Buckle up for a delicious Norwegian treat worthy of two strong, confident women! Made of stiffened egg whites on a cookie dipped in chocolate with coconut on top, Bette Buns are just as delicious as they sound.


MORMOR had three great loves in her life: her husband, the old king, and Bette Davis. (OK, four, if you count me.)

She only really watched television if a Bette Davis movie was on. It was so cozy snuggling up with her on the couch watching Bette and eating treats. When I asked Mormor why she loved Bette so much, she would say, "because she is a kick-ass woman who doesn't care what people think of her." (Actually, she used even stronger words than that.) Her love for Bette rubbed off on me, and I have been a fan ever since.

On our Bette Davis-watching nights, Mormor would make one of my favorite Norwegian treats, kokosboller, or coconut buns—though in our house they came to be known as Bette Buns. We would watch a movie, eat Bette Buns, and she would sip her beloved sherry. Made of stiffened egg whites on a cookie dipped in chocolate with coconut on top, Bette Buns are just as delicious as they sound.

So once in a while when I know a really good Bette Davis movie is coming on, I will make a batch of buns, pour myself a glass of sherry, and buckle up for a bumpy night.

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Makes 16

You will need:
4 large egg whites
10 ounces sugar
2 sachets gelatin powder
1/4 cup boiling water
16 cookies, vanilla wafers are great
7 ounces good quality chocolate, chopped
1 tablespoon coconut fat or oil
1 cup shredded coconut
  1. Beat the egg whites until soft peaks form.
  2. Add the sugar a little at a time, and beat until you have a smooth and thick cream.
  3. Mix the gelatin into the boiling water and, while whisking, pour into the egg whites until the mixture thickens.
  4. Add the egg white mixture to a piping bag, and pipe small mounds on top of the cookies, creating a bun shape.
  5. Leave until the egg whites start to set, about 1 hour.
  6. In a double boiler, melt together the chocolate and coconut fat.
  7. Dip the buns in chocolate, and top with coconut. Let the chocolate set and serve.

TIP:

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Made of stiffened egg whites on a cookie dipped in chocolate with coconut on top, kokosboller are just as delicious as they sound.
Photography by Paul "Sweet Paul" Lowe

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