Tag Archives: coconut

Creamy Coconut Cheesecake

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Ruthanne

Chewy layers of coconut covered in dark chocolate cheesecake make this dessert irresistible!

A few months ago I made coconut macaroons– yum. I love coconut. I kept thinking that the macaroons would be good with chocolate. I used Nestle’s new Dark Chocolate Morsels in a Triple chocolate cheesecake a few weeks ago and decided then and there that the dark chocolate cheesecake would be perfect with the coconut macaroons. I didn’t get too creative with this recipe- I just used the coconut macaroon recipe and spread it in the bottom and used the dark chocolate cheesecake recipe over the top—-fingers crossed and YUM! It worked wonderfully!

This recipe is not hard, but it is going to take you some time, so you will want to make it ahead.

INGREDIENTS:

  • Oreos (2 to 2 1/2 cups, finely crushed)
  • 1/4 c. butter (melted)
  • 2 egg whites (beaten until soft peaks form)
  • one (14oz.) bag of sweetened shredded coconut
  • one can of sweetened condensed milk
  • 2 (8oz.) packages of Philadelphia Cream Cheese (softened)
  • 1/2c. sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 c. Nestle Dark Chocolate Morsels (melted)
  • 1 c. whipping cream
  • 3 t. vanilla

DIRECTIONS:

  • Finely crush Oreos and mix with melted butter. Press into bottom of a 9-Inch Round Springform Pan.
  • In a medium bowl combine egg whites, coconut and sweetened condensed milk. Press this macaroon mixture gently over the top of the crust (if you are too vigorous in spreading this it will pull up your Oreo crust).
  • In a large bowl, cream together cream cheese and sugar.
  • Add eggs one at a time, beating with mixer between each egg.
  • Add remaining ingredients and beat until smooth.
  • Pour over coconut layer.
  • Set springform pan on a cookie sheet and allow batter to settle at room temperature for 30 minutes (this will help prevent cracks). Preheat your oven to 325 degrees at this time.
  • Bake cheesecake at 325 degrees for 1 hour. At one hour, turn oven off, crack open the oven door and allow cheesecake to sit in oven for another 30 minutes.
  • Remove cheesecake from oven and cool at room temp for 30 minutes.
  • Carefully run a sharp knife around the edge of the springform pan to loosen the edges (I found that this cheesecake tended to stick on the edges just a little because of all that gooey coconut- you might want to try a little parchment paper on the sides and bottom to make it easier.)
  • Remove edges of pan and allow cheesecake to set until it is room temperature.
  • Refrigerate overnight before serving.
  • Serve with some whipped cream or sprinkle with coconut….yum!

My thoughts: They have a cheesecake at The Cheesecake Factory called Coconut Cream Pie Cheesecake and I LOVE it. Originally I thought I would try to copy it exactly, but the chocolate cheesecake is SO much better than vanilla. I didn’t top this cheesecake with any fancy chocolate or drizzles because it is already SO rich…but you certainly could top this with a ganache- or even a caramel sauce. (Especially if your top cracks a bit and you want to hide that). All of my other cheesecake recipes have toppings on them if you need some topping inspiration 🙂 Enjoy! -r

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Coconut Macaroons

Posted on November 16, 2011 by Ruthanne

Chewy coconut cookies with a crisp toasted edge.  Wow your friends with these yummy (gluten free!) coconut macaroons!!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 egg whites
  • 1 bag (14oz) of sweetened coconut
  • 1 can of sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 T. vanilla

DIRECTIONS:

  • Combine vanilla and condensed milk in a large bowl. 
  • Add coconut and blend well.
  • In a medium bowl, beat egg whites until they form soft peaks and add a pinch of salt.
  • Add egg whites to coconut mixture and fold them in.
  • Spoon mixture onto a parchment papered cookie sheet.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes (check for browned tops– you can see mine got a little over-done!)
  • Cool and enjoy!!

My thoughts: I made these with my friend Brie today- she can’t have gluten and these are blissfully free of it and soooo good.  I’ve been making these for many years and they are the best coconut macaroons I’ve ever tried.  Enjoy!!!! r-

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German Chocolate Cookie Bites!

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Ruthanne

What could be better than a big slice of german chocolate cake?  Why a german chocolate cookie stuffed full of that yummy coconut pecan icing of course!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 box of German Chocolate cake mix
  • 1/3c. softened margarine
  • 1/2 box of cream cheese (4 oz.)
  • 1/3 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips (melted)
  • 1 egg
  • German chocolate frosting (get a tub of it –or be fancy and use my favorite recipe for it!)

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Cream together margarine and cream cheese until smooth.
  • Add egg, stirring until smooth.
  • Blend in melted chocolate.
  • Add cake mix last and stir until combined.  Use your hands to knead mixture into a heavy cookie dough.
  • Make evenly- size small balls of dough (I use a Small Cookie Scoop) and place on cookie sheets.

  • Gently press cookies into a flattened cookie shape (rather than a ball) as they will not spread out when they bake.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes.
  • Remove cookies from oven and cool completely.
  • Spread frosting between two similarly -sized cookies and chill until serving.

My thoughts:  I love how the cookie part turned out.  I was really just experimenting with using a cake mix.  I’ve used a cake mix before with my Carrot Cake Cookies– but I knew they couldn’t be made the same (oatmeal in a german chocolate cake?!).  The cookies are dense and sooo chocolatey and rich.  They scoop wonderfully and don’t stick to the cookie sheet– perfect!  Look for them again soon– I want to try my hand at some caramel cookies with caramel cake mix!!!  Enjoy!

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Coconut Macadamia Nut Cookies!

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Ruthanne

 

This is a twist on my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe (also my very 1st blog!).  My friend Jesse asked if they could be made with white chocolate, semisweet chocolate, macadamia nuts and coconut– and I thought– why not?  They turned out great and taste amazing!  Thanks for the idea Jess!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2c. margarine (use tubs of Fleishmans or Country Crock for best results)
  • 2c. brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 c. sugar
  • 6 c. flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 1/2 t. baking soda
  • 2 tbsp vanilla
  • 2c. (one bag) mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 2c. (one bag) white chocolate chips
  • 1 1/2 c. chopped Macadamia nuts (to taste)
  • 1c. shredded coconut (to taste)

DIRECTIONS:

  • Cream together butter and sugars.  Add the rest of the ingredients except for the flour, chocolate chips, nuts and coconut.
  • Add flour (batter should be fairly dry).  Fold in remaining ingredients.  Add more flour if needed to make cookie dough very thick.   
  • Drop using a Large Cookie Scoop onto cookie sheets.  Bake at 350 degrees for 14-16 minutes.
  • Remove from cookie sheet and cool on parchment paper.
  • Enjoy!!!

My thoughts:  I love this cookie recipe made with the two types of chips in the original recipe.  These cookies are great– but I still prefer the original!  This cookie dough is PERFECT for making absolutely huge cookies that are cooked all the way through but not crunchy 🙂  Love ’em!!!  Hope you do too!!!


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German Chocolate Disaster.

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Ruthanne

I like recipes— love them in fact!  I usually prefer to create my own recipes, but once in awhile someone will recommend a recipe so highly that I simply have to try it.  This was the case with this german chocolate cake.  It is from allrecipes.com and you can click here to get the original recipe.  The friend who recommended it (Spencer) is a chef and literally everything he makes is amazing– so here goes:

The cake is incredibly time consuming in my opinion….MUCH too time consuming for a blog called EASYbaked anyway 🙂 ….I made this crazy from-scratch cake and had all three pans stick (I should have added a circle of parchment paper to the bottoms….) and fall apart.

only two 1/2 layers were useable- saved the rest for a trifle

The recipe involves separating eggs and whipping into stiff peaks and melting german chocolate and adding buttermilk and cake flour…….yeah- buy a german chocolate cake mix– the cake was good- probably one of the best scratch cakes I’ve made- but it was not quick or easy….your call 🙂 .  The icing, on the other hand, was TO DIE for!  I will never buy German chocolate frosting again— easy and quick and soooooo good!!    so….

 

 

 

 

 

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 German chocolate cake mix (with oil and water to make according to box) -or be brave and make it from scratch (it is really yummy)- remember the parchment paper!!!
  • FROSTING:
  • 1c. sugar
  • 1c. evaporated milk
  • 1/2c. butter
  • 3 egg yolks (beaten)
  • 1 1/3c. flaked coconut
  • 1c. finely chopped pecans.
  • 1 t. vanilla extract
  • GANACHE:
  • 1/4c. whipping cream
  • 1/2c. semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

  • Prepare cake mix as directed, baking in two 8 or 9 inch round cake pans (or make cupcakes even— the star of this show is the icing!)
  • FROSTING :  In saucepan combine sugar, evaporated milk, butter and egg yolks.  Cook over low heat (stir constantly!) until this thickens considerably (took me about 8 minutes).
  • Remove from heat and stir in pecans and coconut.
  • Chill until thick enough to spread.
  • Slice each cake in half, forming 2 layers.
  • Layer cake with icing.
  • GANACHE: Heat whipping cream in a small saucepan until bubbling at edges (about 30 seconds).  Add chocolate chips, cover and allow to sit for 5 minutes.  Stir until smooth.  Pour over top of cake and allow this to drizzle down the sides.
  • ENJOY!!!

YUM!

This recipe was shared on these wonderful blogs: 

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Toasted Coconut Cheesecake Bonbons

Posted on June 14, 2011 by Ruthanne

I just found out that the word bonbon comes from the French word bon which means “good”…so these are goodGOOD!!!! (GOOOOD!) With toasted coconut on the outside and chewy coconut and cream cheese on the inside they couldn’t get any better! Oh- wait—yes they can!  Bite into one of these bonbons and you’ll find creamy dark chocolate and almonds inside!  YUM!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 bag (24-30 pieces) of Dove chocolates (dark chocolate with almond)
  • 8 ounces of Philadelphia Cream Cheese
  • 12 ounces (one bag) of white chocolate chips
  • 1 tbsp of coconut extract
  • 2 cups of all-purpose flour
  • 5 cups of shredded sweetened coconut (divided)
  • 1/2 cup of butter (melted)

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Unwrap all of your chocolates.
  • Soften Philadelphia Cream Cheese in the microwave for about 30 seconds- until it is warm and smooth after stirring.
  • Melt white chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between until they are melted and smooth.
  • Add softened cream cheese to the melted white chocolate and stir well.
  • Stir in coconut extract.
  • Add flour and mix until it forms a thick, sticky dough.
  • Fold in 3 cups of coconut.
  • Using your hands, take about 2T of dough, press it into your palm, place a chocolate in the center and wrap the dough completely around it.
  • Smooth the dough by rolling it a little between your hands and set it on an un-greased cookie sheet. Repeat this process with remaining dough and chocolates.
  • Brush melted butter over tops of cookies and press remaining coconut on the tops and sides of the cookies.
  • Brush the coconut topping with butter and place in the oven.
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. If coconut is not sufficiently toasted on the tops of the cookies at this point, turn your broiler on high and finish toasting it. (This will happen quickly under the broiler, so keep an eye on them!).
  • Remove cookies from the cookie sheet and place on parchment paper to cool. They can be served warm or cooled to room temperature first– either way they are delicious!

My thoughts: mmmm…..I love these!  I created this recipe for Real Women of Philadelphia and it took me awhile to decide which chocolate to use in the middle and how to get the cookie part to taste REALLY coconutty (I just made that word up!)  These cookies remind me of the Chocolate Coconut Cream Cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory– seriously one of my favorite desserts and now in cookie (BONBON!!) form 🙂  ENJOY!

I shared this recipe on these wonderful blogs:

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Coconut Lemon Bars with Mimi!!!

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Ruthanne

Baking is so much more fun with a friend!  Mimi came with the idea and the lemon juice- the rest is history!

INGREDIENTS:

Crust:

  • 1/2 c. butter
  • 1c. flour
  • 1/4 c. powdered sugar
  • 1/8t. lemon extract
  • 1c. shredded coconut

Lemon topping:

  • 2 eggs
  • 1c. sugar
  • 4 T. lemon juice
  • 1/4 t. lemon extract
  • 3T. flour
  • pinch of salt

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  • Using a fork, cut butter into flour and powdered sugar.
  • Add extract and blend well.
  • Press into a 9×9 pan.
  • Bake 10 minutes, add coconut over top, bake 10 more minutes.
  • Combine all of the topping ingredients.
  • When crust is done and still hot, pour topping over it and bake an additional 20 minutes.
  • Allow to cool to room temperature, cut and serve!

My thoughts:  I’d never made lemon bars before tonight, so experimenting with these was a little challenging 🙂  They turned out wonderfully, but if you really like the creamy lemony part of bars you might want to double the topping.  Had a fun night with Mimi though- even Casper enjoyed our cooking experiments!

Mimi with our coconut lemon bars!

Casper begging for lemon bars...


Lemon kisses!!!!!

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Caramel Coconut Cream Cups

Posted on April 17, 2011 by Ruthanne

These chewy coconut cookie cups filled with rich chocolate and fluffy cream cheese are topped off with soft caramel, chocolate and toasted coconut.  More than delicious, these are truly a unique dessert that will have all your friends and family wondering how in the world you made them!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 c.  yellow cake mix (any variety)
  • 2 c. crushed coconut cookies (I use WalMart brand)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 c. vegetable oil
  • 1 c. shredded coconut
  • 1/4 c. whipping cream
  • 1/2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 16 Kraft Caramels (unwrapped)
  • 7 oz. sweetened condensed milk
  • 1/4 c. margarine
  • 6 oz. Philadelphia cream cheese (softened)
  • 1/2 c. sugar
  • 4 oz. Cool Whip (refrigerator temperature)
  • 12 oz. Wilton Dark Candy Cocoa Melts

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  • In a mixing bowl combine cake mix, crushed coconut cookies, eggs and oil.  Blend well.
  • Scoop batter evenly into 12 un-greased muffin tins, pressing it down with spoon.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
  • Spread coconut over a small cookie sheet and toast at the same time your cups are baking for 10 to 15 minutes (check often to prevent burning!)
  • While cookie cups bake, make your fillings:
  1.  Chocolate ganache:  Place whipping cream in a small saucepan and heat it over the stove until it just starts to bubble at edges (20-30 seconds).  Turn off heat, add chocolate chips, over and allow to sit on warm burner for 5 minutes.  After 5 minutes, stir until smooth.
  2. Caramel Sauce:  Place caramels, condensed milk and margarine in a saucepan and heat until caramels are fully melted and mixture is smooth (about 5 minutes)  stir constantly.
  3. Cream filling:  Combine cream cheese with sugar  until smooth.  Fold in Cool Whip.
  • Remove coconut from oven when it is a toasty brown.  Place in bowl to cool.
  • Remove cookie cups from oven.  They look like muffins at this point–using a tart shaper or the end of a wooden spoon, press the middles of the muffin in to form a cup shape. (NOTE:  because ovens vary in temperature, your cups may need to bake longer.  When you press the middle in it should look a little oily from the coconut oil in the cookies- but it should hold its shape–  if it’s doughy and wont stay pressed down, place it back in the oven for a few minutes.)
  • Tip the muffin pan over a clean counter to release the cups and carefully turn them all upright to cool.
  • Melt chocolate candy coating in microwave in 30 second increments, stirring between until smooth.
  • Dip the top edge of each cup into the chocolate and then sprinkle with toasted coconut.
  • Spoon chocolate ganache evenly into each cup.
  • Place cream filling in a large ziplock.  Cut one corner and pipe the cream evenly into each cup.
  • Spoon caramel sauce evenly over each cup.
  • Drizzle any left-over candy coating over each cup and top with remaining coconut.
  • Keep refrigerated until serving.
  • Makes 12 cups.

My thoughts:  I “invented” this recipe for Kraft using Philadelphia Cream Cheese.  It has some of my favorite flavor combinations– coconut, chocolate and caramel– amazing!  It is also a great texture combination: chewy, creamy crunchy….yum.  This is a fairly time-consuming recipe.  If you love baking it is FUN FUN FUN!!!!  (I’m actually a little addicted to making these!)  I can’t give it an “easy recipe” tag though– its just too involved.  If you get a chance to try these let me know what you think!  Enjoy!!!! r-



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Coconut Carrot Cake Cookies!

Posted on April 9, 2011 by Ruthanne

Confession:  I hate carrot cake—HATE it.  But I love these cookies so much that I could eat a whole plate of them in one sitting- they are so moist and flavorful– and they use a cake mix which makes them really easy to make!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 box of Betty Crocker Carrot Cake Mix
  • 12 oz. Philadelphia Cream Cheese (divided)
  • 1/4c. margarine (plus an additional 2 tbsp)
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 tsp. of coconut extract (divided)
  • 1/2c. oatmeal
  • 1c. confectioners sugar
  • 1/2c. Wilton White Candy Melts

DIRECTIONS:

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Cream together the 1/4c. margarine and 8 oz. of the cream cheese (the remaining will be used in the frosting).
  • Using a mixer, add in the egg and 1/4 tsp. of coconut extract (the remainder will be used in the frosting)
  • When the mixture is smooth, slowly add the cake mix until blended (batter will be very heavy)
  • Fold in oatmeal until well mixed.
  • Using a small cookie scoop, place scoops of batter on an un-greased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.
  • Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.  About halfway through, pull the cookies out and gently flatten the tops with a finger and return to oven for remainder of time.
  • Cool cookies completely on parchment paper.
  • Make frosting: cream remaining cream cheese with 2 tbsp. of margarine and 1/4 tsp of coconut extract. Add confectioners sugar to a thick consistency.
  • To put together: turn one cookie bottom up, spoon or pipe a little frosting on it and top with another cookie.
  • If desired, melt some white chocolate and drizzle it over the top of the cookies.
  • Makes about 24 cookies.

My thoughts:  Mmmmm….I want to have some of these cookies now!  I am on a baking freeze because of a kitchen remodel, so I am pulling some recipes from the archives.  This recipe was inspired by my friend and coworker Tammy.  Her daughter requested carrot cake cookies for a bridal shower, and Tammy (an amazing baker!) created cookies very similar to this.  I rethought them a little and added coconut for a recipe contest on Real Women of Philadelphia (RWOP).  Whenever I make them people ask for the recipe.  They are a little time-consuming, but SO worth the extra time in the kitchen!!  I hope you love them!!  r-

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