with 1 teaspoon butter; set aside., In a large heavy saucepan, combine the brown sugar, corn syrup, cream of tartar and remaining butter; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; gradually stir in milk. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until a candy thermometer reads 244° (firm-ball stage)., Remove from the heat; stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into prepared dish. Refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours., Using foil, lift candy out of dish. Gently peel off foil; cut caramel into 1-in. squares. Wrap individually in waxed paper; twist ends. Store in an airtight container.

GO NUTS! COCONUT CARAMELS

Steps:

• Line an 8x4-in. loaf pan with foil and grease the foil with butter; set aside. , In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the caramels, 3/4 cup coconut, baking chips and peanuts. Microwave on high, uncovered, for 1 minute; stir. Cook, uncovered, 30-60 seconds longer or until caramels are melted; stir to combine. Press into prepared pan. Sprinkle with remaining coconut. Cool. , Using foil, lift candy out of pan. Discard foil; cut candy into 1-in. squares.

COCONUT CREME CARAMEL

Steps:

• Melt 1/2 cup sugar with 3 tablespoons water in a saucepan over medium-low heat, occasionally swirling the pan, until the sugar starts to bubble and turn golden brown, about 7 minutes. Remove from the heat and divide the syrup among 8 (1/2) cup ramekins so the bottoms and sides are covered with the syrup. Preheat the oven to 275 degrees. Meanwhile, whisk the remaining sugar, coconut milk, whole milk, and eggs in a bowl until the sugar is completely dissolved. Divide the mixture among the ramekins. Create a water bath by filling a baking dish halfway with water. Place the ramekins in it and bake until the custards set, about 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the water bath. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate and least 12 hours. To serve, loosen the sides with a knife and invert custard onto plates so the caramel is on top, drizzling any remaining caramel on the plates around the custard. Serve chilled garnished with a mint leaf.

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 CARAMEL BARS

Steps:

• Toast the coconut: Spread coconut in a 9x13" pan, bake in preheated 300 degree F oven 20-25 minutes or until lightly toasted, stirring half way through baking time.
• Increase oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar, vanilla, and egg, until well blended.
• Mix in flour, salt, baking powder and 1 1/2 cups toasted coconut (reserving 1/2 cup for topping).
• Spread mixture in un-greased 9x13" pan, lining with parchment if you desire.
• Bake for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile melt 1/2 (1/2 cup) of the caramel in microwave.
• Drizzle melted caramel over baked crust and return to oven for 10-12 minutes or until medium brown and caramel is bubbly.
• Removed crust from oven, working quickly, use a heat proof plastic knife (plastic reduces the drag on sticky baked goods), or a bench knife, to loosen the edges of the crust from the pan; cut into 2 dozen bars, leaving them in the pan. (It is easier to cut these bars while still warm).
• Sprinkle bars with the chocolate chips.
• Allow chocolate chips to soften about 5 minutes, then spread chocolate evenly over bars.
• Set aside to cool completely.
• Loosen the bars from the edge of pan again, using a flexible spatula to lift the bars out of the pan.
• Set on a rack.
• Combine remaining caramel with 1 tablespoon milk or cream and heat until caramel is melted enough to pour.
• Stir to combine with milk or cream, drizzle over the bars.
• Garnish with reserved toasted coconut.