Saturday, August 16, 2014

Cooking Cove: Coconut Caramel Delight

My sister Heather celebrated turning 23 recently and I was happily signed up for birthday cake duty. I inquired as to what she would like and she said "that one really yummy dessert you made one holiday." "Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake?" "No." "Coconut Caramel Delight?" "Yeah! I think that is it!" So that is what I made. Coconut can be really polarizing, some loath it, some adore it. I am entrenched in the latter camp.



Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups self rising flour
3/4 cup pecans, chopped
3/4 cup butter, softened

Combine these three ingredients and press (lightly or it will be like cement) into a greased 9 x 13 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes. Cool. This crust tastes similar to a Pecan Sandy. Not sweet at all, but a nice juxtaposition to the sweet filling.


Anytime a recipe calls for pecans, I like to toast them in the oven at 350 degrees for about 8-10 minutes... watch out, they burn easily. Toasting brings forth a richer, more complex flavor.





1/4 cup butter
7 ounce package of flaked coconut
1/2 cup pecans, chopped

Melt butter in a skillet, add coconut and pecans. Cook on medium low heat until coconut is golden and toasted, continuously stirring. Cool. 



8 ounce package of cream cheese, room temperature
14 ounce can of sweetened condensed milk
12 ounce tub of Cool Whip, thawed
12 1/4 ounce jar of caramel topping

Combine cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk. Beat at medium speed. Fold in Cool Whip.

Layer 1/3 of each: cream cheese mixture, then caramel, then toasted coconut and pecans. Like a lasagna. Cover and freeze until firm. Thaw a bit before serving. Store in refrigerator.








7 comments:

  1. Happy b'day to your sis! Your cake looks delicious! Have fun at the party!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you! Any fun plans for your upcoming birthday? What do you like to have for your birthday dessert? I am partial to ice cream cakes.

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    2. No plans as of yet. I prefer ice cream cake too. I love the little chocolate crunches in the middle!

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  2. *reads post*
    *jaw drops*
    *drooling ensues*
    *reads post again*
    *runs to store to buy ingredients*
    *eating*
    *more drooling*
    *happiness*
    [i wish] ;)

    Happy birthday to Heather! :)

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    Replies
    1. Lol!!! Yezzzz it was good! And this is easy to make!!! I promise! The longest thing is toasting the pecans and coconut. Easy peasy.

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  3. I'm going to try this Julie -- I was reading this on my phone a couple of days ago and haven't been able to stop thinking about it!

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