Thanks to its sweet and tropical taste, coconut lends itself to many different candy preparations. Find recipes from around the world to make these amazing treats!
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Sweet Squares
Step 1. Get the ingredients
To prepare coconut sweet squares you will need:
- 225 g of grated coconut
- 300 g of granulated sugar
- 170 ml of light corn syrup
- 110 ml of water
- 60 g of butter
- A pinch of salt
- A pinch of baking soda
Step 2. Take a 22.5X32.5cm cake pan
Before starting, cover the pan with aluminum and grease the latter with cooking oil. Set it aside while you make the candy mixture.
Step 3. In a saucepan, combine the sugar with the water and the corn syrup
Heat everything over medium heat, stirring constantly until the sugar has dissolved.
Step 4. Bring the mixture to a boil
Use a pastry thermometer to check that it reaches 115 ° C.
Step 5. Add the butter and continue cooking when the syrup has reached 115 ° C
Stir to incorporate the butter and let it boil (without stirring) up to 126 ° C.
Step 6. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the other ingredients
Mix well to incorporate the grated coconut, baking soda and salt. A little foam may form at this stage.
Step 7. Pour the mixture into the cake pan you prepared
With a spatula distribute it in an even layer. Let it cool at room temperature for several hours. When it has hardened, cut it into squares and enjoy!
Method 2 of 4: Chocolate Covered Candies
Step 1. Get the ingredients
To make chocolate covered coconut candies you will need:
- 310 g of powdered sugar
- 260 g of grated coconut
- 100 g of chopped almonds
- 110 ml of sweetened condensed milk
- 340 g of chopped dark chocolate
Step 2. Combine the coconut with almonds, sugar and milk
Mix the ingredients in a bowl until you get a sticky mixture.
With your hands divide the mixture into balls of 2.5 cm in diameter. Place them on a greased baking sheet and let them rest in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes
Step 3. Melt the chocolate
While the balls cool, place the chocolate pieces in a microwave-safe bowl and melt them on maximum power for one minute. Stir and continue to heat it in the microwave at 10-20 second intervals until all the chocolate is melted.
Step 4. Dip the balls into the melted chocolate
Now that the balls have hardened, you can dip them in the chocolate, being careful to “drain” any excess. Place the balls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. If you wish, you can sprinkle them with more grated coconut or almonds for decoration. Wait for the chocolate to harden before devouring them!
Method 3 of 4: "Jamaican" drops
Step 1. Prepare the ingredients
For this traditional Jamaican treat you need a few simple products:
- 2 coconuts
- 150 g of cubed fresh ginger
- 300 g of brown sugar
- 600 ml of water
Step 2. Prepare the fresh coconut
With a screwdriver, pierce the "eyes" of the coconuts located at one end. Drain all the water, which you can throw away or keep for other preparations.
- Break the walnuts with a hammer and use a butter knife to pry between the shell and the pulp to extract the latter. Use a peeler to remove the brown outer skin and cut the pulp into small cubes.
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Advise:
you can make this procedure easier by placing the coconut in the oven at 200 ° C for 10 minutes after removing the water. Wait for it to cool before touching it and breaking it with the hammer.
Step 3. Mix all the ingredients in a saucepan
You need to put the diced coconut, ginger, brown sugar and water in a thick-bottomed pot over medium heat.
Step 4. Bring everything to a boil
Stir continuously with a large wooden spoon until the sugar begins to caramelize. Stir as the mixture thickens to keep it from sticking to the pot. With a pastry chef's thermometer he checks the temperature, which must reach 146 ° C.
Step 5. Pour the mixture onto a baking sheet
When the sugar has caramelized and it becomes very difficult to mix the mixture, turn the heat down to low. Working quickly, spoon the mixture onto the baking sheet covered with parchment paper. Form two spoonfuls of "heaps". Wait for the mixture to harden before eating it.
Method 4 of 4: "Nigerian" candies
Step 1. Prepare the ingredients
To prepare this typical Nigerian dessert you need:
- A coconut
- 200 g of powdered sugar
Step 2. Prepare the coconut
With a screwdriver, pierce the "eyes" of the walnut and let out the water that you will keep for later.
- Use a hammer to break the nut and then use a butter knife to separate the shell from the pulp. With a fine grater, make long, thin strips of coconut pulp. Make sure you follow the direction of the pulp fibers.
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Advise:
you can make this procedure easier by placing the coconut in the oven at 200 ° C for 10 minutes after removing the water. Wait for it to cool before touching it and breaking it with the hammer.
Step 3. Put all the ingredients in a pot and add the coconut water
Stir well to mix them. Add enough water to coat everything, put the lid on the pot and cook over high heat.
Step 4. Bring the mixture to a boil
Then remove the lid and mix while the water evaporates. Reduce the heat and continue stirring as the sugar caramelizes.
Step 5. Keep stirring as the coconut pieces turn brown
When the sugar caramelizes, the mixture becomes thick and the coconut brown.
- When this happens, remove the pot from the heat and spoon the mixture onto a plate. Be careful not to touch it because it is hot!
- When the coconut has cooled, you can serve it as a dessert or save it for some mouth-watering snacks!
Advice
- If you don't feel like breaking and cracking a coconut yourself, ask the greengrocer to do it for you.
- Store all coconut candies in an airtight container.