Coconut Trifle Food

CHOCOLATE COCONUT TRIFLE

Steps:

• Combine sweetened condensed milk, coconut milk, milk, egg yolks, and cornstarch in a saucepan over low heat; cook, stirring constantly, until thickened into a custard, about 10 minutes.
• Divide custard between 2 bowls. Mix 2 1/2 cups shredded coconut into the first bowl of custard. Fold cocoa powder into the second bowl of custard. Let custard mixtures cool, about 10 minutes.
• Beat cream in a chilled glass or metal bowl with an electric mixer until soft peaks form.
• Pour 1/4 cup milk into a shallow bowl. Dip ladyfingers briefly in milk and arrange in the bottom of a glass trifle bowl. Spoon coconut custard on top. Layer remaining ladyfingers and chocolate custard on top. Smooth whipped cream over the top.
• Place 1 1/4 cup shredded coconut in a small skillet over low heat. Cook and stir until toasted and fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Let cool.
• Sprinkle toasted coconut and chocolate over whipped cream. Cover and refrigerate until flavors meld, about 4 hours.

COCONUT CUSTARD TRIFLE WITH VANILLA BEAN WHIPPED CREAM AND TROPICAL FRUIT WITH MACADAMIA NUTS

Steps:

• For the custard: Place 2 cups cream, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup coconut flakes and the vanilla seeds and pod in a medium saucepan. Whisk to combine and bring to a boil over low heat.
• Meanwhile, combine the eggs and remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a bowl. In another bowl, combine the cornstarch and remaining 1/2 cup cream.
• When the cream and coconut mixture comes to a boil, remove it from the heat and whisk half into the egg and sugar mixture. Then IMMEDIATELY whisk it back into the pan with the hot cream and coconut mixture. (See Cook's Note.)
• Return the saucepan to medium heat and gradually whisk in the cornstarch and cream mixture. Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat to thicken the pastry cream, stirring frequently to prevent scorching. (It is necessary to bring this mixture to a boil to cook the cornstarch; if the mixture is not brought to a boil, the mixture will feel starchy and gritty. The desired outcome is the consistency of vanilla pudding. YUM!) Strain the custard through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl and chill until chilled through. (This can be done really quickly over an ice bath.)
• For the tropical fruit salad: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the macadamia nuts on a small baking sheet and toast until golden and fragrant, 5 to 10 minutes. Let cool slightly, then roughly chop and set aside.
• Toast the remaining 1/4 cup coconut flakes in medium skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the skillet and set aside to cool and crisp.
• For the whipped cream: Beat the cream, sugar and vanilla seeds in a chilled mixing bowl with a hand mixer until the cream starts to thicken and hold soft peaks.
• To serve: Layer some pastry cream, pineapple, banana, starfruit, mango, whipped cream, toasted macadamia nuts and toasted coconut in 4 individual trifle dishes. Repeat the layers and top with a dollop of whipped cream, toasted macadamia nuts, toasted coconut and some fruit, including a slice of starfruit.

COCONUT CHOCOLATE TRIFLE

Steps:

• Trim crust from top, sides and bottom of cake. Cut cake into 16 slices. Spread preserves over eight slices; top with remaining cake. Cut into 1-in. cubes. , Place in a 2-qt. serving bowl; drizzle with 1/3 cup orange juice. Chop chocolate; set aside 2 tablespoons for garnish. Sprinkle remaining chocolate and 1 cup coconut over cake. , In a large bowl, combine the milk, cream, dry pudding mix and remaining orange juice; beat on low for 2 minutes. Spoon over cake. Sprinkle with remaining coconut and reserved chocolate. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.

COCONUT-CREAM TRIFLE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan have 2 cups of water boiling. Place gelatin into a medium heat-proof bowl or large heat-proof measuring cup. Pour the hot water over the gelatin. Stir to make sure it dissolves. Add 2 cups of cold water to the gelatin. Place the raspberries in the bottom of a 2 quart trifle bowl. Pour the gelatin over the raspberries and place it in the refrigerator to set completely, about 4 hours.
• Once the jelly is set, soak the ladyfingers in a baking dish with the sherry, coating both sides until saturated but still firm. Lay a row of ladyfingers over the top of the gelatin. Stir the coconut into the pudding and layer it over the ladyfingers. Whip the cream until stiff then carefully smear on top of the pudding. Decorate with chocolate shavings and cherries. Serve right away or keep refrigerated until ready to eat.

COCONUT-CREAM TRIFLE

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan have 2 cups of water boiling. Place gelatin into a medium heat-proof bowl or large heat-proof measuring cup. Pour the hot water over the gelatin. Stir to make sure it dissolves. Add 2 cups of cold water to the gelatin. Place the raspberries in the bottom of a 2 quart trifle bowl. Pour the gelatin over the raspberries and place it in the refrigerator to set completely, about 4 hours.
• Once the jelly is set, soak the ladyfingers in a baking dish with the sherry, coating both sides until saturated but still firm. Lay a row of ladyfingers over the top of the gelatin. Stir the coconut into the pudding and layer it over the ladyfingers. Whip the cream until stiff then carefully smear on top of the pudding. Decorate with chocolate shavings and cherries. Serve right away or keep refrigerated until ready to eat.

COCONUT TRIFLE

Steps:

• Place cake cubes in a large bowl. In a bowl, whisk the milk, extract and pudding mixes for 2 minutes (mixture will be thick). Stir in ice cream and 3/4 cup coconut until blended. Pour over cake cubes; stir just until combined. , Transfer to a 5-qt. trifle bowl. Spread with whipped topping. Toast remaining coconut; sprinkle over top. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.

RASPBERRY & COCONUT TRIFLE CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Butter and line a deep 20cm loose-bottom cake tin. Beat all the cake ingredients together until smooth, pour into the tin, then smooth the top. Bake for 40-45 mins until golden and risen. Cool completely on a rack; once cold, put into the fridge. Meanwhile, prepare the custard - whisk the cornflour and 1 tbsp icing sugar into the remaining coconut cream until smooth. Bring the custard to the boil, then whisk in the coconut mix. Keep whisking until it's boiling and fairly thick. Tip into a bowl, cover with cling film straight away, then cool.
• Mix the Malibu, lime zest and juice and 2 tbsp icing sugar. Trim off the top of the cake if it's domed, then cut into three horizontally using a bread knife or serrated knife.
• Line the cleaned cake tin with plenty of cling film (a little oil helps it to stick), then put a circle of cake back in the bottom. Sprinkle with some of the Malibu mix. Crush 100g of the raspberries and mix well into the jam, then fold in 100g whole raspberries. Spoon onto the sponge in the tin but don't go right to the edges.
• Top with the second piece of cake, sprinkle with more of the Malibu mix, then spoon the custard over and spread it out. Top with the final layer of cake, sprinkle with remaining Malibu, then chill for at least 4 hrs, covered with cling film, to let the layers firm up and the flavours mingle.
• Once set, remove the cake from the tin, then slide it onto a serving plate. Softly whip the cream with the final 1 tbsp icing sugar, then spread over top of the cake. Scatter with the remaining whole raspberries and decorate with fresh shredded coconut, if you like.

COCONUT AND TROPICAL FRUIT TRIFLE

Steps:

• To make the coconut custard, in a medium saucepan over medium heat, warm the milk with the 1/2 cup (100 g) sugar. Scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean and add them to the saucepan, then drop in the pod.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and coconut milk until completely smooth. In another small bowl, whisk the egg yolks until combined.
• When the milk mixture is hot, stir the cornstarch mixture to recombine, then whisk it into the saucepan. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens. While whisking constantly, pour about one-third of the hot thickened milk into the egg yolks, then scrape the yolk mixture into the saucepan. Cook, stirring constantly and scraping the bottom of the pan, just until the mixture begins to boil (it will be very thick). Remove from the heat and strain into a clean bowl. (The vanilla pod can be rinsed, dried, and used for another purpose; see page 14.) Stir in the 1 cup (70 g) coconut, and refrigerate until chilled. (To speed up the chilling, you can set the bowl containing the custard in a larger bowl filled with ice water.)
• To make the fruit filling, in a nonreactive skillet, gently cook the pineapple until it is heated through, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl and let cool completely.
• Add the strawberries, mango, 6 tablespoons (75 g) sugar, lime juice, and rum to the pineapple and toss gently.
• To assemble the trifle, use a 2-quart (2-liter) rectangular baking dish with at least 3-inch (8-cm) sides. Remove the parchment paper from the sponge cake and cut out 2 pieces that each fit in the bottom of the baking dish. (You'll need the cake trimmings, so don't eat them!)
• Spread 1/2 cup (125 ml) of the coconut custard evenly in the bottom of the dish. Place one of the cake pieces on top. Spread half of the fruit filling and some of their juice over the cake.
• Spread about 1 cup (250 ml) of the coconut custard over the fruit, then place the second cake piece on top. Cover the cake with the remaining fruit filling and juice. Spread another 1 cup (250 ml) of the coconut custard over the fruit, and cover with the cake trimmings, fitting them in a single layer.
• Finally, spread the remaining coconut custard over the top and refrigerate, uncovered, for about 30 minutes to firm up the top layer of custard. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until chilled.
• Scoop out big spoonfuls of the trifle so all the layers of fruit, cake, and custard can be seen. Strew toasted coconut over the top of each serving. The dessert is delicious by served all by itself, but even better in a pool of Raspberry Sauce (page 246), Mango Sauce (page 246), or Strawberry Sauce (page 248).
• This trifle will keep overnight, but if stored any longer, the juices from the fruit will make the cake too soggy.
• I prefer to use unsweetened coconut, but if you can only find sweetened coconut, reduce the sugar in the custard by 1 1/2 tablespoons.

RASPBERRY COCONUT TRIFLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Grease and line a 9" springform pan.
• Beat all the cake ingredients together until smooth, pour into the pan, and smooth the top.
• Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until golden and risen.
• Let cool completely.
• Meanwhile, whisk the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons icing sugar into the remaining coconut milk.
• Bring the custard to a boil, then whisk in the coconut milk mixture.
• Keep whisking until it come to a boil and is fairly thick.
• Pour into a bowl, cover immediately with plastic wrap, and let cool.
• Mix the coconut rum with the lime zest and juice and 2 tablespoons of the icing sugar.
• Crush half of the raspberries and mix together with the raspberry jam, then fold in the remaining whole berries.
• Cut the cooled cake into cubes and put a layer on the bottom of your serving bowl.
• Sprinkle with some of the rum mixture, then top with some of the raspberry mixture.
• Repeat, but this time with the custard.
• Keep layering, alternating fruit layer with custard layer, until all the ingredients are used up.
• Whip the cream with the remaining icing sugar until soft peaks form, then spread over the top of the trifle.
• Refrigerate for at least 4 hours - the longer it stands, the more the flavours mingle.

MANGO & COCONUT TRIFLES

Steps:

• Put the gelatine in a bowl, cover with cold water and leave to soak for 10 mins. Meanwhile, warm the orange juice in a small pan over a low heat. Squeeze the water from the gelatine, then whisk into the juice over the heat until the gelatine has dissolved. Don't let the mixture bubble, or the jelly won't set. Stir in the mango pulp until combined.
• Divide the sponge fingers between four dessert glasses, breaking to fit if needed, and press into the bases. Pour over the rum, then add a few mango slices and four raspberries each. Spoon the jelly mixture into the glasses so the fruit and sponges are covered. Chill for 2 hrs until set.
• Meanwhile, heat the coconut milk in a saucepan over a medium heat, stirring continuously until reduced by about a third. Whisk in half the cream and all the vanilla, then bring everything to a simmer.
• Mix the egg yolks with 50g sugar, the cornflour and milk in a large heatproof bowl until smooth. Slowly pour in the hot coconut cream while whisking to incorporate. Return to the saucepan over a medium-low heat, stirring for 5-7 mins until you have a thick but pourable custard. Remove from the heat, pour into a bowl and cover the surface with baking parchment. Leave to cool completely, then chill for at least 1 hr, or up to 24 hrs.
• Pour the custard over the set jellies and chill for another 2 hrs.
• Heat the oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 5. Sprinkle the coconut flakes over a baking sheet and bake for 4 mins, or until just toasted.
• Whip the remaining cream with the rest of the sugar to soft peaks using an electric whisk and spoon over the custard layer. Sprinkle over the lime zest and toasted coconut. Will keep chilled for up to 24 hrs.