A FUN TREAT FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY

Here's a fun desert that the family will enjoy and could not be more simple to make.  A treat that will please everyone.

CHOCOLATE COCONUT SQUARES

INGREDIENTS

13 small wheat biscuits such as Carr’s or ten 5- by 2 ½-inch graham crackers

¾ stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter

2 cups sweetened flaked coconut (about 5 ounces)

¼-teaspoon salt

12 ounces fine-quality bittersweet (not unsweetened)

2 large egg yolks

1-cup heavy cream

Confectioner’s sugar for dusting

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350F.

In a food processor pulse biscuits or crackers until finely ground.  Melt butter and in large bowl stir together with crumbs, coconut, and salt until combined.  Firmly press crumb mixture evenly onto bottom of a 9-inch square baking pan and bake in middle of oven until golden, about 15 minutes.  Cool crust completely in pan on a rack.

Chop chocolate.  In a double boiler or a metal bowl set over a saucepan of barley simmering water, melt chocolate, stirring until smooth.  Remove top of double boiler or bowl from heat and cool chocolate 15 minutes.

In a small bowl lightly beat yolks.  In a saucepan heat cream over moderate heat until it just boils and whisk ½ cup into yolks, whisking constantly.  Add mixture to remaining cream and cook over moderate heat, whisking, until an instant read thermometer registers 160F.  Whisk custard into chocolate until just smooth and pour evenly over crust, smoothing top with a small metal offset spatula or rubber spatula.  Chill confection, covered, at between sheets of wax paper in an airtight container and chill until firm.

Using star shapes cut out of parchment paper as a stencil, dust squares with confectioner’s sugar.  Makes 36 squares.