Tropical Vanilla Pudding Shots Recipes

Steps:

• Put the coconut milk and butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring gently to melt the butter and heat the milk.
• Whisk together the sugar, cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water in a separate bowl to create a thick paste. Gently whisk into the milk and increase the heat to medium. Cook, stirring often, until thick and bubbly, 10 to 12 minutes.
• Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Let cool to room temperature, then transfer to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap, pressing the wrap directly against the surface. Refrigerate until set, 3 to 4 hours.
• Beat the whipping cream with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.
• Arrange a layer of half of the banana slices on the bottom of a 9-inch pie dish. Add a layer of half the pineapple followed by half of the coconut pudding and a layer of half of the wafers. Top with some whipped cream and repeat to make a second layer.
• Top with the remaining whipped cream and the toasted coconut flakes. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or up to overnight before serving.

Steps:

• Put the gelatin in a medium bowl. Whisk in 2 cups boiling water until the gelatin is fully dissolved. Cool the mixture to room temperature and then whisk in the coconut milk and rum. Pour the mixture into a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. The coconut milk solids will rise to the top to make a skin. Refrigerate overnight.
• Dip the pan in warm (not hot) water for 15 seconds to loosen the gelatin. Use the cookie cutter to cut out pineapple shapes. Gently lift them out of the pan and onto a plate or baking sheet.
• Mix 3 or 4 drops of green food coloring with about 1 tablespoon water. Dip a piece of paper towel in the food coloring and gently dab the "leaves" of the pineapple shapes to die them light green. Refrigerate again to dry the food coloring, about 30 minutes; serve.

Steps:

• Heat 4 cups of the milk in a large saucepan over medium heat until steaming.
• Whisk the sugar, cornstarch and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Whisk in the egg yolks and the remaining 1/2 cup milk.
• Whisk half of the hot milk into the egg mixture until smooth, then gradually whisk the egg-milk mixture into the saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture boils. Continue to cook, whisking constantly, until it has thickened to a puddinglike consistency, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
• Cool slightly, stirring a few times to prevent a skin from forming. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of the pudding and refrigerate until completely cooled and thickened, about 4 hours.
• Before serving, whisk the pudding vigorously until smooth and creamy.
• Stir-ins:
• Cookies and Cream: Crush 20 chocolate wafer cookies, stir some into the pudding and top with the rest.
• Fresh Berries and Gingersnaps: Fold in 2 cups of fresh, mixed berries and top with about 12 finely crushed gingersnaps.
• Vanilla-Banana: Fold in 3 sliced bananas. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Fold in 24 crushed vanilla wafer cookies and top with more sliced bananas.
• Rocky Road: Fold in 1 cup each mini marshmallows and toasted chopped walnuts and 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips. Sprinkle with more chocolate chips.
• Peanut Butter* and Jelly (See Cook's Note): Fold in 1 cup quartered red grapes and 1/3 cup each chopped roasted peanuts and peanut butter chips. Top with whole grapes.