5 from 24 votes
Brazilian Coconut Bars (Cocada)
Brazilian Coconut Bars, or Cocada, are sweet bars combining sweetened condensed milk, coconut flakes, sugar, butter, and vanilla. Cooked until thickened and set in a pan, they yield chewy, rich coconut squares with a caramelized sweetness and moist texture characteristic of this traditional treat.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings:
16
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
Brazilian, gluten-free
Ingredients
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk 14 oz or 396 g
- 1¼ cups coconut flakes unsweetened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ½ tablespoon unsalted butter plus more for greasing, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract pure
Instructions
- Grease well with butter both the bottom and sides of a 8 x 8-inch baking pan. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, combine condensed milk, coconut, and sugar. Cook over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes (large burner) or more (small burner), stirring constantly, until mixture has thickened enough to detached from the bottom and sides of of the pan.
- Remove from the heat, immediately stir in ½ Tablespoon of butter, and then the vanilla.
- Pour hot mixture into the prepared baking pan, spreading well with a large spoon or spatula until leveled uniformly. Let cool slightly on a rack and cut into squares while mixture has not completely solidified. Let them cool down before handling.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Store coconut bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 8 days to preserve texture and flavor.
- Avoid freezing or refrigerating to maintain the bars' characteristic chewiness.