Coconutcaramelbars Recipes

COCONUT CARAMEL BARS

Steps:

• Toast the coconut: Spread coconut in a 9x13" pan, bake in preheated 300 degree F oven 20-25 minutes or until lightly toasted, stirring half way through baking time.
• Increase oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, beat butter, sugar, vanilla, and egg, until well blended.
• Mix in flour, salt, baking powder and 1 1/2 cups toasted coconut (reserving 1/2 cup for topping).
• Spread mixture in un-greased 9x13" pan, lining with parchment if you desire.
• Bake for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile melt 1/2 (1/2 cup) of the caramel in microwave.
• Drizzle melted caramel over baked crust and return to oven for 10-12 minutes or until medium brown and caramel is bubbly.
• Removed crust from oven, working quickly, use a heat proof plastic knife (plastic reduces the drag on sticky baked goods), or a bench knife, to loosen the edges of the crust from the pan; cut into 2 dozen bars, leaving them in the pan. (It is easier to cut these bars while still warm).
• Sprinkle bars with the chocolate chips.
• Allow chocolate chips to soften about 5 minutes, then spread chocolate evenly over bars.
• Set aside to cool completely.
• Loosen the bars from the edge of pan again, using a flexible spatula to lift the bars out of the pan.
• Set on a rack.
• Combine remaining caramel with 1 tablespoon milk or cream and heat until caramel is melted enough to pour.
• Stir to combine with milk or cream, drizzle over the bars.
• Garnish with reserved toasted coconut.

COCONUT CARAMELS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread the coconut flakes in an even layer on a rimmed baking sheet, and toast until light golden brown, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Brush an 8-inch baking dish generously with coconut oil or coat with cooking spray. Sprinkle about 3 to 4 tablespoons of toasted coconut in an even layer on the bottom of the pan, and set aside.
• In a medium heavy saucepan, combine the coconut cream, sugar, corn syrup and sea salt. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Boil, stirring frequently especially toward the end, until a candy thermometer reaches 250 degrees and caramel is a light golden brown and thickened, about 20 to 30 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the ginger and cardamom.
• Pour the caramel into the prepared pan. Once the caramel stops bubbling and the surface forms a thin skin, about 3 minutes, sprinkle another 4 tablespoons toasted coconut across the surface. Allow to cool at room temperature and set completely, about 2 hours.
• Run a spatula around the sides of the baking dish, loosen and lift the caramel, and move onto a board or clean surface.
• Slice the caramel into 8 (1-inch-wide) strips, then across into 1/2-inch pieces, so you have about 72 caramels. Roll the sides of each piece in more toasted coconut. Wrap as individual sweets using 4- to 5-inch squares of parchment, wax paper, or cellophane, or use store-bought candy wrappers, twisting the ends to seal. Store at room temperature in a cool dry place. Caramels will keep stored at room temp for up to 7 days or frozen after wrapping for up to 1 month.

CARAMEL BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt together the caramels and heavy cream, stirring occasionally until smooth.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, oats, brown sugar, baking soda and salt. Stir in the melted butter until well blended. Press Half of the mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking pan. Reserve the rest.
• Bake the crust for 8 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove and sprinkle with chocolate chips and walnuts. Pour the caramel mixture over the top and then crumble the remaining crust mixture over everything.
• Return to the oven and bake for an additional 12 minutes, or until the top is lightly toasted. Cut into squares while it is still warm.

CHOCOLATE CHUNK COCONUT CARAMEL BARS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix flour and brown sugar in medium bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Press crumb mixture firmly onto bottom of foil-lined 13x9-inch baking pan. Bake 15 minutes.
• Sprinkle pecans and coconut over crust; cover with condensed milk. Bake an additional 25 minutes or until coconut is lightly browned. Cool in pan on wire rack.
• Microwave caramels and milk in medium microwavable bowl on HIGH 2 minutes or until caramels are completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring after each minute. Drizzle over dessert; sprinkle with chocolate chunks. Cool completely. Cut into 36 bars to serve.