Ganache Coconut Cream Pie Bars

Not mashed potatoes...:)

Oh my gosh! Ganache. Yes, coconut cream pie is delicious.  So are Almond Joys and Mounds.  So why not put them together, add a shortbread crust, put them in the slightly less formidable to cut bar form instead of pie, and voila: Ganache Coconut Cream Pie Bars. 

These bars are slightly involved, but the end product is very worthwhile.  Not to mention, you can make an 8x8 pan worth of bars, or 9x13!  I almost always go the 9x13 route.  This has become a favorite for Christmas, my mom's birthday, and just about any occasion that a little creamy coconut and chocolate is welcome.  As what seems to be turning into a trend, I failed to get any kind of decent photo of the inside, so for now, (or maybe forever...once these are cut into you'll understand why photos never get taken) please enjoy the photos of the whipped cream and toasted coconut topping.  If you'd like an idea of what bliss you're getting in to, take a peak over at Willow Bird Baking, from whom I adapted the recipe, and see her beautiful photos! 

---

Ganache Coconut Cream Pie Bars

Makes about 20 servings

Ingredients:

For the Shortbread Crust

• 1 cup (2 sticks) / 226g cold butter

• 2 cups / 240g all-purpose flour

• 1/2 cup / 100g sugar

For the Ganache

• 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp / 87g heavy whipping cream

• 6 oz (1 cup) / 175g bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped, or chips

For the Coconut Cream Filling

• 6 cups / 1,422g unsweetened coconut milk or milk of choice

• 4 eggs

• 1 1/2 cups / 300g sugar

• 2/3 cup / 73g cornstarch

• 1/2 tsp / 2.5g salt

• 1 1/2 cups / 150g flaked unsweetened coconut

• 1/2 tsp / 2.5g coconut extract

• 1/2 tsp / 2.5g vanilla extract

For the Whipped Cream Topping

• 2 cups / 464g heavy whipping cream

• 1/2 cup / 100g sugar

• 1 tsp / 5g vanilla extract

• 1/2 cup / 50g flaked unsweetened coconut, toasted (see below)

Directions:

Oven 350°F / 177°C.  Ungreased 9x13in / 23x33cm baking dish.

Make the Shortbread Crust

1. Cut the butter into flour and sugar using a fork, pastry cutter, or in a food processor.  Once the mixture resembles coarse sand and the butter chunks are no larger than small peas, press mixture evenly into bottom prepared pan. 

2. Bake for 18-22 minutes until lightly golden-brown.  Set aside to cool.  Leave oven on for toasting the coconut.

Make the Ganache

1. While the crust is baking, prepare the ganache.  Place the chocolate in a medium bowl and the cream in a small saucepan.  Over medium-low heat, bring the cream to a simmer.  You can also use the microwave, 30 seconds-1 minute or until cream is just simmering, but not boiling.  

2. Pour the cream over the chocolate and let sit for 1-2 minutes to melt the chocolate.  Whisk until completely smooth.  

3. Once the crust is finished and partly cooled, pour ganache evenly over crust.  Place in fridge to set.   

Toast the Coconut

Place the 1/2 cup coconut for the topping in a shallow baking dish.  Place in oven and stir every 1-2 minutes, making sure it doesn't over-brown, for a total of 5-10 minutes.  Remove and let cool.

Make the Coconut Cream Filling

1. Combine milk, eggs, sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a large saucepan. 

2. Place over medium heat, whisking constantly, until mixture begins to thicken and comes to a boil.  This can take anywhere from 15-35 minutes, depending on your stove.

3. Once thickened, remove from heat and stir in coconut and vanilla extracts.  

4. Remove crust from fridge and pour filling over crust.  Place back in fridge to set, 2-4 hours.  

Make the Whipped Cream Topping

1. Whip the cream and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer or with a handheld mixer until stiff peaks form.

2. Spoon over chilled bars, or pipe.  Finish with toasted coconut.  Store in fridge.  

Jenny's Notes:

• Because the ganache in this recipe is not decorative, you can easily substitute coconut milk or another kind for the heavy whipping cream. I prefer using coconut milk, reducing the amount of fat/calories. Save those for when you need the high-shine perfect ganache!

• If you only have sweetened coconut milk or sweetened flaked coconut on hand, go ahead and use those. Simply reduce the sugar by about 1/4-1/2 cup / 50-100g in the filling, if you wish. I prefer to have unsweetened coconut on hand so I can control how much sugar I'm adding to breakfasts, desserts, etc., plus I like the smaller size of flaked and grated coconut vs. shredded.

• For toasting coconut, and every use really, I highly recommend Le Creuset pans. My toasted coconut used to always come out in various shades, but since using Le Creuset it always turns out a beautiful even, golden-brown. They conduct heat evenly and beautifully.

• If a 9x13 pan of cream coconut heaven seems daunting to you, it's super easy to halve this recipe for a 8x8 or 9x9in pan!

• These bars should ideally be eaten within 3-4 days. Otherwise the whipped cream starts to separate and the crust gets soggy.

Coconut Cream pie, bars, shortbread, chocolate ganache, fresh whipped cream, toasted coconut

Dessert, Pie, bars

American

Yield: 20

Author: Jennyblogs

Print

With ImageWithout Image

Ganache Coconut Cream Pie Bars

Shortbread crust, a thin layer of ganache, classic coconut cream pie filling, all topped with fresh whipped cream and toasted coconut.

Prep time: 1 H & 45 MCook time: 32 MTotal time: 1 H & 77 M

Ingredients:

For the Shortbread Crust

• 1 cup (2 sticks) / 226g cold butter
• 2 cups / 240g all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup / 100g sugar

For the Ganache

• 1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp / 87g heavy whipping cream
• 6 oz (1 cup) / 175g bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped, or chips

For the Coconut Cream Filling

• 6 cups / 1,422g unsweetened coconut milk or milk of choice
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups / 300g sugar
• 2/3 cup / 73g cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp / 2.5g salt
• 1 1/2 cups / 150g flaked unsweetened coconut
• 1/2 tsp / 2.5g coconut extract
• 1/2 tsp / 2.5g vanilla extract

For the Whipped Cream Topping

• 2 cups / 464g heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup / 100g sugar
• 1 tsp / 5g vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup / 50g flaked unsweetened coconut, toasted (see below)

Instructions:

Make the Shortbread Crust

1. Oven 350°F / 177°C. Ungreased 9x13in / 23x33cm baking dish.
2. Cut the butter into flour and sugar using a fork, pastry cutter, or in a food processor. Once the mixture resembles coarse sand and the butter chunks are no larger than small peas, press mixture evenly into bottom prepared pan.
3. Bake for 18-22 minutes until lightly golden-brown. Set aside to cool. Leave oven on for toasting the coconut.

Make the Ganache

1. While the crust is baking, prepare the ganache. Place the chocolate in a medium bowl and the cream in a small saucepan. Over medium-low heat, bring the cream to a simmer. You can also use the microwave, 30 seconds-1 minute or until cream is just simmering, but not boiling.
2. Pour the cream over the chocolate and let sit for 1-2 minutes to melt the chocolate. Whisk until completely smooth.
3. Once the crust is finished and partly cooled, pour ganache evenly over crust. Place in fridge to set.

Toast the Coconut

1. Place the 1/2 cup coconut for the topping in a shallow baking dish. Place in oven and stir every 1-2 minutes, making sure it doesn't over-brown, for a total of 5-10 minutes. Remove and let cool.

Make the Coconut Cream Filling

1. Combine milk, eggs, sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a large saucepan.
2. Place over medium heat, whisking constantly, until mixture begins to thicken and comes to a boil. This can take anywhere from 15-35 minutes, depending on your stove.
3. Once thickened, remove from heat and stir in coconut and vanilla extracts.
4. Remove crust from fridge and pour filling over crust. Place back in fridge to set, 2-4 hours.

Make the Whipped Cream Topping

1. Whip the cream and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer or with a handheld mixer until stiff peaks form.
2. Spoon over chilled bars, or pipe. Finish with toasted coconut. Store in fridge.

Notes:

Because the ganache in this recipe is not decorative, you can easily substitute coconut milk or another kind for the heavy whipping cream. I prefer using coconut milk, reducing the amount of fat/calories. Save those for when you need the high-shine perfect ganache! If you only have sweetened coconut milk or sweetened flaked coconut on hand, go ahead and use those. Simply reduce the sugar by about 1/4-1/2 cup / 50-100g in the filling, if you wish. I prefer to have unsweetened coconut on hand so I can control how much sugar I'm adding to breakfasts, desserts, etc., plus I like the smaller size of flaked and grated coconut vs. shredded. For toasting coconut, and every use really, I highly recommend Le Creuset pans. My toasted coconut used to always come out in various shades, but since using Le Creuset it always turns out a beautiful even, golden-brown. They conduct heat evenly and beautifully. If a 9x13 pan of cream coconut heaven seems daunting to you, it's super easy to halve this recipe for an 8x8 or 9x9in pan! These bars should ideally be eaten within 3-4 days. Otherwise the whipped cream starts to separate and the crust gets soggy.

Calories

446.04

Fat (grams)

30.59

Sat. Fat (grams)

21.07

Carbs (grams)

41.54

Fiber (grams)

2.52

Net carbs

39.02

Sugar (grams)

26.41

Protein (grams)

4.58

Sodium (milligrams)

152.00

Cholesterol (grams)

92.63

Nutritional information is approximate. Based on 20 servings.

https://jennyblogs.com/blog/2018/2/7/ganache-coconut-cream-pie-bars

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @jenevamorris on instagram and hashtag it #jennyblogs

Created using The Recipes Generator

---

Chia Persimmon Pudding (Vegan)

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy something using these links, Jennyblogs may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. This helps to support Jennyblogs. For further information see the privacy policy. Grazie!

I had never eaten a persimmon before living in Italy.  I probably couldn't have even picked it out from a line up of fruit.  But if you asked me, of course I would want to try a persimmon!  I had heard good things about them, especially the elusive "persimmon pudding."  

I used to go the market several times a week for my fruit and vegetables, one of my favorite weekly errands.  It was a large market, the ground floor of the Mercato Centrale if you’ve been there, with lots of vendors, but there was this dear old man that always had the best tomatoes and lettuce.  He would say "Ciao, bella," shake my hand, and always round the price down for me.  He also had this habit of sneaking in a fruit or vegetable that I hadn't ordered.  Whether that was a sweet gesture or a marketing strategy, I may never know.  One day, after getting my usual tomatoes, I arrived home to find this strange object that looked curiously like an orange tomato, but was most definitely not.  So....squishy and lacking that earthy, pungent, tomato vine smell.  After a little research, I found I had in my possession a kaki!  Okay, now what is a kaki?  

After a little more research, I found that kaki is what the Italians call persimmons. Sweet, mysterious persimmons.  Now...how to eat it?  I quickly realized they are like jelly on the inside when ripe, and it's only the skin that holds it together.  If that skin breaks, you have a real mess if you weren't prepared with a bowl or your mouth beneath it.  I ate that first one in hurry, before it all dripped from my hands onto the floor. 

From then on I bought them in packs and beautiful things happened, including various versions of persimmon pudding.  Below is a raw and vegan version of the Persimmon Pudding.  Makes for a great dessert, snack, or breakfast!  Kaki on.  

Recipe adapted from Blissful Basil.

---

*Note: Make the Chia Pudding the day before you want to eat the pudding, as it takes at least 8 hours to set up.  

Chia Persimmon Pudding

Serves 4

Ingredients:

For the Chia Pudding Layer

• 2 cups / 474g unsweetened coconut milk or milk of choice

• generous 1/2 cup / 90g chia seeds

• 3 Tbsp / 60g maple syrup or honey

• 2 tsp / 9g vanilla extract

• 1/2 tsp / 1g cinnamon

• pinch of cardamom

For the Persimmon Pudding Layer

• 3 ripe persimmons

• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

You’ll need 4 small (about 12 oz), clear glasses or bowls.

Make the Chia Pudding

1. In a medium bowl whisk together milk, chia seeds, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and cardamom.  

2. Cover and refrigerate overnight or at least 8 hours.  

Make the Persimmon Pudding

1. Remove the stems from the persimmons and place in a food processor or blender.  Add the cinnamon and blend until smooth.  

2. Spoon about scant 1/4 cup Persimmon Pudding into the bottom of each glass.  Top with a scant 1/4 cup Chia Pudding.  Repeat layers until both puddings are gone.  Should make three layers of each, or 6 layers total in each glass. Top with additional cinnamon, if desired.

Jenny's Notes:

• You'll want your persimmons to be very ripe and very soft all the way through; they should be bursting when you try to remove the stems.

• Persimmons are a great source of vitamin A, vitamin C, and high in fiber.  

vegan, raw, no bake, chia pudding, persimmon pudding, dairy free, gluten free, refined sugar free

dessert, pudding

American

Yield: 4

Author: Jennyblogs

Print

With ImageWithout Image

Chia Persimmon Pudding (Vegan)

Layers of spiced coconut milk chia pudding and juicy persimmons are a simple, vegan, dairy-free, gluten, raw, etc. dessert, breakfast, or snack.

Prep time: 15 Mininactive time: 8 HourTotal time: 8 H & 15 M

Ingredients:

For the Chia Pudding Layer

• 2 cups / 474g unsweetened coconut milk or milk of choice
• generous 1/2 cup / 90g chia seeds
• 3 Tbsp / 60g maple syrup or honey
• 2 tsp / 9g vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp / 1g cinnamon
• pinch of cardamom

For the Persimmon Pudding Layer

• 3 ripe persimmons
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon

Instructions:

Make the Chia Pudding

1. *Note: Make the Chia Pudding the day before you want to eat the pudding, as it takes at least 8 hours to set up. 
2. In a medium bowl whisk together milk, chia seeds, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and cardamom.
3. Cover and refrigerate overnight or at least 8 hours.

Make the Persimmon Pudding

1. You’ll need 4 small (about 12 oz), clear glasses or bowls.
2. Remove the stems from the persimmons and place in a food processor or blender. Add the cinnamon and blend until smooth.
3. Spoon about scant 1/4 cup Persimmon Pudding into the bottom of each glass. Top with a scant 1/4 cup Chia Pudding. Repeat layers until both puddings are gone. Should make three layers of each, or 6 layers total in each glass. Top with additional cinnamon, if desired.

Notes:

You'll want your persimmons to be very ripe and very soft all the way through; they should be bursting when you try to remove the stems.

Calories

266.73

Fat (grams)

9.61

Sat. Fat (grams)

2.90

Carbs (grams)

43.72

Fiber (grams)

12.46

Net carbs

35.76

Sugar (grams)

25.11

Protein (grams)

4.73

Sodium (milligrams)

12.43

Cholesterol (grams)

0.00

Nutritional information is approximate.

https://jennyblogs.com/blog/2017/5/10/chia-persimmon-pudding-vegan

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @jennyblogsandbakes on instagram and hashtag it #jennyblogs

Created using The Recipes Generator

---

Enjoy your Kaki Pudding!