coconut

Recipe For Homemade Variation of Samoas Girl Scout Cookies
recipes

Score Brownie Points With Homemade Samoa Tartlets

There are a few bright spots in every Winter, namely the following, in no particular order: snow sports, the Super Bowl, hot cocktails, and Girl Scout cookie season.
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There are a few bright spots in every Winter, namely the following, in no particular order: snow sports, the Super Bowl, hot cocktails, and Girl Scout cookie season. But sadly, my attempts to track down cookies this year have been in vain, as I haven't seen so much as a single Daisy, Brownie, or Junior anywhere in the Bay Area.

To remedy the situation, I took matters into my own hands with a homemade variation of the Caramel DeLite, or Samoa, the Girl Scout cookie to end all other Girl Scout cookies.

This version, if I must say, is even better than the original. It starts out with a tartlet base of brown sugar, chocolate, butter, and toasted coconut, then gets the royal treatment with a scoop of coconut ice cream, dulce de leche, and more toasted coconut. The only drawback? They'll be gone in seconds. For the recipe, keep reading.

Hummingbird Cupcake Recipe
recipes

Cupcakes So Good They'll Make You Hum

Last week my sister hosted a Summer cocktail party that doubled as a birthday celebration for two friends.
by partysugar

Last week my sister hosted a Summer cocktail party that doubled as a birthday celebration for two friends. Since I've been known to make birthday cakes in the past, she asked me if I could do two cakes for the party. Immediately I began to worry: baking and assembling two cakes requires a lot of time. Just as I was starting to panic, I remembered the ingenious invention that is the cupcake! Each birthday girl could get her own minicake topped with a candle. Inspired by our slideshow of unconventional cupcake recipes, I decided to make hummingbird cupcakes. A native to the South, hummingbird cake is a cream cheese-frosted white cake with crushed pineapple, coconut, mashed bananas, and walnuts mixed into the batter. It's sweet, moist, fruity, crunchy, creamy, and divine — quite simply, it's everything you want in a cupcake. Although the pineapple topping is extra work, it's worth it. The cupcakes wouldn't be the same without the feathery juicy dried pineapple. To take a look at the recipe I used, read more

Taste Test: Coconut M&M's
taste test

Taste Test: Coconut M&M's

After reading the comments on a recent M&M's quiz, I decided it was high time that I sample the new limited-edition Coconut M&M's from Mars.
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After reading the comments on a recent M&M's quiz, I decided it was high time that I sample the new limited-edition Coconut M&M's from Mars.

Once a beloved snack of mine, I was around the candies so much in a former life that I ate myself sick of them. But these could be a different story. "Coconut M&M's? That's crazy!" a co-worker said in passing. Indeed, it was. Upon glancing at the package, which featured the sultry Green M&M basking in the sun with a flower behind her ear, I immediately envisioned candy-covered morsels filled with flaky, sweet coconut, Mounds style. Did they live up to my expectations? Keep reading.

Key Lime Coconut Bar Recipe
Come Party With Me

Come Party With Me: Technicolor Luau — Dessert

When I hear the word luau, I immediately think of a creamy, cool coconut dessert.
by partysugar

When I hear the word luau, I immediately think of a creamy, cool coconut dessert. This recipe is just that; it combines two favorite pie flavors — key lime and coconut — into one fabulous finger-friendly dessert.

Key lime-coconut bars are ideal for a Saturday night bash. They must be made in advance, are bite-sized and easy to eat, and with their dusting of confectioners sugar and lime zest, look pretty delightful!

Sound scrumptious? Get the recipe.

Easy and Expert Recipes For Coconut Flan
recipes

Coconut Flan Two Ways — Beginner and Expert

This Summer, I won't be doing the tango off the coast of a tropical island, or setting sail in the Caribbean Sea.
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This Summer, I won't be doing the tango off the coast of a tropical island, or setting sail in the Caribbean Sea. Instead, I'm enjoying the relaxing and budget-friendly staycation. But while kicking back at home, I'll be sure to incorporate tropical, Latin-tinged flavors, for a taste of the getaway I'll have someday. Case in point: a smooth, light coconut flan. In a pinch, I'll use condensed milk, or for a special weekend treat, I'll reduce the milk myself and add the solid white cream that tops coconut milk for an extra-sumptuous texture. Make either version of this exotic yet comforting dessert when you read more

Coconut Cake Is a Spectacular Finish to Any Meal
recipes

Coconut Cake Is a Spectacular Finish to Any Meal

I love coconut cake.
by partysugar

I love coconut cake. With its moist pudding-like cake layers, thick fruity filling, smooth cream cheese frosting, and crunchy toasted coconut flakes, it's a wildly scrumptious dessert. A cake like this doesn't magically appear; it takes time to make, but the final result, a sublimely fluffy, crowd-pleasing confection, is worth the effort. While there are many variations, this one with a guava curd filling is my current favorite — I've made it twice within the past month! First for a birthday party and then for a barbecue, but on both occasions, the cake was quickly devoured. To impress your friends with this marvelous coconut cake, check out the recipe and read more

Come Party With Me: Engagement Party — Dessert
Come Party With Me

Come Party With Me: Engagement Party — Dessert

Since the cake is a huge part of your wedding day, when planning the engagement party, select a dessert that is not cake based and totally different from what you want to serve on the big day.
by partysugar

Since the cake is a huge part of your wedding day, when planning the engagement party, select a dessert that is not cake based and totally different from what you want to serve on the big day.

For Ronda and James's Latin-inspired affair, I'm making caramel-coconut shortbread. Cut into rectangles or squares, it's ideal because no utensils are necessary. Although this dessert has several components, it's far from intimidating and comes together quickly. Get the easy recipe when you, read more

Fast & Easy Dinner: Coconut Lime Chicken Soup
fast and easy

Fast & Easy Dinner: Coconut Lime Chicken Soup

This fragrant and scrumptious recipe is a cinch to throw together, making it the perfect midweek pick-me-up.
by partysugar

This fragrant and scrumptious recipe is a cinch to throw together, making it the perfect midweek pick-me-up. It combines the exotic freshness of Thai cuisine with the comforting classic, chicken soup.

Although the ingredient list only calls for carrots, I plan on throwing in lots more vegetables like asparagus, green onions, and mushrooms. Feel free to do the same! To get the recipe, which is a great use for leftover chicken, read more

Go Bananas For Frozen Chocolate-Covered Banana Bites
recipes

Go Bananas For Frozen Chocolate-Covered Banana Bites

Every so often I come across a simple recipe and wonder — why on earth didn't I think of that?!
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Every so often I come across a simple recipe and wonder — why on earth didn't I think of that?! While browsing a recent issue of Bon Appétit, this was the case with frozen chocolate-dipped bananas. Frozen chocolate banana Popsicle are a fave, but, with their variety of toppings, these bites are even better!

The banana bites are quick to make and once the dipping and coating starts, things get messy. Kids would have a great time preparing them.

Toasted hazelnuts, shredded coconut, crushed creme-filled cookies. and chocolate covered pretzels were my toppings of choice. Be sure to remove the bites from the freezer at least 10 minutes before serving, so the frozen banana can slightly soften. If you have extra candy from Easter lying around, melt it down or crush it up to get started on your own scrumptious banana bites! For the recipe, read more