New Year's Eve Cooking: Baked Sweet Crusted Coconut Onion Rings

First, I made this Baked Coconut Shrimp recipe from Skinnytaste.com.  It was delicious and easy.  My husband liked it a lot.  I like baby shrimp but not big shrimp, so I left that to him.

With some panko crumbs and coconut coating left over, I decided to try making baked onion rings.  It was a little bit of fly by the seat of my pants after looking at this recipe and this recipe for baked onion rings.  I tried the second recipe, but couldn't get the coating to stick to the onions.  So I tried again...

My photography skills could be a bit better....

But they were really good and crunchy.

Baked Sweet Crusted Onion Rings

1 large onion (I used an organic yellow onion.

3 Tablespoons Dijon mustard (I used Grey Poupon)

1/3 cup wings sauce (I used Budweiser Mild and Tangy, use more or less or hotter according to your taste buds)

2 to 3 tablespoons honey

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

3/4 cup flour

2 eggs, beaten

3/4 cup panko crumbs

1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut

salt and pepper to taste

1.  Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

2.  Coat a sturdy baking dish with olive oil.

3.  Combine the mustard, wing sauce and honey together well in a large bowl.

4.  Mix together the panko crumbs and the coconut into another bowl.

5  Beat the eggs in a bowl big enough to dip onion rings into.

6.  Slice the onion into 1/2 inch thick slabs.

7.  Separate slabs into rings.

8.  Drop the rings into the sauce and toss till well coated.

9.  Put the 3/4 cup of flour into a large zip baggie.   

10.  Put the onion rings into the baggie with the flour, letting the excess sauce drip off. 

11.  Shake the bag until all the onion rings are well coated with flour.

12.   Dip each onion ring individually in the egg misture, then carefully roll it in the panko/coconut coating.  

13.  Place onion rings an oiled baking sheet.

14.  Bake at 450 for 5-7 minutes, turn, then bake another 5 to 7 minutes until golden brown.   Serve with your favorite condiment.