Coconut Drop Cookies (Vegan)

1-1/2 cups coconut flakes
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup light agave or maple syrup
1/4 cup non-hydrogenated margarine, melted (butter is perfectly fine here if you don't mind using animal products)

Oven at 350 degrees.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large, dry skillet over medium heat, add coconut and stir constantly until flakes are golden brown. Immediately place in a large bowl, and allow to cool completely. Once coconut has cooled, whisk in flour, baking powder, and salt.

In a medium bowl, combine sugar, syrup, and margarine or butter. Stir well, then add wet mixture into the dry mixture. Mix until just combined, being careful not to over-beat. Use a 3-ounce ice cream scoop to portion out cookies, and place at least 1-1/2 inches apart on prepared baking sheet, fitting about nine cookies on one sheet.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until barely browned around the edges and no longer shiny on top. Let cookies rest on the baking sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

**Note-I was pretty nervous these wouldn't turn out but they turned out just great! They are quite tasty and easily the easiest cookies I've ever made. It took me about 5 minutes max to make these and the best part is it only makes 9-10 large cookies so you are done baking one time in the oven. Try them out!

Coconut Cream Pie

Caramel Sauce:
3/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons water
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 cup coconut milk

Pie:
3/4 (13.5-ounce) can (about 1 cup) coconut milk, reserve remaining for caramel sauce
1 cup milk
1 (3.4-ounce) box vanilla instant pudding
1 (9-inch) pre-made Graham cracker pie crust
1 cup (1/2 pint) heavy cream**
3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons sweetened flake coconut, toasted, for garnish


For Caramel Sauce:
In a medium sauce pot combine sugar, 3 tablespoons water, and lemon juice. Heat over medium-high heat. When sugar turns amber in color, carefully and slowly whisk in the coconut milk. Pour caramel into a bowl that is placed in an ice bath to cool or transfer sauce to a bowl and place in refrigerator.

For Pie:
In a large bowl whisk together 1 cup of coconut milk, milk and pudding mix. Pour in enough caramel sauce, about 1/4 cup, to coat the bottom of the pie crust. Pour the filling into the crust on top of the caramel.

In another large mixing bowl that has been chilled. Whip the heavy cream and confectioners' sugar until stiff peaks form, be careful not to over beat.

Spread the whipped cream on top of the pie and refrigerate for 1 hour or until completely set. Once the pie is set, sprinkle with toasted coconut and drizzle with the remaining caramel sauce.

**Note-I'm always too lazy to make my own whipped cream and while I know it would taste better I am fine with the store bought whipped topping.

**Note-This pie is simply fabulous! It is probably one of the best desserts I've ever made!

Tropical Upside Down Cake

Topping:
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/3 cup brown sugar
Coconut
1 can pineapple rings (you will have extra left over)
Maraschino cherries

Cake:
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
1/3 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon or orange zest
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Oven at 350.
For the topping:
swirl melted butter in a round cake pan, completely covering the bottom of the pan and as much of the sides without spilling the butter. Sprinkle the brown sugar over the butter. Arrange as many pineapple rings as will fit (5-6) over brown sugar, in a pleasing pattern. Dot with cherries as desired (in the holes of the rings, and decorated outside the rings as desired). Sprinkle coconut evenly over the top when done.**
For the cake:
Cream 6 tablespoons of butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, until light and fluffy. Lower the speed and beat in the eggs one at a time. Add the sour cream, zest, and vanilla and mix until combined. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt and, with the mixer on low speed, add it to the butter mixture. Mix only until combined.

Pour the cake batter evenly over the topping and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool for 15 minutes, then, run a knife along the outside of the cake to loosen it and invert the cake onto a flat plate. If a pineapple sticks, ease it out and replace it in the design on top of the cake. Serve warm or at room temperature, dusted with confectioners' sugar or serve with whipped cream.

**Note-this is a fun cake to do with your kids. You can let them sprinkle the brown sugar and make any design they desire with the pineapple and cherries.