Cocadas are a popular Colombian dessert made with coconut and sugar. There are different variations and flavors of this recipe in the country.
Cocadas are a traditional and popular dessert in Colombia. There are different variations of this wonderfully sweet treat, however, the main ingredient is always shredded coconut (coco), while other ingredients are dependent on region and family.
Cocadas Blancas (Colombian-Style Coconut Candy)
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups of shredded coconut fresh or store bought
- ¾ cup of sugar
- 1 ½ cups of coconut water
- ¼ cup of whole milk
- Pinch of cinnamon powder
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients in a pot. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to low.
- Let it simmer uncovered for about 30 minutes or until thickened. Stir often with a wooden spoon to prevent the coconut mixture from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Using 2 spoons, drop small amounts of the mixture onto the baking sheets lined with parchment paper, spacing them 2 inches apart.
- Let cool completely. Store them in an airtight container for up to two weeks
Notes
Nutrition
Cocadas are usually sold on the streets and beaches around the country. This Colombian Cocadas recipe is very easy to make and keep fresh up to two weeks in the fridge stored in cookie tins. The ingredients you will need to make them are shredded coconut, sugar, milk, coconut water and cinnamon.
These Cocadas Blancas (White Cocadas) are a delicious, sticky, sweet treat from the coast of Colombia. Here are some of the variations that I've posted before on the site: Cocadas de Arequipe, Cocadas de Lechera and Chancacas.
Buen provecho!
More sweet treat to try:
Belinda @zomppa
I love these sweets! Thanks for sharing how to make them!
Erica
Thank you,Belinda!
Petra
What did I do wrong if my cocadas don't want to get hard after being cooled down. Still very soft,plz help
Dennis
Do you think it would be possible to substitute coconut milk for the whole milk? Looking forward to trying this one!
Erica
Dennis, I used coconut water and whole milk.
grace
you do love your coconut, don't you, erica! i do too, and these look yummy. 🙂
Erica
Colombians love to eat and cook with coconuts.....;-)
Joanne
I love all things coconut. These look amazingly addictive!
Erica
Thank you, Joanne! They are delicious!
Amy (Savory Moments)
Mmmmm - these look so good. I enjoy coconut so these candies would go fast in my house!
Erica
Thank you, Amy!
shannon
these sound amazing, love coconut and cardamom 🙂
Erica
Thank you,Shannon!
Susana
I made these Cocadas Blancas for a bake sale and we sold them very fast. Simple to make and really good. I placed mine in the fridge until ready to sell and they were perfect.
Erica
Thanks, Susana!
Erika
Erica,
Should the coconut be unsweetened? If I use Baker's sweetened coconut, can I eliminate the sugar?
Thank you so much for your wonderful recipes!! I am planning to make this one for the Colombian booth at International Day at the American School of Kuwait!
Erica
If you use sweetened coconut, add less sugar.
Susan
Hi, I made these for my son's project on Colombia... are they supposed to harden or stick together? Mine have just stayed separate... I've never had them or made them so I'm not sure what the texture is supposed to be.
Thanks!
Erica Dinho
They are soft, but they stick together.
Dawn
Can we use sweetened coconut or should it be unsweetened. I am assuming unsweetened because you mentioned using fresh coconut. I am looking for a shortcut! This is for a school festival. Thanks.
Erica Dinho
Hi Dawn, You can find bags of grated unsweetened coconut at the supermarket.
Linda
I Love your recipes and I love coconut. I would like to try to make your Coconut Cheesecake Cups, but I don't like the flavor of sweetened condensed milk. What can I substitute with this ingredient?
Margarita
Hi Erica! Love your recipes! Brings me back to my childhood!! Quick question: do cocadas blancas y arepas freeze well? Wethe girls want to do this for our Colombian booth at world thinking day and we nwwd something we can makeep ahead of time.
Hafsah
Hi Erica!
Would I be able to use dessicated coconut for the cocadas blancas?
Louise
Hello, I'm wondering how firm they should be when cooled? Mine seem very soft.
Jennifer
These are delicious! Mine fall apart though. I let the mixture thicken but there was still liquid in the pot. Could that be my problem? I will try again!
Abby
Did you get it to work? I had the same thing happen even though it simmered for over 50 minutes. Am hopeful that it will set . . .
Jennifer
Hello Abby, Did your cocadas set? I recently made this receipe again and they came out the same. They did not set or become stiff and easy to pick up. My boyfriend (originally from Medellin) said that they are not usually hard. This is the reason they are served on squares of parchment paper. He ate a lot of them, and handed them out to friends, so that made me happy! I hope this helps.
Beth Kelley
I made these for my Spanish class. The professor is from Colombia.
I followed the directions but they never stuck together! They taste
delicious but no matter how long I cooked the liquid mixture, it never ever stuck together, almost 1 hour! Any tips? I really wanted these to work.
Alex
great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!