• Butterfly your shrimp and pat dry.  If you don't want them butterflied you can skip this step, just keep in mind the final cook is slightly different if you don't butterfly the shrimp.
• Mix together in a medium bowl the sweetened and unsweetened Shredded Coconut, Panko Bread Crumbs, 1/4 cup of the Corn Starch, salt, pepper and garlic.  Mix till well combined.  If your coconut clumps keep mixing with your hands till it breaks apart.
• In another medium bowl mix the eggs, milk and hot sauce (optional), beat until combined.
• In a third medium bowl mix the remaining 1/4 Cup corn starch and 1/4 Cup flour together and stir till combined.
• The Dredging/Breading Process: I like to have a wet hand and a dry hand when dredging the coconut shrimp.  I hold the shrimp with my right hand and use my left to help get the dry mixes on the shrimp evenly.  This is a three part process, first the cornstarch mixture, then the egg mixture then the coconut mixture.
• Holding the shrimp by the tail, dredge in the cornstarch mixture first.  Make sure they get fully coated in all the nooks and crannies.
• Next, dredge the shrimp in the egg mixture, coating it fully (except the tail you're holding).
• Transfer the egg coated shrimp to the coconut mixture and dredge.  With your dry hand cover the shrimp with the coconut mixture and press down on it to ensure it gets nicely coated with the coconut mixture.
• Remove the shrimp from the coconut mixture and give it a gentle shake to get the extremely loose bits off.  Place it on a parchment or foil lined cookie sheet.
• Repeat these steps till all of your coconut shrimp are breaded.

Air Frying Your Coconut Shrimp

• Depending on how many shrimp you make, you will most likely need to air fry them in batches.  I use a dual basket Ninja Foodi and can do 12 shrimp at a time using both baskets.  Your results will vary depending on your particular air fryer.
• Preheat your air fryer to 390℉ for about 3 mins.  This step is critical to make sure the first batch cooks the same as the following batches.  If you start from a cold air fryer you will mostly likely have some burning.   This is due to the heating element in the air fryer having to go full hot till it hits it's target temperature.  Once it's there it maintains the temp with less aggressive heating.
• Spray your air fryer rack with a good amount of cooking oil spray.  Place your coconut shrimp on the rack in your air fryer basket.  Maintain enough space between them to allow good airflow and so you can flip them later.
• Coat the coconut shrimp with a generous spray of cooking oil spray.  Do not omit this step or your coconut shrimp will come out pale and will burn instead of air frying to the nice golden brown.
• Air fry your coconut shrimp at 390℉ for 5 minutes.
• Flip the shrimp over and spray the other side with cooking oil spray.
• Air fry an additional 4 minutes at 390℉.  If you did not butterfly your shrimp you will probably need to add another minute to this final cooking time.
• Remove your coconut shrimp from the air fryer and let cool for a minute or two then enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce!