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Cocadas (Bolivian Coconut Candies)
 
recipe image
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Cook Time: 25 Minutes
Ready In: 35 Minutes
Servings: 5
Cocadas are a typical coconut candy or cookie that is served in Mexico, Brazil and over much of Latin America. They are oven baked but are served at room temperature to obtain their chewy and soft texture. Made with egg and shredded coconut, cocadas come in a variety of colors due to the modern use of food coloring, but the traditional ones are golden brown. They are often garnished with almonds, either whole or chopped. There are hundreds of recipes for cocadas which range in texture from the typical hard, very sweet balls to those which are almost the texture of flan. Other fruit, often dried, can be added to the cocadas to create variety. Cocadas are mentioned as early as 1878 in Peru. In Colombia, cocadas are sold on the streets, and particularly on the beaches, by women who carry them on large aluminum trays.
Ingredients:
2 2/3 cups shredded coconut
3/4 cup condensed milk
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon almond essence
butter, to coat baking sheet (or cooking spray can be used, such as pam)
Directions:
1. In a bowl, mix shredded coconut, egg, condensed milk, and almond essence until everything is well mixed.
2. Let rest for two or three minutes.
3. Spread butter on a baking sheet to coat.
4. Using two teaspoons, put small amounts of the mixture in the baking sheet.
5. Bake at medium temperature (European oven: 163 Celsius degrees; American oven: 325 Fahrenheit degrees) for 25 minutes or until they are golden, dry and smooth at the same time.
6. Yields 24 regular-size coconut candies.
By RecipeOfHealth.com