Coconut Christmas Trees Food

COCONUT YULE TREES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the first five ingredients. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a waxed-paper lined baking sheet; refrigerate, covered, 1 hour. Shape into trees; return to baking sheet., In a microwave, melt chocolate coating; stir until smooth. Spoon over or dip trunks of trees; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set. Decorate trees as desired with frosting, green sugar and sprinkles.

COCONUT MERINGUE TREE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 225 ̊ F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Trace an 8-inch and a 4-inch circle on 1 sheet of parchment. Trace a 6-inch, 2-inch and 1-inch circle on the second sheet. Flip over both sheets (the circles should still be visible).
• Bring a few inches of water to a simmer in a medium saucepan over low heat. Put the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer and set the bowl over the saucepan (don't let the bowl touch the water). Whisk in the granulated sugar and cook, whisking constantly, until the sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture registers 165 ̊ F on an instant-read thermometer, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Transfer the bowl to the stand mixer and fit with the whisk attachment; add the cream of tartar. Beat on high speed until glossy with very stiff peaks, 2 to 3 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract. Reduce the speed to medium and beat until the mixer bowl is no longer hot to the touch, 2 to 3 more minutes.
• Transfer about half of the meringue to a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Starting with the largest traced circle, pipe a ruffled edge around the perimeter. Use some of the remaining meringue from the bowl to fill the circle so the middle is just slightly higher than the piped border. Pipe a second smaller circle of ruffles on top to create a tiered effect. Repeat with the 6-, 4- and 2-inch circles, creating 2 tiers of ruffles on each. Pipe the 1-inch circle, finishing with a peak on top. Transfer the baking sheets to the oven and bake until the meringues are crisp but not browned, about 2 hours. Turn off the oven and let the meringues cool in the oven.
• When ready to assemble, beat the heavy cream in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until foamy. Add the cream of coconut and confectioners' sugar, then beat on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Add the remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and 1/2 teaspoon coconut extract and whisk just to combine.
• Dust all 5 meringue tiers lightly with confectioners' sugar. Set the 8-inch layer on a serving platter or cake stand and spread a thick layer of whipped cream on top, just to where the ruffles start. Repeat with the remaining meringue layers and whipped cream, working from the largest to the smallest meringues to build the tree. Dust with more confectioners' sugar.

CHERRY, COCONUT, AND PISTACHIO PUFF PASTRY CHRISTMAS TREE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Drain cherries and reserve juice for another use. Finely chop cherries and place in a bowl with coconut; mix well. Let sit until coconut absorbs excess liquid from the cherries, about 5 minutes.
• Place 1 puff pastry sheet on a clean counter and lightly score a large triangle shape into it, like a Christmas tree; don't cut all the way through. Repeat with the second puff pastry sheet.
• Set aside 2 tablespoons of the coconut-cherry mixture. Spread the rest inside the scored triangle on the first sheet of pastry. Sprinkle with ground pistachios and place the second pastry sheet on top, lining up the triangles. Transfer to one of the prepared baking sheets.
• Cut out the shape of the tree along the triangular score line, and remove the outer pastry scraps. Make horizontal cuts on the tree from the outer edges in toward the middle, leaving about 1 inch intact in the center to resemble a trunk. Gently lift each horizontal strip, making sure to lift both sheets of pastry, and twist it a couple of times to expose the filling.
• Use the puff pastry scraps to cut out a star shape for the top of the tree and a tree trunk for the bottom. Make sure to use both layers of pastry. Fill the trunk and star with the reserved cherry mix.
• Place the star, trunk, and any extra pastry scraps onto the remaining baking sheet. Brush all pastry pieces with beaten egg.
• Bake in the preheated oven until puffed and browned all over, 25 to 30 minutes. Gently lift parchment paper onto wire racks and allow to cool completely before serving, about 20 minutes.

MATCHA & COCONUT TREES

Steps:

• Finely grind the desiccated coconut with the icing sugar in a coffee grinder or food processor. Mix together the flour and matcha powder, then add to the coconut mixture. Add the remaining ingredients and a pinch of salt, and quickly knead everything to a smooth dough. Wrap and leave in the fridge for at least 30 mins.
• Heat the oven to 160C/140C fan/ gas 3. Roll out the dough on a floured work surface to a thickness of about 5mm and, using the tree-shaped cutter, press out the trees. Put them on baking sheets lined with baking parchment and bake for about 10-15 mins. To make sure they stay nice and green, the trees should hardly be browned. Remove from the oven and leave to cool.
• For the icing, tip the icing sugar into a small bowl and gradually add the milk, stirring until smooth. Add a few dops of food colouring, if you like. Decorate the biscuits with it, then sprinkle with desiccated coconut. Set aside until completely dry. Will keep in an airtight container for up to three days. Recipe adapted from Let it Snow by Agnes Prus (£7.99, Hardie Grant). Photographs © Frauke Antholz.

COCONUT CHRISTMAS TREES

Steps:

• In large Bowl combine coconut, sugar, butter, light cream, and extract.
• (If useing food coloring add it too).
• Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a cookie sheet lined with wax paper; chill for about an hour.
• Using your fingers, shape into trees with trunks.
• In a microwave bowl, melt chocolate coating.
• Dip trunks of trees in chocolate and set on wax paper to harden.
• Decorate trees with green sugar and mini M&M's.
• I would keep the trees chilled until ready to serve or take to party.