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    My Colombian Recipes » Recipes » Appetizers and Snacks » Chancacas (colombian-style Coconut Candy)

    Chancacas (Colombian-Style Coconut Candy)

    Sep 28, 2012 · Modified: Feb 1, 2023 by Erica Dinho · 16 Comments

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Chancacas are a traditional Colombian dessert very easy to make and delicious. These little sweet treats are perfect with a glass of cold milk.

    Chancacas (Colombian-Style Coconut Candy)Pin

    What are Chancacas?

    It's 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.

    Chancacas (Colombian-Style Coconut Candy)Pin

    Chancacas (Colombian-Style Coconut Candy)

    Erica Dinho
    5 from 16 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 35 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine Colombian
    Servings 8 servings
    Calories 395 kcal

    Ingredients
     

    • 5 cups of shredded coconut
    • 2 cups of water
    • 16 oz of panela
    • Zest of 1 lime
    • 2 cinnamon sticks

    Instructions
     

    • In a medium pot over medium heat, place the panela, water and lime zest. Cook for about 15 minutes.
    • 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.
    • 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.

    Notes

    Keep them up to a week in a sealed container.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 395kcalCarbohydrates: 64gProtein: 2gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 29mgPotassium: 257mgFiber: 5gSugar: 58gVitamin A: 3IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 65mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword cocadas colombianas, cocadas recipe
    Have you Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @mycolombianrecipes and tag #mycolombianrecipes!
    Chancacas (Colombian-Style Coconut Candy)Pin

    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.

    Chancacas (Colombian-Style Coconut Candy)Pin

    To make this recipe you can use fresh grated coconut or a good dried shredded coconut. Also panela can be found in Latin markets or in Amazon.

    Chancacas (Colombian-Style Coconut Candy)Pin
    Chancacas (Colombian-Style Coconut Candy)Pin
    Chancacas (Colombian-Style Coconut Candy)Pin
    Chancacas BuenaventuraPin

    More easy Colombian treats to make:

    Pineapple Cocadas

    Coconut Flan

    Colombian Salpicón

    More Appetizers and Snacks Recipes

    Mushroom Quesadilla (Quesadilla De Champiñones)Salpicón De Frutas (Colombian Fruit Cocktail)Homemade Arequipe Or Dulce De LecheRegañonas (Colombian Corn Fritters)Pasteles De Pollo Con Verduras (Colombian-Style Chicken Pastries)
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    About Erica Dinho

    My name is Erica and I was born and raised in Colombia and now live in the northeastern United States with my husband and family. This blog was inspired by my grandmother, Mamita, who was an amazing traditional Colombian cook.

    Author Page →

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Belinda @zomppa

      September 28, 2012 at 1:27 pm

      5 stars
      Looks like such a perfect sweet ending to a good meal. I love that you offer a tall glass of milk with this!

      Reply
    2. Jenn and Seth

      September 28, 2012 at 6:18 pm

      5 stars
      such a fun treat! looks yummy!

      Reply
    3. Phil

      September 28, 2012 at 7:54 pm

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
    4. grace

      September 30, 2012 at 5:17 pm

      5 stars
      i would just dig into that bowl of sticky goo with my fingers and be done with it--what a treat!

      Reply
    5. Jennette

      October 01, 2012 at 1:04 pm

      5 stars
      Looks delish!

      Reply
    6. Heather B

      October 01, 2012 at 6:13 pm

      5 stars
      Im soo excited to make these!! Thank you!

      Reply
    7. Eva

      October 08, 2012 at 8:45 am

      5 stars
      Saw the recipe and decided I had to try it. I'm so glad I did.My husband liked them a lot.

      Reply
    8. Erica

      October 08, 2012 at 8:59 am

      5 stars
      Thank you everyone for all your comment and feedback!

      Reply
    9. Phil

      November 12, 2012 at 7:08 pm

      5 stars
      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?

      Reply
      • Erica

        November 13, 2012 at 7:35 am

        5 stars
        Phil, I buy the panela. I don't have a recipe for homemade panela.

        Reply
        • wilbert cacafranca

          July 22, 2013 at 6:24 pm

          5 stars
          Id like to share on how to make your own Panela (Latik in Tagalog/Philippines). The above recipe/item we call it Bokhayo. Here is the engridients on how to make your own panela to make a pefect Chancacas/coconut candy.

          1. 1kg of sugar (either brown or white)
          2. 2 liters of coconut milk (buy the coco milk in can)
          3. shredded coconut

          in a pan mix all together, stir in low heat til become sticky, then add the shredded coconut, approx. cooking time 1 hr. you will then have a shinny sticky sweety Chancacas/coconut candy/bokhayo.

          Reply
    10. Kit Wai

      August 06, 2013 at 1:58 am

      5 stars
      hi , thanks for sharing the recipe .
      May i know panela is it palm sugar ?

      Reply
    11. MR

      January 10, 2019 at 9:29 pm

      5 stars
      How did you shred the fresh coconut?
      Did you remove the outer dark skin of the coconut before shredding?
      I ate this sweet in Costa Rica last week,so delicious.
      We make similar one in India but without cinnamon and lime zest.

      Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
      • Erica Dinho

        January 15, 2019 at 4:20 pm

        5 stars
        Yes

        Reply
    12. Madison

      October 17, 2019 at 5:21 pm

      5 stars
      I have to bring a colombian snake for my Spanish presentation and think that these are going to turn out wonderful! Thank you so much for sharing!

      Reply
    13. Stacy

      November 26, 2019 at 3:07 pm

      5 stars
      I made these and they would not stick together.

      Reply

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    Erica Dinho Author | My Colombian Recipes

    Hola and welcome to My Colombian Recipes. My name is Erica and I was born and raised in Colombia and now live in the northeastern United States with my husband and family. This blog was inspired by my grandmother, Mamita, who was an amazing traditional Colombian cook.

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