Coconut Cream Bars
Ingredients:
- butter - 1 cup
- flour - 2 cups
- powdered sugar - 1/2 cup
- Coconut Filling --
- half & half - 3 cups
- unsweetened coconut milk (from a can) - 3 cups
- eggs - 4
- sugar - 1 1/2 cups
- cornstarch - 2/3 cup
- salt - 1/2 tsp
- flaked coconut - 1 1/2 cups
- coconut extract - 1/2 tsp
- vanilla extract - 1/2 tsp
- Whipped Cream Topping --
- heavy whipping cream - 2 cups
- cold water - 1 T
- Knox gelatin - 1 tsp
- powdered sugar - 3 - 4 T
- flaked coconut, toasted - 1 cup
Instructions:
Prepare shortbread crust -- prepare a 13 x 9 inch baking pan, use one long sheet of foil across the length the pan and two overlapping short sheets across the width of the pan. Cut the butter into the flour and powdered sugar, press mixture into bottom of the baking pan. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 18 - 20 minutes or until light brown. Place on a wire rack to cool.
Prepare toasted coconut -- spread 1 cup coconut on a baking sheet, bake in 350 degree oven for 3 - 6 minutes, stir every minute or so, until coconut is golden brown. Spread on a plate to cool completely.
Prepare filling -- in a saucepan, combine half & half, coconut milk, eggs, sugar, cornstarch and salt, bring to a boil over medium-low heat, whisking constantly until thick and bubbling (will take 15 - 30 minutes.) Add coconut extract, vanilla extract and 1 1/2 cups untoasted coconut; stir. Pour filling into cooled crust, cool for a short time then place in refrigerator for 2 - 4 hours, until firm.
Prepare whipped cream topping -- place 1 T cold water in a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin evenly over the top. Let it soften for 2 minutes, place in microwave for 30 seconds, whisking to dissolve gelatin. Using a cold bowl and beaters, whisk 2 cups heavy cream and powdered sugar together until the cream forms stiff peaks, stop halfway through, add gelatin mixture. Gently spread whipped cream over bars. Sprinkle toasted coconut over top. Chill until ready to serve for the whipped cream to set up. Use the foil to remove the bars from the pan, slice with a sharp knife, serve.
