Tropical Macadamia Custard Dessert Recipes

MACADAMIA NUT PIE

Steps:

• Toast the nuts in a large skillet over medium heat for 3 - 5 minutes until lightly brown and fragrant. Transfer the toasted nuts to a cutting board, allow to cool and chop roughly for the filling.
• Add flour, sugar and salt in a small mixing bowl and mix thoroughly with a whisk. Transfer flour mixture to a food processor fitted with the dough blade. Add cubed cold butter to the flour mixture, pulse several times until butter is about pea and bean size. Variations in size are okay.
• Turn the food processor to "on" position and drizzle cold water over the dough mixture through the water hole, as soon as the dough starts to pull together turn the food processor off. You may need to stop the food processor in between and get a spatula to mix up the flour at the bottom.
• Turn the dough out on the counter or cutting board, and shape into a disk. Wrap in plastic and rest in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
• Take the disk of pie dough out of the fridge and roll into a circle about 2" larger than your pie dish. Use extra flour to keep the dough from sticking to the counter and roller.
• Carefully place the dough over the pie dish, lightly press the dough into the bottom and side of the pie dish, let the excess dough hang over the side. Trim the excess dough leaving just enough to fold under and create a fluted edge.
• Cover the pie dish with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated, or freeze (preferred), for 15 - 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425°F.
• Remove pie crust from the freezer and dock with a fork to create steam vents on the bottom of the pie dough and on the sides.
• Place a large piece of parchment paper over the frozen pie dough, place pie weights on top or pour dry beans on top to fill the whole pie crust. Make sure the parchment is large enough to cover the edges of the crust entirely.
• Place the pie dish on a large baking sheet. Bake pie crust for 25 minutes with pie weights or beans, then carefully remove the parchment paper along with the pie weights and bake for another 5 minutes.
• Remove the pie crust from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool slightly. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F.
• Add cooled melted butter, eggs, light corn syrup, honey, and vanilla extract to a medium mixing bowl and beat until smooth. Whisk together sugar, flour, salt in a small bowl and add it to the liquid mixture, beat again until completely incorporated.
• Add the toasted and chopped macadamia nuts to the slightly cooled pie crust. Pour the filling over the nuts, allowing it to settle and fill all the spaces in between.
• Place the pie dish on a baking sheet and cover the edge with a pie shield or thin strips of foil. Bake for 65 minutes until the middle is just slightly jiggly, tent the pie with a large piece of foil at the 50 minute mark to prevent over browning.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before serving.

COCONUT CUSTARD TRIFLE WITH VANILLA BEAN WHIPPED CREAM AND TROPICAL FRUIT WITH MACADAMIA NUTS

Steps:

• For the custard: Place 2 cups cream, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup coconut flakes and the vanilla seeds and pod in a medium saucepan. Whisk to combine and bring to a boil over low heat.
• Meanwhile, combine the eggs and remaining 1/2 cup sugar in a bowl. In another bowl, combine the cornstarch and remaining 1/2 cup cream.
• When the cream and coconut mixture comes to a boil, remove it from the heat and whisk half into the egg and sugar mixture. Then IMMEDIATELY whisk it back into the pan with the hot cream and coconut mixture. (See Cook's Note.)
• Return the saucepan to medium heat and gradually whisk in the cornstarch and cream mixture. Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat to thicken the pastry cream, stirring frequently to prevent scorching. (It is necessary to bring this mixture to a boil to cook the cornstarch; if the mixture is not brought to a boil, the mixture will feel starchy and gritty. The desired outcome is the consistency of vanilla pudding. YUM!) Strain the custard through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl and chill until chilled through. (This can be done really quickly over an ice bath.)
• For the tropical fruit salad: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the macadamia nuts on a small baking sheet and toast until golden and fragrant, 5 to 10 minutes. Let cool slightly, then roughly chop and set aside.
• Toast the remaining 1/4 cup coconut flakes in medium skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the skillet and set aside to cool and crisp.
• For the whipped cream: Beat the cream, sugar and vanilla seeds in a chilled mixing bowl with a hand mixer until the cream starts to thicken and hold soft peaks.
• To serve: Layer some pastry cream, pineapple, banana, starfruit, mango, whipped cream, toasted macadamia nuts and toasted coconut in 4 individual trifle dishes. Repeat the layers and top with a dollop of whipped cream, toasted macadamia nuts, toasted coconut and some fruit, including a slice of starfruit.