Our Favorite Chia Pudding!

Chia seed pudding is a healthy pudding made with rich in fiber chia seeds, some type of milk, a little sweetener, and optional flavorings and toppings. It is usually made from vegan ingredients and it's easy as can be to make!

All the ingredients are simply mixed together in a jar or bowl then rested overnight in the fridge so chia seeds have time to plump and soften. Then the next day it's ready to enjoy and you end with the perfect consistency and texture.

I didn't used to care much for chia pudding but that was until I started adding canned coconut milk (in addition to a non-dairy milk) for an extra boost of creamy richness, and also I added some flavorful extract (my favorite is coconut here).

I found it doesn't need a whole lot of either to really take it from bland and boring to something you'll actually crave.

Then of course, to really highlight it, I recommend finishing it with fresh diced fruit (or puree). My favorites are peaches or mangoes, especially with this coconut vibe we have going.

But truly it's a blank canvas, start with the main base then finish it off with toppings to your hearts content. And for more of a dessert, be sure to try the tempting chocolate variation as well!

The BEST Coconut Cream Pie Recipe

After many attempts, I finally came up with my idea of the perfect cream pie. From top to bottom, you'll love everything about it!

This homemade coconut cream pie turns out perfect every time. It's thickened with both cornstarch and egg yolks so you won't end up with a droopy, soupy pie. The key is to just be sure to cook the custard long enough to get it to that nice and thick state.

Then in this recipe you'll use a little cream cheese to balance out the sweetness of the pie and to and a nice faint tang (reminiscent of cheesecake) which pairs perfectly with the coconut.

And if we are going to make a coconut cream pie it better have plenty of coconut flavor so here we use shredded coconut, coconut milk and coconut extract. No one will be left wondering what type of pie this is, it has an abundance of real coconut flavor.

It's one of those desserts that will have people fighting for the last slice. Soon enough people will be requesting this for the next holiday celebration!

The Best Coconut Cake Recipe!

I shared this coconut cake four years ago, but I figured it was due time that I re-share it in case some of you may have missed out. It's a recipe book dessert staple!

Coconut Cake Video

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This is what I'm planning on making for Christmas dessert and I can't wait! Some people look forward to gifts, I look forward to cake.

This cake is elegant and sophisticated, yet very traditional and simplistic, and it's perfect for the holidays since it's not only incredibly delicious but it's so white and snowy-looking with the coconut flakes.

I love that it's like the cake you remember your grandma serving at family parties growing up. Who doesn't love a good old fashioned recipe like this? The classics are often the best, with one taste taking you back in time.

Finally, A Soft and Moist Coconut Dessert

This will probably be one of the softest cakes you'll ever make and you'll also love that it is incredibly moist (because we all hate a dry cake texture, right?). And it is layered with sweet, natural coconut flavor with every bite, which is complimented perfectly by the light tang of the cream cheese in the frosting.

Good luck saying your only going to have a thin slice. Not gonna happen with this cake. Try it and you'll see what I mean!

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah and Kwanzaa too! I hope you have the best holiday week!

Baked Donuts

I mean aren't these what weekends were made for?? We love weekend breakfast and weekend treats and this fits the bill for either/or.

More often than not when I making donuts I go for baked donuts vs. fried.

Less mess, still such a delicious flavor, and a bit less fat since we skip the deep frying. Oh and none of that oily smell in the house, just a sweet coconuty scent!

Which Would You Choose Raw Coconut or Toasted?

I couldn't choose which I liked better, the raw coconut or the toasted coconut so I did half of each. But I will say the finely shredded coconut is definitely what you want here.

That fine texture won't detract from the soft fluffy texture of the donuts. You can find the fine coconut in the bulk bins of some grocery stores, or sometimes the baking section or on Amazon.

Where to Get a Donut Pan

And if you don't own a donut pan you can also find those on Amazon (or in stores like Michaels or kitchen supply stores).

I recommend buying two though. I started with one back in the day and that didn't last long. Baking 6 at a time was kind of annoying when your recipe makes 12 - 18.

The Perfect Coconut Dessert!

If you like coconut desserts definitely do not pass these by!

There's just something about these though. The coconut, the salted caramel, the melt-in-your-mouth buttery goodness. These cookies speak to me. In other words someone please hide them!

I just had to quickly take most of them to neighbors because I knew I couldn't resist these ones (then I later heard from my neighbor that she hid them away for herself lol. She had the same problem as me).

There are a few extra steps with these since they need to be rolled, indented and filled but those couple of extra steps make them an over-the-top, worthy of any holiday, kind of cookie. To keep them things from getting too messy, I like to use one hand for rolling in the egg, then the other for rolling in the coconut - kind of like when you bread chicken.

Another thing that helps is to press the coconut onto the cookie to help it adhere, if you just roll it through the coconut it doesn't stick all that well. And I chose to just chill these cookies directly on the baking sheets, but you can definitely chill them on plates or in containers if you don't have room for two sheet pans in your fridge.

Then just transfer them to the baking pans after they've chilled and bake as directed.

Obviously a highlight of the cookies is the course sea salt. I've got salt on my mind lately since last week I had the opportunity to attend Morton Salt's Next Door Chef event in New Orleans along with several other guests. It was a fun dinner experience where they converted someones home into an actual pop-up restaurant for a day.

Below is a few sneak pictures of the event. I'll be sharing more in the coming months so be sure to keep a look out for more. I think I might even have to share that Budino recipe!

Of course,  my favorite part of the meal was the Coconut Caramel Budino with Grilled Mangos and Morton Kosher Salt which was served for dessert. It was dreamy so I knew I needed to use that combination again to make something for the holidays, and that's how these cookies came about.

Acclaimed chef Nina Compton coached a home cook and then this cook prepared an incredible meal for us in which different types of Morton salt were used. At the event we tried a number of inspiring dishes where we could taste how different types of salt transformed each dish, from appetizer and drinks, to side dish, to the main dish and then onto dessert.

More salted caramel recipes you'll love

• Salted Caramel Sauce (with Step by Step Pictures)
• Microwave Caramels
• Salted Caramel Turtle Thumbprint Cookies

This post was sponsored by Morton Salt. All opinions are 100% my own.

Thumbprint Cookies Pineapple Jam and Coconut!

So I didn't make it anywhere tropical this summer so instead I brought the taste of the tropics home with these utterly delicious, melt-in-your-mouth Pineapple Coconut Thumbprint Cookies!

I'm obessed with thumbprint cookies maybe these will complete my collection, but then again maybe not :). I absolutely love this summery twist on thumbprints!

It took a few batches to get them just right but after a little tweaking each time I got them right where I want them.

They are perfectly coconuty, deliciously buttery, they have just the right texture, and with the help of a little lemon juice and lemon zest you get a flavorful pineapple jam that makes for the perfect pairing with the coconut.

Why do I keep making big cookie sheet pans full of cake to tempt me all day long?? It just seems right, that's why. And still, I have plans to make more...because now that I'm suddenly obsessed with sheet cakes I need to try all the flavors! Don't get me wrong, I've always loved sheet cakes but I'm just now appreciating their simplicity. Mix it, spread it, bake it, frost it, boom done! They're just easier than layer cakes, yet they can still be fancied up, they don't need to just be your average potluck sheet cake.

Coconut Sheet Cake

I felt like coconut cake this time, so Coconut Sheet Cake it is! And this one most definitely does not disappoint! We were all trying to resist two slices but it's just not possible with this cake, it's just not! Don't judge - you'll see :). At least I waited a few hours to go back for more (as if that helps lol).

What I'm getting at is that you need to try this cake! If you like coconut, this is the cake for you, and once you try it you'll want to make it for every get-together and special occasion that comes your way. It has a perfectly soft and moist crumb and you will be savoring every last bite of it. And don't get me started on the coconut and fresh raspberry combo, this cake is just that much better when it's topped with fresh raspberries! Then last but not least, I can't forget to mention how much I love this Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting; it is one of the dreamiest things on the planet! It's total bliss in frosting form.

Trust me—you're not going to want a basic frosting or whipped cream. Add a sprinkle of flaked coconut and this is a tropical paradise. You can even try toasted coconut or topping with pineapple for a piña colada flavor that's perfect for a luau party dessert.

Piña Colada Cupcakes with Pineapple and Coconut

Since summer isn't coming quick enough let's just make these Pina Colada Cupcakes and pretend it's summer. Okay? Great!

It's always about this time of year that I crave the warm sunshine and beach days again. So, since I can't force it I just fake it with food instead, then I sit and enjoy these on my couch...with a kiddie pool in the house and all my brightest lamps and my sunglasses and flip flops on.

Only kidding, but it's about getting to that point. I'm totally ready to be out of hibernation though.

But don't you just love foods like this that you can enjoy all year round that give off those summer vibes?

And those ingredients not only make these deliciously flavorful and completely irresistible, but they give these cookies such an amazing texture. Trust me, you're cookie recipe book definitely needs this one added.

Sometime I'd  like to try them with white chocolate chips (instead of dark) and macadamia nuts (instead of almonds). They are perfect as they are but it's always nice to have a few options, right? With a combination like this, who could resist them? They are a cookie made to please a crowd.