Supreme Coconut Raspberry Cookie Torte

This recipe is my very own and original torte recipe. It may sound funny, but I put in a lot of work into this one; specially beacuse it was submitted to the Pillsburry Bake-off contest last year, but I didn't make it to the finalists ;-( Oh well, at least I came up with a yummy dessert!

It's a little gooey because of the coconut and condensed milk then you have the raspberry and the cookie dough... Divine! Oh, and don't forget the chocolate ganache to top if off!

Ingredients

• 1 Pillsbury Refrigerated Sugar Cookie Dough 16.5-oz. roll
• 1 can of Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 2 tbsp of LAND O LAKES Unsalted Butter
• 1 cup of shredded coconut
• ½ cup of HERSHEY’S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
• 1/3 cup of heavy whipping cream
• ½ cup of Smucker Low Sugar Reduced Sugar Red Raspberry Preserves
• 1 tbsp of HERSHEY’S Cocoa (if making ¼ cup of chocolate milk)
• ¼ cup chocolate milk (suggested, but not necessary, it will make cookie more moist and easy to cut)

Instructions

1. Cut cookie dough in half and roll each half into about 5” diameter, place each circle on a separate 17”x12” cookie pan. Bake it as directed or until cookie is completely baked (convection oven about 22 minutes)
2. While cookie is baking, mix butter, Sweetened Condensed Milk and shredded coconut in a small non-stick pan at medium heat. Constantly stir, with a wooden spoon, until you get a tick dough like mixture; at this point it should not stick to pan. Turn heat off and remove pan from hot surface, cover and put aside.
3. Take cookies out of the oven; let it cool for about 10 minutes.
4. Place one cookie on a round plate and spread the condensed milk/coconut mixture over cookie, about ½” tick.
5. Spread Red Raspberry Preserves over condensed milk/coconut mixture.
6. Place second cookie over raspberry layer
7. If using chocolate milk to moisten top cookie, brush cookie with chocolate milk
8. Break edges of top cookie to seal the torte’ push small broken pieces all around the edges
9. Pour chocolate ganache over top cookie and spread it around the edges, like icing a cake Cover the entire cookie torte with the chocolate ganache
10. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes. But you can also eat it while warm
11. Decorate with a few strawberries or coconut flakes/chips, if desired

Tips – the taste gets even better after a day or two in the refrigerator!

How to Make the Chocolate Ganache

1. Bring heavy whipping cream to a boil in a small sauce pan
2. Remove from heat and add Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips chocolate
3. Stir the chocolate until melted. Cover and let stand 10 minutes
   
   
   

Chocolate Cream Pie

I made another delicious dessert for Valentines Day; a chocolate cream pie!

The recipe is from the Sun Sentinel Thursday paper, from last week. There was a few good Valentines Day recipes in the Food section and this chocolate pie was one of them.

Here is the link to the Chocolate Pie recipe page page . The picture on their page look better than mine, but mine also tasted delicious!

You can also find the Chocolate Pie recipe below

Garnish the top with fresh berries, whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate sauce.

• 4 ounces Baker's German Sweet chocolate. I used Valrhona chocolate bar


• 1/2 cup milk, divided


• 2 tablespoons sugar


• 1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature


• 1 (8-ounce) container frozen nondairy whipped topping, thawed


• 1 (9-inch) prepared graham cracker crust

In a saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate with 3 tablespoons milk, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and set aside.

In a bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat sugar and cream cheese until creamy and well mixed. Add remaining milk (5 tablespoons) and chocolate mixture; beat until smooth.
Fold in whipped topping until smooth. Spoon into prepared crust. Freeze at least 4 hours until very firm.

If left in freezer longer, cover with foil. Makes about 12 servings.

Per serving: 244 calories, 57 percent calories from fat, 16 grams total fat, 8 grams saturated fat, 9 milligrams cholesterol, 26 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram total fiber, 20 grams total sugars, 25 grams net carbs, 3 grams protein, 145 milligrams sodium.

Valentines Day Sweets from the Heart

This valentine I decided to make a little frozen treat with raspberry bar mix. It's was really simple and I was able to freeze it and have my heart shaped raspberry cheesecake bars ready for my Valentine!

I used the mix below and followed the cheesecake bar recipe. But I made my cheesecake raspberry bars ticker by topping it with the crust crumbs and, of course, melted chocolate!

Finally, just use the hear shaped cookie cutters and freeze the yummy little sweets for Valentines Day ;-)