A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts

By Lee Price on January 21, 2011 in Food

When it comes to baking a lot of us feel as though we don’t have the time or the skills to pull it off. It’s much easier to leave it to the professionals and purchase from the supermarket or bakery.

The good news is that with a few tried and tested recipes up your sleeve you can whip up a batch of biscuits or a lovely cake with minimum time and effort. Let’s take it slowly though; I’m not going to suggest you try making black forest gateau if you aren’t confident cracking an egg.

Below are two of the easiest baking recipes I know. And the good news is, these recipes are not just easy but delicious too.
Both of these recipes contain coconut, a light tasting summery ingredient that adds a bit of crunch. Once you have the desiccated coconut at home you will be able to make these regularly, as the other ingredients are all pantry cupboard staples.

Don’t tell your friends how easy they were to make – just keep the domestic goddess dream alive!

Coconut Macaroons

First up, here’s a recipe for some truly delicate little biscuits that take next to no time to make. They’re crunchy on the outside and chewy in the centre, great for a morning tea, to serve up with coffee after dinner or to give as a gift.

Ingredients

1 cup of desiccated coconut
½ cup of caster sugar
1 tablespoon of cornflour
1 egg
1 pinch of salt

Instructions

Mix all ingredients together with a wooden spoon in a large bowl until well combined. Roll little balls of the mixture (about the size of a large cherry tomato). Place onto a tray lined with baking paper and bake on the top shelf of the oven at 160 degrees for 8-10 minutes.  These biscuits are delicate – keep an eye on them, checking that the bottoms of the biscuits don’t get burnt. Allow to cool on the tray for 10 minutes and then dig in.

Coconut Cake

You won’t find an easier cake recipe than this. There’s no sifting, whisking or melting required. You will honestly be able to make this in the time it takes to get the coffee on for afternoon tea. It’s also nice to put into packed lunches. It’s so simple you can even get the kids to help make it.

Ingredients

1 cup of self-raising flour
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of desiccated coconut
¾ cup of milk

Instructions

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl with a wooden spoon. Bake in a greased and floured loaf tin or small round cake tin at 180°C for 30 minutes or until golden on top. Allow the cake to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack. This cake is lovely served warm.

For more healthy tips and thrifty cooking ideas visit operationjamjar.blogspot.com.