Sunday, May 12, 2013

A Conglomeration of Coconut Concoctions and Confections


Coconut Cooking Craze!

Welcome Friends! Today I'm sharing another collection of delicious recipes---all starring COCONUT!!!
Probably the most popular coconut confections and desserts pair coconut with chocolate. That said, (and my own humble opinion), I'm starting off with an old favorite from my 1963 Betty Crocker Cooky Book, Dream Bars. Yes, it's 'cooky'.. not cookie. I don't know why it's spelled like that, but this has been my go -to cookie book since my brother gave me the book when I was a little girl. He probably just wanted me to make him cookies. Well, it worked. I wore out the cooky book over the years. A few years ago, my BFF gave me the brand new version of the same book. It's all the same recipes, same pictures and same cover, just new and not all crusted up from using it for... uhhhh.... over  40 years! (in commercial voice-"available on Amazon")

Alright, alright.. on with the recipe!
We enjoyed these for Mother's Day.
Dream Bars with Chocolate, Coconut, Almond

Ingredients-
1/3 cup butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar,1 cup flour
Almond-Coconut-Chocolate topping (below)

Mix butter and sugar thoroughly. Stir in flour. Press into 13x9x2inch pan.
Bake 10 minutes at 350 degrees.
( I sprayed mine first with Bakers Joy.. love the stuff. I also used only an 8 inch pan and made 1/2 the recipe in the photos below)
 Spread with topping and bake 25 minutes more, until golden brown. Allow to cool a while before cutting into bars.
Almond-Coconut-Chocolate Topping
 2 eggs beaten
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup unsalted almonds.(I used whole roasted almonds, they can be  chopped, slivered, etc)
1 cup chocolate chips
Mix eggs, sugar, and vanilla. Mix with flour, baking powder and salt. Stir in coconut, nuts and chocolate chips.
Pour onto crust, bake 25 minutes at 350 degrees as instructed above.

Variations can be made by leaving out the chocolate, or coconut or nuts in whatever combination you like. These have a great toffee flavor from the brown sugar!
Perfectly golden brown!








Ready to devour!




Raspberry Coconut Magic Bars






 Next in the coconut line up, I offer this version of  a magic cookie bar that looks divine. These are made with a graham cracker crust, coconut, raspberry jam, pecans and the magic maker--sweetened condensed milk. What could be bad about these?  You can use any jam you'd like. I'd like apricot when you make them for me, thank you.



Coconut Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Bars



A super combination of classic buttery crust, lemony cheesecake with blueberries and topped with a  coconut crumble flavored with a hint of cinnamon. Someone got this right when they brought these flavors together! Making these real soon!


Coconut Bread

Ahhh, can't you just taste this fresh, hot loaf of coconut bread, straight from the oven? This fairly basic bread is enhanced with lots of coconut, cinnamon and buttery goodness! I can't wait to try this recipe, too.

German Chocolate Cake Bars

It's time for another tasty chocolate and coconut creation. This has a sort of magic cookie thing going on. The crust is make with a chocolate cake mix, then the magic goes on top--coconut, chocolate chips and pecan. Everything is doused with sweetened condensed milk and baked to a gooey, delectible deliciousness! Is your mouth watering yet? They sound incredible.. got to try this one!

Key Lime Coconut Bars


Nothing like citrus to get the mouth watering and these bars do just that! Toasted coconut is added to the pastry crust, then these scrumptious bars are topped  with a lime rich filling and baked. Finally, toasted coconut and a dusting of powdered sugar make these beautiful and even more delicious. If you click on the link above, you'll find several more coconut and lime recipes as these were part of a recipe challenge. Great stuff!

Ranger Cookies
                                               Recipe Here
These sound like the ultimate comfort food cookie. These hearty Ranger cookies are full of coconut, raisins and chocolate chips in an oatmeal cookie base. My dad made oatmeal cookies almost every Sunday night. They were supposed to go in our lunches during the week but with 4 kids, and the neighbor kids that caught on to his baking habit, they didn't last very long. Also called Cowboy cookies, or everything cookies, you can add lots of different ingredients to these. Dried cranberries, nuts, pretzel bits would make them delectible

One last recipe and more chocolate coconut yumminess. These almond joy bites sound better than the candy bar they're named after. I said it before, but I will make these confections! I swear!

A big thanks and a shout out to the great bloggers who posted these recipes and took the fine photographs I shared here.

Thanks for dropping by the Sunset Coast today!
Have a Sweet Day!
Cindy

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24 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness, such fabulous recipes with coconut, which I love! You made me drool! Have a good week.
    FABBY

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  2. I am a coconut junkie! Thanks for sharing - pinned :-)

    Linda
    With A Blast

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    1. True coconut junkie! I clicked on your link at one of the parties again ;-) I'd like to invite you to share this at our With A Blast - All My Bloggy Friends #47 Hope to see you there ! {following you via GFC now}

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  3. Oh Cindy!This is so fun. I've been away from blogland for months now (check out my recent post to see what I've been doing). I had joined the Showcase Party and saw your post. I love coconut and you have some yummy-looing recipes posted. Can't wait to try a few of them. AND....I HAVE THE SAME COOKBOOK!!!!
    Marsha

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    1. Thanks Marsha! Do you have the cookbook from the 60's? I can't get rid of mine! I'll check out your blog and thanks so much for following the Sunset Coast! Cindy​

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  4. Hey Cindy,
    I'm your latest follower!
    Marsha

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  5. Oh my word, I just gained 10 lbs just looking at all of these and they are all so yummy looking. Thanks tons for joining Inspire Me. Hugs, Marty

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  6. Yummmmmmmmmy!! You have a wonderful blog!! I'm your newest GFC follower from the “TGIF” blog hop - this is my blog if you wanted to follow back: godsgrowinggarden.com
    Thanks
    Angie

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  7. Wow! I would like a bite of each one! I love coconut and so does my hubby, any one of these desserts would be devoured in my house:) now following~ Stopping by from TGIF party~ Lynn @ Turnips 2 Tangerines

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  8. So much coconut inspiration! I am hungry just looking at all these awesome goodies! Thanks for joining Diann and I at TTF!

    Linda

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  9. wow, those are some amazing and delicious recipes... Thanks for linking up to Tasteful Tuesdays and for the link back :o) Can't wait to see what you bring next week. Emily @ Nap-Time Creations
    oh, and I just posted an amazing round-up from last weeks party… stop on over and check it out!

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  10. They all look so YUMMY! Thanks so much for sharing at Amaze Me Monday!!!

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  11. Oh my!!!! YUM!
    Come party with APIMP!
    I would love for you to share and link up at my TGIF Link Party.
    The party is open every Thursday night and closes Wednesday's at midnight.
    http://apeekintomyparadise.blogspot.com/2013/05/tgif-link-party-4.html
    Hugs, Cathy

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  12. Your bars look DELICIOUS!!!! I love coconut and always feel like I don't have enough recipe using it. These sound divine!!!!

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  13. Hi Cindy. I found your blog thru the Bouquet of Talent linky party. Your coconut bars caught my eye but all of the above bars look GOOD too!!!

    Hugs,
    Heather
    My-Sweet-Mission.com

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  14. OMGoodness I can't decide which sounds the best. Guess I'll just have to try all of them. lol I'm so glad you joined us this week at Transformed Tuesday.

    Hugs,
    Peggy~PJH Designs

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  15. My three favorite ingredients! I am going to try every one of these. Visiting from a Bouquet of Talent and following you via Bloglovin' and Pinterest. Pinning these too on my "Mouthwatering" board!

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  16. Great round-up :) Thanks so much for sharing at last week's All my Bloggy Friends - Linda and I look forward to seeing what you share this week! :)

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  17. Cindy, They all look fabulous and it would be hard to pick a favorite! Check out this weeks Open House party to see your feature.
    xx,
    Sherry

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  18. I am featuring this post this week! This all looks amazing. I hope you will drop by and grap the "I was featured" button! thank you for sharing this with us all at TTF!

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  19. They all look amazing and I bet they taste delicious too. Thanks for linking up at Shabbilicious Friday - I really appreciate it.

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  20. I haven't made magic cookie bars in years and years and your post brought back memories. I plan to make the first one on our meet up family vacation in a week. Thank you for sharing these fabulous recipes!

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Thank you for visiting the Sunset Coast! I really, really love your comments!