Coconut Caramels Recipes

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.

COCONUT CARAMELS

Steps:

• Line a 13x9-in. pan with foil; grease foil with 1 tablespoon butter. Layer with 1 cup coconut and 3/4 cup almonds; set aside., In a Dutch oven, combine sugar, coconut milk, corn syrup, cubed butter and cream. Cook and stir over medium heat until a candy thermometer reads 238° (soft-ball stage), about 40 minutes., Using a pastry brush dipped in water, wash down the sides of the pan to eliminate sugar crystals. Cook and stir until thermometer reads 244° (firm-ball stage), about 5 minutes longer., Remove from heat; stir in 1 cup coconut, vanilla, ginger, salt and remaining almonds. Immediately pour into prepared pan (do not scrape saucepan). Sprinkle with remaining coconut. Let stand until firm, about 5 hours or overnight., Using foil, lift candy out of pan; remove foil. Using a buttered knife, cut caramel into 1-in. squares. Wrap individually in waxed paper; twist ends.

COCONUT CREME CARAMEL

Steps:

• Melt 1/2 cup sugar with 3 tablespoons water in a saucepan over medium-low heat, occasionally swirling the pan, until the sugar starts to bubble and turn golden brown, about 7 minutes. Remove from the heat and divide the syrup among 8 (1/2) cup ramekins so the bottoms and sides are covered with the syrup. Preheat the oven to 275 degrees. Meanwhile, whisk the remaining sugar, coconut milk, whole milk, and eggs in a bowl until the sugar is completely dissolved. Divide the mixture among the ramekins. Create a water bath by filling a baking dish halfway with water. Place the ramekins in it and bake until the custards set, about 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the water bath. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate and least 12 hours. To serve, loosen the sides with a knife and invert custard onto plates so the caramel is on top, drizzling any remaining caramel on the plates around the custard. Serve chilled garnished with a mint leaf.

MACADAMIA & COCONUT CARAMELS

Steps:

• Line an 8-in. square baking dish with foil and grease the foil with 1 teaspoon butter; set aside., In a large heavy saucepan, combine the brown sugar, corn syrup, cream of tartar and remaining butter; bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; gradually stir in milk. Cook and stir over medium-low heat until a candy thermometer reads 244° (firm-ball stage)., Remove from the heat; stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into prepared dish. Refrigerate until set, at least 2 hours., Using foil, lift candy out of dish. Gently peel off foil; cut caramel into 1-in. squares. Wrap individually in waxed paper; twist ends. Store in an airtight container.

CHOCOLATE COCONUT CARAMEL CANDIES

Steps:

• Lightly brush bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch rimmed baking sheet with oil. Line with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on long sides; lightly brush parchment with oil. Sprinkle 1/2 cup coconut on parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Bring cream to a simmer over high heat. Remove from heat; add chocolate. Let stand 1 minute; stir to combine.
• Bring sugar, butter, and corn syrup to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to medium-high; cook, stirring occasionally, until caramel reaches 248 degrees on a candy thermometer, about 15 minutes.
• Stir in cream mixture; boil until caramel returns to 248 degrees.
• Immediately remove caramel from heat, and stir in salt and vanilla. Pour caramel onto baking sheet, sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup coconut, and let stand, uncovered, at room temperature at least 8 hours and up to 1 day.
• Lifting by parchment overhang, transfer caramel to a large cutting board. Cut into 3/4-by-1 1/4-inch pieces; wrap each piece in waxed paper or cellophane.

COCONUT CANDIES

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, stir together milk and sugar until smooth. Heat, without stirring, to between 234 and 240 degrees F (112 to 116 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms a soft ball that flattens when removed from the water and placed on a flat surface. Remove from heat and stir in coconut and vanilla. Let cool slightly.
• Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto waxed paper lined sheets and let cool completely.

COCONUT-CARAMEL CUSTARD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325F.
• Make the caramel: Cook the sugar in a small heavy saucepan over low heat, swirling the pan constantly, until brown.
• Stir the hot water into the caramel, being careful to guard against splattering (the mixture will bubble vigorously).
• Boil the mixture, swirling the pan occasionally, until the sugar is thoroughly dissolved, about 2 minutes.
• Pour the caramel syrup into a 1-quart souffle dish or five 4-ounce ramekins.
• Tilt the molds to coat all of the surfaces with caramel.
• Make the custard: Combine the coconut milk, milk and sugar in a medium saucepan over low heat.
• Scald until the sugar dissolves completely.
• Remove from heat.
• In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and vanilla.
• Gradually whisk the hot coconut milk mixture into the eggs, blending thoroughly.
• Strain the custard through a fine sieve into a bowl.
• Carefully pour into the caramel-lined souffle dish or ramekins.
• Line a large roasting pan with 2 layers of paper towels (see Note).
• Put the souffle dish in the roasting pan and add hot water to reach halfway up the side of the dish.
• Bake in the center of the oven for 50 minutes (30 minutes if using ramekins), or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Be careful not to let the water boil; do not disturb the custard while baking.
• This is the only"secret" to producing a smooth and velvety custard.
• Remove the souffle dish immediately from the hot water.
• Allow to cool in a cold-water bath.
• Chill thoroughly.
• To serve, run a knife around the edge of the custard and turn out onto dessert plates.
• Serve with whipped cream, if desired.
• Note: The paper towels in the roasting pan serve a twofold purpose: First, they allow the hot water to circulate under the souffle dish while baking to distribute the heat evenly; second, if using small ramekins, it stabilizes them and keeps them from moving around while baking.

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-CARAMEL-CHOCOLATE CRISPY TREATS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Line 2 jelly roll pans with parchment paper; butter the parchment paper. Spread coconut on a baking sheet.
• Bake coconut in the preheated oven until toasted and lightly browned, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove and let cool. Leave the oven on.
• Combine caramels, 10 ounces of condensed milk, and 1/4 cup butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave, stopping and stirring occasionally, until caramels are melted, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Combine marshmallows and remaining 1/2 cup butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover and heat on high power for 30 seconds; stir. Repeat until completely blended. Add remaining sweetened condensed milk. Stir in cereal and toasted coconut. Press evenly into the prepared pans. Pour caramel mixture over cereal and smooth out. Sprinkle salt on top; add chocolate chips.
• Bake in the preheated oven until chocolate chips are melted, 1 to 2 minutes. Spread chocolate evenly. Allow to cool for 5 minutes, then roll up each, starting on the long side.
• Refrigerate until caramel has set, at least 1 hour. Slice into individual pieces, then cut in half again.