Chocolate Coconut Brownies

Um yeah. I admit that I may have been conceited about my brownie-making in the past. I even named one of my own recipes "Marry Me Brownies" because of the number of marriage proposals they've gotten me throughout the years. Count me sufficiently humbled. Chocolate Coconut Brownies {page 436} are hands down the best brownies I've ever had in my life. Everyone who tasted them agreed.

The brownies are made rich with both coconut milk and shredded coconut, and the added chocolate chips boost them to that down-right-decadent level. I used dark cocoa powder {I always do, I have a slight love affair with it}, and these dark little brownies were fudgy, moist little morsels of heaven on earth. Not only do they taste fantastic, but the smell that was wafting through my house while they baked...I cannot even describe. I could scarce keep my hands out of the oven until they were finished.

Coconut-haters obviously wouldn't find these enjoyable {although really, if you hate coconut, you are grumpy and probably not enjoying life anyway - I jest, I jest}, but I think you'd be hard-pressed to find a single other individual alive who could resist these babies.

Dozens of thumbs way, way up on this recipe {I shared the brownies with my coworkers}. I already have repeat requests for them to make an appearance at Tuesday Treats in the near future. {Every Tuesday I make treats for my coworkers and bring them into work.} I think I will selflessly oblige {and enjoy every savory lick of the batter in the process}.

-- Your Friendly Neighborhood Batgirl

Orange-Coconut Cake

Some of my favorite desserts of all time have come from this book, and Orange-Coconut Cake {page 450} is definitely one to add to the list!

The title of the cake didn't appeal to me, but thankfully I was patient and took the time to read through the ingredients before passing it by. Orange juice? Check. Coconut milk? Check. Vegan cream cheese? Check. How could I not make a cake that includes some of my very favorite things?

The cake was easy to put together. In 45 minutes it baked up darker than I thought it would, but I wouldn't say that affected the flavor of the cake at all. The cake was dense and moist, but with a delicate crumb. PERFECT cake texture, and something that I haven't experienced yet in a vegan cake.

The frosting is really more of a glaze, and it is easy and amazingly delicious as well. The cake is topped with shredded coconut. In the header of the recipe, she states that her mother used to put mandarin oranges on the top, but that she'd omitted it because she didn't like them. I, on the other hand, love mandarin oranges, and I live in a household of mandarin orange lovers. I decided to take her non-suggestion and put them on top. It was delicious with them, but I'm sure it would be delicious without too. All a matter of personal preference.

Overall, this is another of my all-time favorite desserts, and the Ninjahusband, Supertoddler, and Wondersisters agree. I have a feeling I'm going to get many repeat requests for this!

-- Your Friendly Neighborhood Batgirl

Triple Coconut Cheezcake

Triple Coconut Cheezcake {page 453} needs no introduction. This was, hands down, the most delicious vegan cheesecake I've ever had {and probably one of the most delicious cheesecakes out there, vegan or not}.

The recipe was very easy to make, and only took about 15 minutes to get in the oven. The baking/cooling directions are a little elaborate, but follow them! I think they really made the cake. The coconut was present, but not overpowering, and the filling was absolutely perfect in texture, taste, and mouth feel. I never wanted to swallow it, it tasted so good! As we were eating it, me, the Supertoddler, the Ninjahusband, and the Wondersisters could barely say anything except "Oh my gosh this is so good. This is SO good. This is amazing..." We all thought it was one of the most delicious things we'd ever eaten.

This recipes has made me extremely anxious to try every other cheezcake in her book. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a delicious dessert for a special occasion...a special occasion like, oh I don't know, sitting at home in your house with a desire to eat an entire cheesecake by yourself. Trust me, it will be hard to stop at one piece.

The leftovers are already calling to me...

-- Your Friendly Neighborhood Batgirl

White Cupcakes - Coconut Variation

Let's be honest, everybody {and I mean everybody} loves cupcakes. In fact, I don't think I could trust someone that didn't like cupcakes. That's just wrong, as well as being against several laws of nature. It is because of this universal love that I decided cupcakes were the perfect dessert to take with me to a friend's house tonight.

Aside from being delicious, I think vegan cupcakes are the very cornerstone of culinary activism. A vegan cupcake can take someone from "yuck, I could never be vegan" to "yum...vegan tastes like this?" in one mere bite. The White Cupcakes - coconut variation {page 458} topped with "Buttercream" Frosting - coconut variation {page 503} are delicious little activists, just begging to be deployed into battle.

They were moist and a little dense, but with a delicate crumb, and the coconut flavor was divine. The buttercream is the best I've ever had, vegan or not. I am never using another buttercream recipe again as long as I live. These cupcakes are little coconut-scented pieces of heaven.

Surprisingly, I'd never had coconut cupcakes before, and these definitely did not disappoint. I can't wait to try some of the other variations that she has listed.

-- Your Friendly Neighborhood Batgirl