Chancacas are a traditional dessert from Buenaventura Colombia, a seaport city on the Pacific Ocean. This candy is made with coconut and panela (sugar cane) and is a delight in every way.
Using fresh coconut makes this dessert sensational but you can also use dried shredded coconut. This coconut candy is very sweet and has a chewy texture. It is very similar to cocadas and panelitas, which are other popular coconut candies in Colombia.
Buen provecho!
Ingredients:
5 cups of shredded coconut
2 cups of water
16 oz of panela
Zest of 1 lime
2 cinnamon sticks
Directions:
1. In a medium pot over medium heat, place the panela, water and lime zest. Cook for about 15 minutes.
2. Add the coconut and cinnamon stick. Stir well and cook for about 30 minutes more or until the mixture is thick. Discard the cinnamon sticks.
3. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Pour the mixture into the prepared sheet. Press the mixture evenly into the sheet. Cool for at least 2 hours before cutting into squares. Serve at room temperature.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Looks like such a perfect sweet ending to a good meal. I love that you offer a tall glass of milk with this!
such a fun treat! looks yummy!
I have got to say that i have a very sweet tooth and i love coconut so how could i not love these. My mouth is watering just looking at the pictures.
i would just dig into that bowl of sticky goo with my fingers and be done with it–what a treat!
Looks delish!
Im soo excited to make these!! Thank you!
Saw the recipe and decided I had to try it. I’m so glad I did.My husband liked them a lot.
Thank you everyone for all your comment and feedback!
So. How do you make Panela. There is lots of sugar cane here – Australia. Could I make it at home? Or with the syrup from freshly squoze sugar cane?
Phil, I buy the panela. I don’t have a recipe for homemade panela.