Five-ingredient, quick, naturally gluten-free Brazilian Coconut Bars or Cocada de Leite Condensado is the recipe of the day!
It has been a long time since I had the pleasure of munching on my favorite Brazilian dessert bars– but finally, I will have to wait no longer…
For those who may not know, cocada is a tropical treat typical to Northeastern Brazil -- although also found in Angola, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, and Chile.
This dessert is no stranger to this blog. As I explained in one of my previous posts about cocada cremosa, cocada can present three different types of textures: cocada de corte (the traditional texture– either a slightly chewy or crisp dessert bar), cocada de forno (baked in the oven), and cocada cremosa, de copo or mole (which has a pudding-like, creamy texture).
We have already presented a recipe for cocada cremosa (banana-coconut pudding) as well as for cocada de forno (baked coconut-sweet potato custard) last year. This time, however, our recipe is for cocada de corte. This particular recipe of cocada de corte makes use of condensed milk, coconut, and sugar. This is a contemporary cocada recipe, since the traditional recipe calls for water instead of condensed milk. Because these cocadas de leite condensado are very sweet, they are sliced into small portions.
I remember vividly that I used to prefer nibbling on cocadas instead of cookies while watching TV. Also, it was always such a thrill to purchase cocadas from the street vendors at the Alto da Sé in Olinda.
"Um tabuleiro de cocada" (large cocada tray carried by street vendors) can be an attraction all its own. In general, it comes lined with cocadas of different flavors and of course, colors. From cocada preta (burnt coconut bars) to those made from assorted fruits such as passion fruit, banana, and guava, it has been always hard to choose just one. Brazilians' fascination for cocada can be only compared to Americans' obsession with cookies. 🙂
I hope you do enjoy our coconut bars as much as I did... My eyes always light up when I see one -- like a child when she catches sight of her favorite candy!
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What is your favorite sweet bar?
Brazilian Coconut Bars (Cocada)
Ingredients
- 1 can can of sweetened condensed milk 14 oz or 396 g
- 1¼ cups unsweetened coconut flakes
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ½ tablespoon softened unsalted butter plus more for greasing
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
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.
Recipe Notes
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Deb says
What a luscious treat! The recipe is similar to "Vanilla Fudge" my mom would make on special occasions. Such sweet memories!
Denise Browning says
I am happy that a similar treat bring you great memories, Deb! Thanks a lot for sharing it with me...
Chris @ The Café Sucré Farine says
What a fun treat Denise! Scott is a huge coconut fan and would go crazy over these. I love that they're so simple to make with just 5 ingredients, pinned!!
Denise Browning says
Hi, Chris! Yes, they are quite simple to make... A great treat to satisfy a die-hard sweet tooth like me! 🙂
Daniela says
My husband is almost fanatic about cocada and this new version is going to be
a hit in our family.
Denise Browning says
Daniela: I do hope your husband enjoy this cocada version made from condensed milk. This is one of the most popular in Brazil. Thanks a lot for stopping by.
Shashi @ RunninSrilankan says
YUM! Denise these "coconut bars" sound delicious - perfect with a hot cup of tea!
When I was younger, my mom used to make a traditional Sri Lankan sweet called "milk toffee" - your coconut bars remind me of my mom's milk toffee in texture and color!
Denise Browning says
Hi, Shashi! I do hope you try this Brazilian version which is similar to your milk toffee. I have heard that many cultures have a similar version. Enjoy, my dear! Wishing you an awesome week!
Lady Lilith says
Looks great. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Denise Browning says
Thanks a lot! Enjoy!
Abbe@This is How I Cook says
This is a new one to me. But if you chose these over cookies, I will probably have to try these. Because it is hard for me to believe that anything is better than cookies! Except maybe these!
Denise Browning says
Hey, Abbe! I have to confess that I have never been a big fan of cookies. I do enjoy a lot munching them once and a while although I am not crazy for them.
But I've been always crazy for these bars. I do hope you try and enjoy them despite you think or not they are better than cookies. 🙂
Coffee and Crumpets says
I live coconut anything so these look fantastic! They remind me of an Indian dessert bar that is very similar, with coconut. I also love condensed milk 😉
Denise Browning says
Enjoy, Nazneen!
Mi Vida en un Dulce says
Looks very delicious
Denise Browning says
Thanks, Nydia!
Liz says
I can see how these could easily become a favorite treat! I'd never say no to a coconut bar!
Denise Browning says
Neither would I, Liz! 🙂
Little Cooking Tips says
A wonderful, simple no-fuss dessert with beautiful flavors and aroma! Yummy yummy yummy! Thank you Denise! Have a beautiful week!
Denise Browning says
Thank you, Panos and Mirella! Likewise.
Juliana says
Denise, can you believe that I have never made this bars? I remember buying them and enjoying every simple bite when living in Brasil...thanks for the recipe...hope you are enjoying your week my dear 😀
Denise Browning says
Thank you, Juliana! I do hope you make them here in the US. They are easy peasy and quite satisfying. Have a great week as well!
Raymund says
NIce one, Brazilians really know what sweet means. This looks awesome
Denise Browning says
Raymund: Thank you! We are crazy for sugar...Hehe!
John@Kitchen Riffs says
I love coconut! So you know I'd love this. Terrific recipe -- thanks so much.
Denise Browning says
Thank you for stopping by and leave a comment.
Sugar et al says
You know I love the fact that so many of your recipes use condensed milk. Now leftover condensed milk is never going to be a problem for me. All I need to do is visit your space. We have something similar in Indian sweets with coconut but that never looked as gorgeous as this one.
Denise Browning says
Sonali: Thank you, my friend! I am glad that you enjoy condensed milk as much as I do... I am sure your Indian related treat is the bomb as Indian food is.
Amira says
Can be stored for up to 8 days!!!! you must be kidding me Denise.... these will not even be stored for 8 hours in my coconut loving sweet tooth family. loved it loved it loved it really for sure will make it soon. Thanks dear, Brazilian kitchen is such a lovely heritage.
Denise Browning says
Thanks, Amira! At my house, it takes up to one day to devour all 16 bars. 🙂
Krissie - Pearls of Style says
I love anything coconut and these sound really lovely. It's nice to hear about them being steeped in your memory; those foods are always the best.
Krissie x - http://pearlsofstyle.blogspot.com.au
Denise Browning says
Thank you, Krissie! Yes, I do have great memories growing up in Brazil and also eating these bars.
Karen (Back Road Journal) says
Your little bars brought back memories of when I lived in Santo Domingo. The hotel where we were staying, would leave little bars that sound similar to yours each evening at turndown. They were very good.
Denise Browning says
Hi, Karen! This is somewhat similar to caramel fudge bars that many Hispanic countries have (and also Brazil) although these ones take coconut flakes. I bet the Dominican bars were amazing!
cquek says
Maybe Ill skip my workout and hit the grocery store!
Denise Browning says
You won't regret it, cquek!
Judit & Corina @Wine Dine daily says
Mmm such a wonderful and simple dessert, Denise! We also flirted with coconut in the last week and have some left over to make your 5 ingredient super delicious bars. Love the beautiful photos from your paradise 🙂
Cheers,
J+C
Denise Browning says
Thanks, ladies! I hope you can make these bars and enjoy...Coconut is one of my fave ingredients.
Debbie says
When I was in Brazil, I had coconut pancake ( I don't know what they are called). Women sold them on the street They tasted like coconut and sugar. They were big flakes of coconut and flat like a pancake. I ate so many that my boyfriend hid them on me. We were in the north part of Brazil. The women sold all kinds of food on the street. Do you know what they were made out of. I also ate some kind of grilled sandwich. It might have been white cheese and banana, but that was in Rio. This was 35 years ago. When I came home I tried to make this stuff, but had no luck.
Denise Browning says
Hi, Debbie! Welcome to FBTY!
I think the coconut pancakes you are talking about are tapioca crepes filled with coconut. 🙂 There is a recipe for tapioca crepes in my blog. Here is the link to make the "pancakes" or crepes: http://www.frombraziltoyou.org/brazilian-breakfast-and-tapioca-crepes-with-cheese/
Instead of filling them with cheese like I did (there are tapioca crepes filled with different fillings --both savory and sweet), you fill them with a mixture of coconut flakes and either sweetened condensed milk or sweetened coconut milk. I say that because there are 2 types of coconut filling for our tapioca crepes. If the ones that you ate were wet, they are traditionally dumped in a mixture of coconut flakes and sweetened coconut milk. If they were dry but with a moist filling, it was coconut flakes with sweetened condensed milk.
The grilled cheese with banana is called cartola. It is a typical dish from my home state, Pernambuco -- although is available in other states such as Rio. Here is the link for its recipe:
https://www.easyanddelish.com/cartola-pernambuco/
Please, let me know if you have any other questions. Have a great weekend!
Debbie says
Thank you so much. I can't wait to try them.
Denise Browning says
My pleasure, Debbie! If you have any additional questions, I'll be happy to answer them! Have a fun summer!
Debbie says
Just made the bars and these are it. So excited!!! They made them like flat round cookies and used large pieces of coconut.I was on an island off of Salvador. Banana sandwich next.Thanks sooo much.:)
Denise Browning says
I am so glad that you enjoyed cocadas (Brazilian coconut bars/cookies), Debbie!
When you first talked about coconut pancakes, I thought you were talking about tapioca crepes filled with coconut. 🙂 I am glad that you found the recipe that you needed here. Enjoy!!!