Coconut Cream Cheese Pie

Both The Captain and I are big fans of desserts that include cream cheese . . . we are definitely making the pie this week!  

This recipe from Kraft.com is quick and easy . . . only 15 minute prep time!  

Please note the substitutions at the end of the recipe for flavor variations, how to make a lower fat version and how to toast coconut.

Ingredients:

48 vanilla wafers, finely crushed (about 1-1/2 cups)

1/4 cup butter, melted

1-1/4 cups BAKER'S ANGEL FLAKE Coconut, divided

1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, divided

2 pkg. (3.4 oz. each) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding (see substitutes at the end of recipe)

2 cups plus 1 Tbsp. cold milk, divided

2 cups thawed COOL WHIP LITE Whipped Topping

1 Tbsp. sugar




Directions:


Heat oven to 350º F.

Combine wafer crumbs, butter and 1/4 cup coconut. 

Press into bottom of 9-inch pie plate. 

Bake 10 minutes. 

Cool.

Microwave cream cheese in bowl on HIGH 10 seconds or just until softened.  Stir until creamy. 

Beat pudding mixes and 2 cups milk in large bowl with whisk for 2 minutes. 

Add half the cream cheese and mix well. Stir in 3/4 cup of the remaining coconut and 1 cup COOL WHIP.  Pour into crust.

Add sugar and remaining milk to remaining cream cheese and mix well. Stir in remaining COOL WHIP and spread over pie. 

Refrigerate 3 hours. 

Toast remaining coconut.
Sprinkle toasted coconut over pie just before serving.




Substitutions:

Prepare using 

JELL-O Coconut Cream Flavor Instant Pudding 
. . . or . . . 
JELL-O SIMPLY GOOD Vanilla Bean Flavor Pudding

For a lower fat version, substitute low fat or no fat milk and cream cheese.  I have used them in many recipes and can barely notice the difference.



How to Toast Coconut:

Spread BAKER'S ANGEL FLAKE Coconut evenly in shallow baking pan. 

Bake at 350°F for 7 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring frequently. 

Or, spread in microwave pie plate. 

Microwave on HIGH 3 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring every minute. 

Watch carefully as coconut can easily burn!



Recipe and Photo Source

Coconut-Pecan German Chocolate Pie

Going through recipes and picking out what to make for the holidays is always fun.  Here is a recipe for a pie that is a contender for our holiday dessert table from Taste of Home.

Doesn't it look delicious?

Ingredients

• 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons cold lard
• 3 to 4 tablespoons ice water

FILLING:

• 4 ounces German sweet chocolate, chopped
• 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
• 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
• 4 egg yolks
• 1 teaspoon McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1 cup chopped pecans

TOPPING:

• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 cup flaked coconut
• 1 teaspoon McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1/4 cup chopped pecans

Directions

Mix flour and salt in a small bowl . . . blend lard in until crumbly.  Add ice water gradually, toss until dough holds together.  Shape into a disk and refrigerate 30 minutes or overnight wrapped in plastic wrap.

Preheat oven to 400°. 

Roll dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle on a lightly floured surface.  Transfer dough to a 9-in. pie plate. Trim pastry to 1/2 in. beyond rim of plate and flute edge. Line unpricked pastry with a double thickness of foil and fill with pie weights, dried beans or uncooked rice.

Bake 11-13 minutes or until bottom is lightly browned. Remove foil and weights . . . bake 6-8 minutes longer or until light brown. Cool on a wire rack. 

Reduce oven setting to 350°.

Melt chocolates in a large bowl in the microwave and stir until smooth. Cool slightly. Whisk in milk, egg yolks and vanilla until well blended.  Stir in pecans. Pour into crust. 

Bake 16-19 minutes or until set. 

Cool 1 hour on a wire rack.

Meanwhile . . . combine brown sugar, cream and butter in a small heavy saucepan.  On medium heat, bring to a boil, while stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat.

Whisk a small amount of hot mixture into egg yolks in a small bowl.  Return all to pan and whisk constantly, cook 2-3 minutes or until mixture thickens and a thermometer reads 160°. Remove from heat. Stir in coconut and vanilla; cool 10 minutes.

Pour over filling; sprinkle with pecans. Refrigerate 4 hours or until cold. 


Yield: 8 servings.

Originally published as Coconut-Pecan German Chocolate Pie in Taste of Home December 2013

Coconut-Cherry Cream Squares

Awesome recipe . . . love the combinations!

The recipe is for a lower fat and sugar version, but you can substitute the low fat, low sugar items with the real thing.  My personal preference is using the real thing . . . if you are going to have dessert, enjoy it to the fullest!

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup flaked coconut
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons cold reduced-fat butter

FILLING:

• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• Sugar substitute equivalent to 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2-1/2 cups fat-free milk
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup flaked coconut
• 2 teaspoons coconut extract
• 1 can (20 ounces) reduced-sugar cherry pie filling

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°.

Coat a 9-inch square baking pan with cooking spray.

Combine the flour, coconut and brown sugar in a small bowl.

Cut in butter until crumbly. 

Press into prepared 9-in. square baking pan. 

Bake 7-10 minutes or until lightly browned. 

Cool on a wire rack.

For the filling:

Combine flour, sugar, sugar substitute and salt in a small saucepan. 

Stir in milk until smooth. Cook over medium-high heat, constantly stirring until thickened and bubbly. 

Reduce heat and continue cooking and stirring 2 minutes longer. 

Remove from heat.

In a small bowl, lightly beat eggs and stir a small amount of hot filling until well blended.

Add to the pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil, cooking and stirring 2 minutes longer. 

Remove from the heat.

Stir in coconut and extract gently and pour over crust. 

Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before cutting. 

Yield: 16 servings.

Editor's Note: 

This recipe was tested with Splenda No Calorie Sweetener and Land O'Lakes stick light butter. Look for Splenda in the baking aisle of your grocery store.

Source: Taste of Home

Originally published as Coconut-Cherry Cream Squares in Light & Tasty August/September 2005, p44

Nutritional Facts

1 piece equals 142 calories, 4 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 31 mg cholesterol, 95 mg sodium, 24 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 4 g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 starch, 1/2 fat.

Grandma Yearwood's Coconut Cake with Coconut Lemon Glaze

Recipe adapted from Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood (c) Clarkson Potter 2010

The Food Network
SHOW: Trisha's Southern Kitchen
EPISODE: Grandma Knows Best

This recipe takes me back to childhood days and the delicious cakes my southern belle neighbor from North Carolina would make.  Along with my nana and godmother, she was a great cooking inspiration in my life and taught me so much about baking as a young girl.

You can never go wrong with a cake made with coconut!

Ingredients

Cake:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature, plus more for greasing
• Flour, for dusting pan
• 2 cups sugar
• 6 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• One 12-ounce box vanilla wafers, finely crushed
• One 6-ounce package frozen or fresh grated coconut, thawed
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Coconut Lemon Glaze:

• 2 cups sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• Pinch of salt
• Grated zest of 2 large lemons
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 large lemons)
• One 6-ounce package frozen or fresh grated coconut, thawed

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

For the cake: Grease and flour a 9-inch tube cake pan. Cream the butter and sugar until light and smooth. Add the eggs and vanilla extract, beating well. Mix in the vanilla wafer crumbs, coconut and pecans. Pour into the pan and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before turning out onto a rack.

For the glaze: Mix the sugar, cornstarch, salt, lemon zest and juice, 1 1/2 cups of water and coconut in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring until thickened, for about 15 minutes. Let cool slightly, then using a toothpick, poke several holes in the top of the cake and drizzle the glaze over the cake.

No Bake Coconut Pie

Back in the day when I first got married, one of the first things I did was subscribe to the Taste of Home Annual Recipe Books.  Along with my Betty Crocker Cookbook that I'm sure all cooks have a copy of, many of the meals I make today came from there.  Although I no longer subscribe to them, I often read through the stacks of books just to get ideas for new recipes.  Their website is even better!  Check them out sometime :)  The photo and recipe is courtesy Taste of Home!

Coconut anything is something I love very much.  This recipe seems to have everything we all look for in a recipe . . . delicious, quick and easy!  The best of semi-homemade!  It doesn't even need to be baked!!  

As we work on summer plans for projects around the house, quick and easy meals are what I look for.  While we are busy with other stuff, meals should still be awesome!

Would be a quick dessert to take to a party!

Ingredients

• 2 packages (3.4 ounces each) instant vanilla pudding mix
• 2-3/4 cups cold 2% milk
• 1 teaspoon coconut extract
• 1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1/2 cup flaked coconut
• 1 graham cracker crust (9 inches)
• Toasted coconut

Directions

In a large bowl, whisk the pudding mixes, milk and extract for 2 minutes. 

Fold in whipped topping and coconut.

Pour into the crust. Sprinkle with toasted coconut. 

Chill until serving. 

Yield: 6-8 servings.

Source:  Taste of Home

Originally published as No-Cook Coconut Pie in Taste of Home February/March 1994, p13

Cocada . . . Easy Coconut Bark

Reminds me of coconut macaroons!

So easy . . . two ingredients!

Looks like you slaved away in the kitchen :)

Recipe courtesy of Marcella Valladolid
The Food Network
SHOW: The Kitchen
EPISODE: Fresh New Food Ideas

Ingredients

• Nonstick cooking spray, for spraying baking dish
• 5 1/2 cups (one 14-ounce bag) sweetened shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13-by-9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Mix the coconut and condensed milk in a bowl until well combined. Spread the mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish. Bake until the coconut is completely browned with dark and crispy edges, about 20 minutes.

Cool slightly, then cut into squares. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Pina Colada Pie

Sandra Lee from the Food Network's Semi Homemade always

comes up with awesome recipes that are quick and easy!  When
I watched her program and saw her make this pie, I had to find
the recipe so I could share it.  Can't wait to try it out :)

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup pineapple-coconut nectar (recommended: Kern's)
• 1 cup light coconut milk (recommended: Thai Kitchen)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons rum extract, divided
• 1 (3.4-ounce) box instant vanilla pudding and pie filling (recommended: Jello-O)
• 1 cup shredded coconut meat
• 8 ounces whipped topping, divided
• 1 (9-inch) pie crust, baked (recommended: Marie Callender's)
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut meat, toasted, for garnish

Directions

In a large bowl, combine nectar, coconut milk, and 1 teaspoon rum extract. Sprinkle pudding mix over liquid and whisk for 2 minutes. Fold in coconut and 1/2 of the whipped topping.

Pour into pre-baked pie crust and chill in refrigerator for at least 3 hours.

Combine remaining whipped topping with 1/2 teaspoon rum extract. Top chilled pie with whipped topping and toasted coconut.

Recipe and Photo Source:  Food Network

Coconut Cake

I'm craving sweets!  

This Coconut Cake from Mr. Food caught my attention,

 not only because I love anything coconut, but it is one

of those cakes that uses a cake mix making it quick

and easy.  I also love the addition of coconut milk

 to the cake batter.  

I'm not sure if I'd like the whipped topping frosting

 . . . I'd use vanilla or cream cheese frosting instead,

adding some coconut milk.

UPDATE

We made this cake using commercial cream cheese

frosting with a little coconut milk added.  The cake

was awesome, however, it was a little too sweet with

that frosting.  Maybe the whipped topping frosting

isn't such a bad idea after all!

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25-ounce) package white cake mix
• 1 cup water
• ¹/2 cup coconut milk, divided
• ¹/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 (12-ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 (6-ounce) package frozen grated coconut, thawed

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Coat two 9-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray, set aside.
2. In a large bowl, with an electric beater on medium speed, beat the cake mix, water, 1/4 cup coconut milk, the oil, and eggs for 2 minutes, or until smooth. Divide the batter between the cake pans.
3. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center of each comes out clean. Let cool for 10 minutes, then invert onto wire racks to cool completely. Using a fork, poke small holes in the bottom of the cakes.
4. Pour the remaining 1/4 cup coconut milk evenly over each cake. Place 1 cake layer upside down on a serving plate and frost the top with some of the whipped topping. Sprinkle one third of the coconut over the topping, pressing it into the topping. Place the second layer over the first and frost the top and sides with the remaining whipped topping. Sprinkle the remaining coconut evenly over the top and sides of the cake.
5. Serve, or cover loosely and chill until ready to serve.

Easy Italian Coconut Cream Cake

Cake:

1 box white cake mix
1 small box instant vanilla pudding
1 1/3 cups water
4 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup chopped pecans
2 cups coconut



Frosting:

4 tablespoons butter, softened
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons canned milk
3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
2 cups coconut


Combine cake mix, pudding mix, water, eggs and oil and beat on low speed for 4 minutes.

Stir in nuts and coconut then pour into well greased and floured rectangular cake pan.

Bake at 350 for 40 minutes.

Combine all frosting ingredients and spread on cooled cake.


Source: semissourian.com

Coconut Oatmeal Crispies

1 cup butter-flavored shortening
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup flaked coconut
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

In a mixing bowl, cream the shortening and both sugars until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time. Beat well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla.

Combine the oats, flour, coconut, baking soda, and the salt. Gradually add to the creamed mixture.

Shape into two 6 inch rolls. Wrap each roll in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm.

Unwrap the dough and cut into 1/4 inch slices. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 F for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Remove to the wire racks to cool. Makes 4 dozen

Double Coconut Cream Pie

1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups milk
1 8 ounce can cream of coconut (3/4 cup)
3 beaten egg yolks
2 tbl. margarine
1 cup flaked coconut
2 tsp. vanilla
1-9" baked pastry shell
3 egg whites
½ tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
1/3 cup sugar
2 tbl. flaked coconut

For filling:
In a medium saucepan combine first 1/3 cup sugar, cornstarch and salt. Stir
in milk and cream of coconut. Cook and stir over medium heat till thickened
and bubbly. Cook and stir 2 minutes more. Gradually stir about 1 cup of the
hot milk mixture into the beaten egg yolks, stirring constantly. Return all
the mixture to saucepan. Cook and stir till bubbly. Cook and stir 2 minutes
more. Remove from heat. Stir in margarine till melted. Stir in 1 cup coconut
and 2 tsp. vanilla. Pour filling into baked pastry shell.

For meringue:
Let egg whites stand at room temp. for 30 minutes. In a mixing bowl beat egg
whites, ½ tsp. vanilla, and cream of tartar on medium speed of electric
mixer till soft peaks form (tips curl). Gradually add 1/3 cup sugar, 1 tbl.
at a time, till stiff peaks form. Evenly spread meringue over hot filling;
seal to pastry edge. Sprinkle with 2 tbl. coconut.

Bake in 350°F oven for 15 minutes. Cool for 1 hour on wire rack. Cover and chill 3-6 hours before serving.

Coconut Macadamia Nut Pie

1 refrigerated pie crust
1 can cream of coconut
2 boxes cook and serve vanilla pudding mix
1 3/4 cups milk
4z macadamia nuts, chopped
1 ½ cup heavy cream
2/3 cup shredded coconut, toasted

Heat oven to 450°F.

Place piecrust into 9" pie plate and crimp edges.

Bake at 450°F for 10 min.

Cool completely.

Reserve 3 tbl. of the cream of coconut.

In a medium saucepan, mix remaining cream of coconut, pudding mix and milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thick, about 18 min.

Take off heat and stir in half of the nuts.

Pour filling into cooled piecrust and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Whip cream and reserved 3 tbl. cream of coconut to stiff peaks.

Spread over top of pie.

Top with remaining nuts and toasted coconut.

Refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight.

Banana Coconut Cream Dessert

This recipe is begging for me to try. It is one of those quick and easy desserts you can control ingredients to make lower fat. Looks yummy . . . will comment when I try it out. If you make it before I do, please comment! By the way, keep an extra box of Bisquick around!

2 cups Original Bisquick® mix
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup firm butter or margarine
1 package (4-serving size) vanilla instant pudding and pie filling mix
1 3/4 cups milk
2 medium bananas, sliced
2 cups whipped cream
1/2 cup toasted shredded coconut


1. Heat oven to 375°F. Mix Bisquick mix and sugar in medium bowl. Cut in butter, using pastry blender or crisscrossing 2 knives, until crumbly. Press in bottom of ungreased square pan, 9x9x2 inches.

2. Bake about 15 minutes or until light brown. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.

3. Make pudding mix as directed on package for pudding, using 1 3/4 cups milk; spread over crust. Top with banana slices. Spread whipped cream over top. Sprinkle with coconut. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour but no longer than 24 hours.


High Altitude (3500-6500 ft) No changes.

This recipe comes from Betty Crocker.com . . . on my link listing