Cocada Recipes

EASY VENEZUELAN COCADA

Steps:

• Place coconut meat, milk, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla, if using, in a blender. Blend until smooth, about 2-3 minutes.
• Strain the mixture through a fine sieve. NOTE: I like to add 1-2 tablespoons of coconut left in a fine sieve to the strained mixture for extra texture, but this is totally optional.
• Place the mixture in the blender again, add ice to your taste. Blend until ice is completely crushed.
• Serve. Sprinkle with cinnamon and drizzle with more sweetened condensed milk, if desired. Enjoy and transport yourself to the beautiful Venezuelan beaches.

COCADA: EASY COCONUT BARK

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 13-by-9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Mix the coconut and condensed milk in a bowl until well combined. Spread the mixture evenly in the prepared baking dish. Bake until the coconut is completely browned with dark and crispy edges, about 20 minutes.
• Cool slightly, then cut into squares. Serve warm or at room temperature.

QUICK AND EASY COCONUT BARK ("COCADA")

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spray an 8 by 8-inch glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Mix the coconut and condensed milk in a bowl until combined. Press the mixture into the prepared baking dish, and bake until the coconut is evenly browned and crisp at the edges, about 20 minutes. Cool slightly, and cut into squares. Serve warm or at room temperature.

COCADAS (BOLIVIAN COCONUT CANDIES)

Steps:

• In a bowl, mix shredded coconut, egg, condensed milk, and almond essence until everything is well mixed.
• Let rest for two or three minutes.
• Spread butter on a baking sheet to coat.
• Using two teaspoons, put small amounts of the mixture in the baking sheet.
• 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.
• Yields 24 regular-size coconut candies.

COCADA (BRAZILIAN COCONUT SWEET)

Steps:

• Combine condensed milk, sugar, coconut, and vanilla extract in a large saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and becomes a little darker. If you find that the cocada is cooking too quickly, reduce heat to low and continue stirring.
• Once the mixture has thickened enough and feels heavy on the spoon, remove from heat and place spoonfuls on a piece of parchment paper.
• Let cool for about 30 minutes (cocada will harden a bit) and transfer to a sealed container.

COCADA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 13 x 9-inch glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Mix the coconut and condensed milk in a bowl until well blended. Spread the mixture out in the prepared baking dish and bake for 20 minutes, or until the coconut is evenly browned and dark and crisp at the edges. Cool slightly, and then cut into squares. Serve warm or at room temperature.

COCADA (COCONUT CUSTARD)

Steps:

• In uncovered 2-quart saucepan simmer sugar, water and cinnamon for 10 minutes. Strain; discard cinnamon pieces. Add coconut; cook, uncovered, about 5 minutes or until syrup is nearly absorbed, stirring frequently.
• Stir in 2 1/2 cups of the milk; cook until mixture is hot. In bowl beat eggs with remaining 1/2 cup milk. Stir about 1 cup of the hot mixture into egg mixture; return to saucepan. Cook and stir until mixture thickens slightly but does not boil. Stir in vanilla.
• Pour into a 1-1/2 quart bowl or individual serving dishes; chill.
• Top with whipped cream and garnish with almonds, if desired.

COCADA

Steps:

• Combine the sugar and water in a small heavy pot. Place the pot over medium heat and cover; when you hear the mixture boiling, remove the lid (the steam helps to prevent the sugar from crystallizing). Continue cooking without stirring, until it begins to turn golden. At this point, you can swirl the caramel around so that it caramelizes evenly, and then continue cooking until it is a dark caramel color.
• Remove from the heat and add the coconut water, whisking or stirring carefully because it will sizzle and steam, and then return to the heat. Once the caramel is smooth again, add the shaved coconut and salt and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook, stirring, until it starts to thicken and you can see the bottom of the pot when scraped with a spoon, about 40 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the lime zest.
• Let sit until cool enough to handle, moisten your hand with a little bit of water, then shape into little pyramids. These will be a bit sticky, so put a piece of parchment paper underneath them. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry area for up to 1 month.