Mexican Cocada Pudding Recipes

QUICK AND EASY COCONUT BARK ("COCADA")

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spray an 8 by 8-inch glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Mix the coconut and condensed milk in a bowl until combined. Press the mixture into the prepared baking dish, and bake until the coconut is evenly browned and crisp at the edges, about 20 minutes. Cool slightly, and cut into squares. Serve warm or at room temperature.

COCADAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a medium mixing bowl, stir together coconut, cornstarch, condensed milk, almond extract, and vanilla extract. Let mixture sit for 3 to 5 minutes.
• Using 2 tablespoons, drop by heaping rounded spoonfuls onto parchment lined cookie sheet about 1-inch apart. Watching closely, bake for 15 to 20 minutes until lightly golden brown. Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.
• Using fine meshed sieve or sifter, dust with confectioners' sugar. Store loosely covered until ready to serve.

COCADA PUDDING RECIPE FROM SCRATCH

Steps:

• In a medium saucepan combine water, sugar, and cinnamon. Simmer for 10 minutes. Add coconut and simmer for 5 more minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.
• Measure milk and whisk the cornstarch and salt into it making sure there are no lumps. Slowly pour the milk mixture into the sugar water while stirring.
• Heat the mixture to a full boil slowly. Stir constantly. Allow to boil for 1 minute.
• Remove from heat and add vanilla.
• Pour into a dish and refrigerate. The pudding will be soft set when done.

COCADA (COCONUT CUSTARD)

Steps:

• In uncovered 2-quart saucepan simmer sugar, water and cinnamon for 10 minutes. Strain; discard cinnamon pieces. Add coconut; cook, uncovered, about 5 minutes or until syrup is nearly absorbed, stirring frequently.
• Stir in 2 1/2 cups of the milk; cook until mixture is hot. In bowl beat eggs with remaining 1/2 cup milk. Stir about 1 cup of the hot mixture into egg mixture; return to saucepan. Cook and stir until mixture thickens slightly but does not boil. Stir in vanilla.
• Pour into a 1-1/2 quart bowl or individual serving dishes; chill.
• Top with whipped cream and garnish with almonds, if desired.

COCADA (BRAZILIAN COCONUT SWEET)

Steps:

• Combine condensed milk, sugar, coconut, and vanilla extract in a large saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and becomes a little darker. If you find that the cocada is cooking too quickly, reduce heat to low and continue stirring.
• Once the mixture has thickened enough and feels heavy on the spoon, remove from heat and place spoonfuls on a piece of parchment paper.
• Let cool for about 30 minutes (cocada will harden a bit) and transfer to a sealed container.