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Coconut is among a few ingredients that you can use throughout the year to create creamy curries, delicious sweets, and healthy beverages. When you add it to sweet dishes, it brings out the crunchy texture and makes it more nutritious. Its unique flavour elevates the taste of the dish which is why more and more seasoned chefs and home bakers are experimenting with it.
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If you are looking to make something new for your next gathering, coconut is the right ingredient you can also experiment with. From puddings to ladoos, you can serve a variety of sweets to your guests. Here are a few recommendations you can consider.
Coconut Pie
You must have eaten pumpkin pie, strawberry pie, or berry pie, try making coconut pie. You have to start by baking coconut in the oven for 10 minutes so that it has a charred texture and flavour. Add the coconut to a mixture of eggs, butter, sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla essence. Pour this concoction into pie crusts and bake for 45-55 minutes. Top the pie with some grated coconut and serve.
Coconut Truffles
Coconut truffles are little balls of heaven that can be the centre of any gathering. Melt your favourite chocolate bar in a saucepan along with milk. Add a tablespoon of brewed coffee, toasted coconut, and coconut extract to the mixture. Allow to cool at room temperature, and refrigerate it later for at least 6-8 hours. Make truffle balls, dip them in melted chocolate, and coat them with toasted coconut. Refrigerate for a couple of hours and serve.
Coconut Cookies
You can experiment with your cookie recipes by adding coconut to them. You will be surprised by the flavour and texture that the ingredients will add. For a simple coconut cookie recipe, start by preheating the oven and lining the baking tray. Meanwhile, combine sweetened condensed milk, flaked coconut, and vanilla extract. Make small balls of this thick paste and press them a little on the baking sheet. Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes, allow them to cool, and enjoy with milk.
Coconut Ladoo
If you are planning to add coconut sweets to the menu of your next gathering, don’t forget about traditional ladoos. Instead of following an age-old recipe, try making ladoos using condensed milk. In a pan, cook cardamom powder, condensed milk, and desiccated coconut on a slow flame. When the mixture thickens, take it off the stove and let it cool off. Add pistachios for a crunchy texture and jaggery to balance sweetness. Make small ladoos with the mixture and store them in an airtight container.
Coconut Pudding
A cup of pudding fits right into the dessert menu of any kind of gathering. Start by cooking cornstarch and sugar in a saucepan kept on a medium flame. Keep stirring until the mixture starts to thicken. Remove it from the heat and fill it with egg yolk. Once the mixture starts boiling, turn off the flame, and fold in butter and vanilla extract. After the mixture returns to room temperature, add toasted coconut and chocolate chips to the pudding. Allow it to chill for 2-4 hours before serving it to your guests.
