Raspberry Coconut Banana Loaf

Here we are, in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis, I’m working from home, and my stress management is to bake.  Lots.  I planned on making a banana blueberry loaf, but where are the blueberries I was so sure were in my freezer?  Who knows?  Only realized that of course when I was in the midst of the batter, so here we are, and sometimes the best recipes come from necessity!  This is one of those happy circumstances.

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Just look at that crunchy top!

  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg (if you can, trust me, this makes a difference)
  • 1/2 cup toasted shredded coconut

 

  • 1/2 cup melted butter (but not hot)
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 1 tbsp vanilla
  • 3/4 cup mashed banana
  • 1 cup raspberries (fresh or frozen – if frozen DO NOT THAW)

Raw sugar

Preheat oven to 350.

Butter and flour a standard loaf pan (9″ x 5″)

Whisk dry ingredients together in large mixing bowl.

In separate bowl beat together the sugar, melted butter, eggs, vanilla and banana.

When ready to combine, and only then, toss the raspberries with the flour mixture.  This will prevent them from sticking together.  Stir in the liquid mixture, and only stir just until it all comes together.  Do not overmix.

Turn batter into prepared pan and sprinkle the top with raw sugar – you won’t believe how crunchy that top will get – pure delight.

Bake at 350 for at least 60 minutes, use a tester to make sure it is cooked in the middle.  Remove from oven to a cooling rack and allow to sit for 15 minutes before removing from loaf pan.

As per my original plans you could just as easily use fresh or frozen blueberries!

 

Raspberry Macaroons

Raspberry macaroons

So pretty, these raspberry macaroons are absolutely delicious.

  • 1 1/4 Cups granulated sugar, divided
  • 1 Package (6 ounces) Driscoll’s Raspberries
  • 4 large egg whites, at room temperature
  • 4 packed cups unsweetened shredded or fine flake coconut (7 ½ ounces/212g)
  • 1 Tsp. salt
  • 1 Tsp. vanilla extract
  • 6 Ounces dark chocolate, chopped
  • 1 Tsp. coconut oil
  • PREHEAT oven to 325˚F.
  • LINE two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • PLACE 1/4 cup sugar to a medium bowl.
  • ADD 1 package raspberries.
  • MASH mixture with a fork or muddler until berries are broken down.
  • SET ASIDE raspberry mixture to macerate, about 2 minutes.
  • PLACE remaining 1 cup sugar into bowl of a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment.
  • ADD 4 eggs whites.
  • WHISK mixture on high speed until foamy.
  • ADD raspberry mixture, 4 cups coconut, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
  • WHISK until well combined.
  • ADD more coconut as needed to make sure all liquid is absorbed into mixture.

    Raspberry macaroons 4

    Depending on how juicy your raspberries are, it may take up to a cup of additional coconut in order to get the right texture.

  • SCOOP 2-tablespoon-sized macaroons onto prepared baking sheets.
  • PRESS and PAT surface of macaroons with fingertips to ensure they look tidy and don’t crack while baking.
    Raspberry Macaroons 5
  • BAKE for about 30 minutes or until the tops are dry and lightly golden brown and ROTATEsheets halfway through bake.
  • PLACE baking sheets onto cooling racks.

    Raspberry macaroons 2

    Bake until just lightly golden.

  • ALLOW macaroons to cool for about 10 minutes.
  • PLACE 6 ounces dark chocolate into a microwave safe bowl.
  • ADD 1 teaspoon coconut oil.
  • HEAT chocolate mixture in microwave for 15 seconds.
  • STIR chocolate mixture.
  • CONTINUE heating and stirring chocolate in microwave in brief intervals until completely melted.
  • DIP bottoms of macaroons into melted chocolate.
  • DRIZZLE tops of macaroons with remaining melted chocolate as desired.
    Raspberry Macaroons 1
  • CHILL macaroons in refrigerator until chocolate is set, about 20 minutes.
  • ALLOW macaroons to come to room temperature before serving.Raspberry macaroons 3

I watched a video on Instagram from feedfeed, and they made these macaroons with blackberries – they looked so delicious, and I had everything already in the house, as long as I worked with raspberries instead of blackberries – the recipe came from Driscoll’s Berry website.

Raspberry Peach Pecan Galette

This recipe works really well with any berry or fruit – the pecans give the pie crust a rich, nutty, crunchy texture and flavour. Really – what is a galette? An easy way to make a pie!

Ready for the oven, this raspberry peach galette looks delicious already.

Ready for the oven, this raspberry peach galette looks delicious already.

DOUGH
1/2 cup pecans (toasted)
1 cup plus 2 TBSP flour
2 tsp raw sugar
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup (1 stick) very cold unsalted butter (in small pieces)

FILLING
2 cups raspberries
1 peach
2 tbsp cornstarch
1 1/2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 cup sugar, plus a bit more to sprinkle on crust
2 tbsp milk or heavy cream

Preheat oven to 375

Once your pecans have been toasted, and cooled – pulse in food processor until they are a coarse crumble. Add flour, sugar, salt and cinnamon. Pulse just until combined. Add butter pieces and pulse just until mixture looks like a coarse crumble – a few pea sized bits are great. Transfer mixture to a large bowl and drizzle in 4 tbsp ice water and mix. If necessary add another tablespoon of water just until it comes together. Gently pat the dough into a circle, cover with plastic wrap and allow to sit in fridge for at least 1 hour. (it will keep in the fridge for 2 days or you can freeze it for a month)

Toss raspberries, cornstarch, lemon juice and 1/4 cup sugar in bowl.

Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to a 12″ round. Carefully put on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Mound fruit mixture into centre of dough, leaving about 2″ around the edge. Fold edges over, overlapping slightly.

Brush dough with milk or cream and sprinkle raw sugar over.

Peel, and slice peach – in the center opening, arrange peach slices.

Bake until crust is dark golden brown and filling is bubbling – at least 45 minutes.

Fruit bubbling and oozing, crust golden brown ….. difficult to wait for it to cool before slicing!

Fruit bubbling and oozing, crust golden brown ….. difficult to wait for it to cool before slicing!

Allow to cool before slicing.

Peaches and raspberries were ripe and ready at the same time this year, so I served this with a yummy peach bursting sorbet …..

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Raspberry Coconut Oat Muffins

Be prepared for your house to smell fantastic when these are baking – pretty difficult to wait for them to cool enough to eat!

Delicious muffins - loaded with coconut and raspberry with just a hint of lemon to brighten them up.

Delicious muffins – loaded with coconut and raspberry with just a hint of lemon to brighten them up.

INGREDIENTS:
1 1/2 cups of white flour
1/2 cup oat flakes
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup of coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup of brown sugar
2 large eggs
3 overripe bananas
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
zest of 1/2 lemon
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 cup of sweetened shredded coconut, divided
Fresh raspberries

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees then coat a muffin pan with cooking spray or line with paper liners. (you can also use coconut spray)

In a small bowl, combine the flour, oat flakes, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon together, mix well. In a large bowl, beat together the coconut oil, sugar, banana, and vanilla until creamy. Add the eggs, one at a time, then continue beating until well combined, finishing with the lemon zest and juice.

When Sloan and I are cooking we taste and add ingredients by a smidge of this, a dab of that - but baking I tell her,  must be precise!

When Sloan and I are cooking we taste and add ingredients by a smidge of this, a dab of that – but baking I tell her, must be precise!

Add the flour mixture to the banana mixture and stir until just combined. Add the 3/4 cup of coconut, 1 cup fresh raspberries, and gently mix them into the batter.

Spoon the batter evenly into each muffin tin. Add one fresh raspberries to each muffin, pushing them in gently. Evenly sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of coconut to the tops of each muffin.

Place into the oven and bake 20-25 minutes or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the muffins cool on a rack.

Raspberry Lemon Muffins with Pecan Streusel

Muffins are a great way to start the day, or a perfect snack – go ahead and try these, you will make them your house favourite! Swap out the raspberries for blueberries, or chop any fruit in season – such a versatile recipe.

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Topping:
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons butter, softened
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons finely chopped pecans
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon peel
Muffins:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 large eggs
1 stick unsalted butter, melted
1 cup buttermilk ** see below
1 tsp vanilla
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
1 1/2 cups fresh raspberries

** If you don’t have buttermilk (and I usually don’t!) squeeze about 1 tbsp lemon juice into a 1 cup measure, add 1 tablespoon plain yogurt, whisk well and add milk to reach 1 cup.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.

To make the topping, in a medium bowl, mix together the topping ingredients until crumbly. Set aside.

In a bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs with the melted butter. Add the buttermilk and lemon zest and whisk to combine, add vanilla. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir just to combine. (Batter will still be somewhat lumpy; do not overmix.) Gently fold in the raspberries so the berries do not break and scoop into the prepared muffin tin. Crumble the streusel topping over the muffins and bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes.

Let cool in the muffin tins for 10 minutes, then remove and cool on wire racks.

Creamy Raspberry Cheesecake

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CRUST

1 1/2 cups crushed graham cracker crumbs

4 tbsp butter or margarine – melted

4 tbsp sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350.  To prepare cheesecake, mix crumbs, melted butter, sugar and cinnamon together.  Press evenly and firmly over bottom of an 8 1/2 – 9″ springform pan.  Bake until lightly browned (8 – 10 minutes).  Set aside to cool

CHEESECAKE

16 ounces cream cheese (softened)

1/2 – 3/4 cup sugar (to your taste)

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp grated lemon rind

3 eggs

1 cup sour cream

Beat cream cheese until fluffy.  Gradually beat in sugar, then beat in vanilla andlemon rind.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Blend in sour cream.  Pour mixture into cooled crust.

The best way to cook the cheesecake is in a bain marie.  Fancy expression for a water bath.  Double or even triple wrap the springform pan in tin foil, bringing the foil right up to the top.  Using a large enough roasting pan, place the wrapped springform pan in the center, and pour really hot water in the pan to about halfway up the springform pan.  I think it is easiest to get the springform pan into the roasting pan first, set that on your oven rack, and then pour in the hot water.

Bake at 350 until knife inserted near center comes out clean (50 – 60) minutes.  Turn off oven and let cheesecake stand in oven with door ajar for about 30 minutes.  Cool.

RASPBERRY TOPPING

10 ounces raspberries (frozen in syrup)

2 tbsp sugar

2 tbsp corn starch

2-3 cups fresh raspberries

Defrost and drain very well.  Prepare slurry with sugar, corn starch and cold raspberry juice.  Heat over medium temperature until mixture is very thick and has boiled clear (if you leave it cloudy you will taste the corn starch).  Add the drained raspberries and set aside to let cool.

When both the cake and the topping are cool, spread the raspberry topping over the cake and immediately press fresh raspberries gently into the topping all the way around in circles until you have covered the surface of the cake.  Let rest for at least 4 hours.

When you slice into a cheesecake, always dip your knife into hot water, wipe it dry and then slice.  If you do this with each slice your slices will all be nice and clean.

This cake is equally delicious if you use different fruit – go ahead and experiment.  The process is the same, just substitute the fruit you want to use.  If you are using fresh fruit for the topping altogether and no frozen fruit, just make sure you use a juice concentrate to make your slurry with corn starch otherwise their won’t be quite enough flavour.

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