Coconut Drops

Name: Coconut Drops
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 20 servings
Cuisine: Jamaican
Ingredients: 4 cups fresh coconut meat, cut into 1-inch chunks; 2 cups dark brown sugar; 1 cup water; 2 tsp fresh ginger, grated; 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon; 1/4 tsp ground allspice (pimento); 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Traditional Jamaican coconut candy made by simmering chunks of fresh coconut with brown sugar, ginger, and spices until a thick, sticky syrup coats each piece. Dropped onto parchment and cooled, they harden into rustic, sweet-spicy confections.

55 minEasyServes 20180 cal/serving

JamaicanDessertStovetopVeganVegetarianGluten-FreeDairy-FreeNut-FreeEgg-FreeSoy-FreeLow-SodiumPork-Free

Cook this free in the appFree. No download, no account. The screen stays awake and each step can run its own timer.

Ingredients

4 cups fresh coconut meat, cut into 1-inch chunks
2 cups dark brown sugar
1 cup water
2 tsp fresh ginger, grated
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground allspice (pimento)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions

1

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
2

Combine 2 cups dark brown sugar and 1 cup water in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves, then bring to a boil.
3

Add 4 cups cut into 1-inch chunks fresh coconut meat, 2 tsp grated fresh ginger, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp ground allspice (pimento). Stir well to combine.
4

Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, for 30 to 35 minutes until the syrup has thickened considerably and the coconut has absorbed most of the liquid. The mixture will pull away from the sides of the pan when ready.
5

Remove from heat and stir in 1 tsp pure vanilla extract.
6

Working quickly, drop heaped spoonfuls of the mixture onto the prepared parchment paper, spacing them a few inches apart. Allow to cool and harden completely at room temperature, at least 30 minutes, before serving.

Cook this free in the appCooking it now? The app keeps the screen awake and times each step. Free, nothing to install.

Keep this recipe

Prints the ingredients and method only.

The Dessert Book 30 recipes in one printable PDF. $5, no account.

Questions

How long does Coconut Drops take?

As written, 55 minutes: 15 of prep and 40 of cooking. The longest single stretch is step 4 (35 minutes): "Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, for 30 to 35 minutes until the syrup has thickened considerably and the coconut has absorbed most of the liquid."

What should Coconut Drops look like when it is ready?

Go by the cues in the method rather than the clock. Step 4: cook until the syrup has thickened considerably and the coconut has absorbed most of the liquid.

What can I use instead of allspice in Coconut Drops?

The entry for Coconut Drops calls for 1/4 tsp ground allspice (pimento). In its place: Equal parts ground cinnamon, nutmeg and clove.

How many calories are in Coconut Drops?

One serving (the recipe makes 20) is about 180 calories, with 1 g protein, 36 g carbohydrate and 2 g fat, plus 1 g fiber and 15 mg sodium. The figures are estimates computed from the ingredient list.

Can I make Coconut Drops ahead?

Yes, it takes well to being made ahead. Keep Coconut Drops covered in the refrigerator and eat it within three days. Chilled and set desserts lose their texture in the freezer.

Serve it with

Cook this free in the app

Textual Chef is 4,544 plain-text recipes, free to read and free to cook from. No account, no paywall, no ads, no life stories. Open this one in the app and each quantity sits inside the step that uses it, so you read once and cook.

Every recipe is curated or public-domain sourced, written to one template and checked before it publishes. Nothing here is a scraped blog post.

Cook this free in the appNo download needed. It opens in your browser. The kitchen tools (planner, shopping list, pantry, import) are $5.33 a month billed annually; the first 30 days are free.